New-York tribune., 1904-09-17
GOOD CRITICISM.
ChurtOn Collins on Some Phases of
Sh0IespearIan Study.

STUDIES IN SHAKESPEARE. By John Churton
Collins. 12mo. PIP. $50 (E p. Dutton Coz.
Nonsense is always being written about
Shakespeare. 1t is comfort. therefore. when
ever we are vouchcafed a book like Mr.. Collins's
in which many n weapon for the discontinue
OF the twaddlers is supplied to the student
Brought together between its covers are papers
which have already been published in the re-
views, but which thoroughly deserve permanent
form Mr.. Collins writes on Shakespeares clas-
sical learning, on his mastery of the Greek
tragedies in their original language. He draws
brilliant parallel between Sophocles and
Shakespeare. and in an analysis of the prose of
the plays that is as modest as 1t Is searching
advances a convincing argument for the reform
Of common notions about Shakespeare's edu-
cation. He vindcates the Shakespearlan au-
thorship OF Titus Andronicus" makes an ex-
cellent plea for the integrity of text and scan
sion IN the First Folio and has some very sug-
gestive things TO say about the influence Of
Holinshed and Montaine upon his author The
book is appropriately closed with a few scourg-
ing words about the Bacon lunacy.
In his essay on "Shakespearian Paradoxes"
Mr. Collins declares with -Beuve. that
the first aim of criticism should be the dis
covery of truth" The paradox against which
he then proceeds from this point of view con-
Germs the authenticity Of Titus Andronicus,"
and the fiimsy presumption that this play is
rot by Shakespeare is thoroughly refuted. But
the influence Of Sant-Beuve's principle is made
even more clearly manifest in the articles on
the classical attainments of the dramatist. Mr..
Collins declines TO accept the traditional and
unreasonable inference that Shakespeare was a
person Of no scholastic endowments 81 hope
TO prove" he says. that so far from Shake
speare having no pretension to classical scholar
ship he could almost certainly read Latin with
as much facility as a cultivated Englishman Of
our own time reads French; that with some, at
least Of the principal Latin classics he was in
timately acquainted: that through the Latin
language he had access 10 the Greek classics,
and that Of the Greek classics in the Latin ver-
sIons ne had, in all probability a remarkably
extensive knowledge" He proves his point
largely by the application Of common sense to
his subject giving chapter and verse for more
steps in his demonstration than we follow
here Mr.. Collins argues we'll for the proba-
bility OF shakespeares attendance at Stratford
Grammar School. but seems TO hamper the force
CT a legitimate presumption that private means
OF study were of easy avail. If a candid review
OF the social history Of Elizabeth's time. or the
testimony OF old Roger Ascham that all who
could afford to do so employed home instruc-
tors be not enough 10 provoke the thought that
shakespeares family followed the custom of
such tutorshlp. the dramatist's rebuke to the
nasty conclusion that country residence meant
ignorance may well serve the purpose.
you could purchase IN so removed a dwelling.
A''>"Ao-A nave been told so OF many; bur- IN