Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-18
MELANCHOLY DANE
WAS A SANE MAN.
That is What Prof. Clark Con.
tends aud Seems to Clearly
Prove 1t.
WHOLE LIBRARIES on HAMLET.
The Beautiful Prince Was the Greatest
OF all the Shakespcarcan Charac'
terS- Other Readings

The nth Of the series Of lectures and
dramatic recitals by Prof Clark was
given last evening at Ba,ratt hall, the
subject being the greatest Of Shake
spcrian plays, Hamlet, Prince Of Dem
mark There was larger audience
than at any Of the previous recltals. 1t
would not be detracting in the least
from the merits Of those already given
to say that this was by far the most
satisfactory OF the rectals, not only
because Of the immense popularity Of
Hamlet but also because Mr. Clark
read with such exquisite effect some
Of the finest passages In the play 1t
becomes more apparent as this series Of
readings goes on that Prof, Clark Is a
wonderful reader, and It is to be hoped
that he viii do more and more reading
IN the interpretative recitals which are
to be given. Indeed such was the an
nouncement made by the professor him.
self
There has been more written concern
Ing Hamlet the man, said Prof.
Clark, than about any other person in
history or nctlon save only Jesus
christ. Why? Not surely because
Shakespeare did not express definitely
enough what he meant by his great
tragedy II is rather because he has
created such an extraordinary person-
atty.
Two characteristics OF the play were
commented upon at ength-the envi-
ronments and temperament Of Hamlet.
Have you ever thought" asked MIR.
Clark. "of the atmosphere in which
Hamlet dwells?' Denmark at this time
has scarcely clenn spot, His uncle
has murdered Hamlet's father and his
mother within a shametully short time
afterwards marries the murderer Here
is treachery OF the worst kind, and
frailty. Then there is the weak but in.
nocent and lovely Ophella These are the
only two women Hamlet has ever
known No wonder that he Is led to
say: "Frailty thy name II woman
Denmark itself reoks with drunkard1,
lts name is held IN reproach and that
Justly, by other nations. The court,
last OF an, N filled with sycophante,
nd Ia
that Hamlet must breathe throughout
his life.
But Hamlet has a peculiar ;empera-
mont lie IL not insane, ns many
critics have supposed. Nor ala Shake
Rpeare, according to Mr.. Clark. leave
any reasonable doubt as To hla sanity,
II there were no other evidence Of his
Roundncss Of mind than the fact that
tragedy cannot center around crazy
hero, this would remove any question
In the minds OF those who really care
TO know Tragedy requires a mind
capable OF choice, else there could be
no tragedy. Even I'm Lear the King
does not become insane I'LL towards
the end % the drama. Setting aside,
then, the question of Hamlets sanity,
we find him still with exceptional char
acteristlcs. lie Is interpretive In
all his long speeches we see the tend
ency to hold 10 a subject of thought
till II Is exhausted. lie delights In
rolling dainty idea round on his
tongues end. The intellect rrepond-
crptes over the feelings Not that he
has no power TO act We see that he
has on several occasions, But these
occasions are invariably when he has
no time 10 think.
Mr. Clark does not agree with llud-
son IN the lattcrs statement that
Hamlet plans deliberately the postpone
ment of his revenge. The only time
Hamlet plans is when he agrees To
meet HOratio and the rest 10 see the
ghost of his father, on every other
occasion he shows total inability TO
plan. Hamlet himself declares that
HIS fault a. to think on the event OF
everything,
I.aertes and Hamlet were exact
nntltheses, not Hamlet and Hora.
ito, az some have thought Ham
let Is eager to return to college Laer-
tcs, 10 enter the gay life OF France,
Hamlet, when made sure that hts UNI
cue nus AuUlll Hlul N'l'N NtH lNN'''
looks for his notebook that he may
write down the fact that q man may
smile and smile and be a villain; laer-
tcs decides to bring to justice. the
slayer Of his father and makes pre-
parations to DO so Immediately
Prof, Clark then took up the pay
scene by scene, passing by the minor
ones with mere mention but linger-
ing on the more important ones, lie
explained. however, that every line
and every word IN great drama, Is
significant and cannot be left out, ana
that this is true In a special sense OF
Hamlet" lic thrilled the audience
by his powerful presentation Of the
characters initiated,
This afternoon MIR. Clark gives a lee
ture on "rhe Spirit OF Literature" and
this evening his miscellaneous readings.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Clark read
Julius Caesar before a largo audi
once OF schoolchildren IN the Assembly
Hall, which had 20 he obtuined 10 ac.
commodate the large crowd NJ students.
on account Of Dr. Angel president OF
the University Of Michigan being here
tomorrow, Prof Cl1rk's Saturday
morning lecture win be- postponed I'M.
IN the afternoon when No win deliver
two lectures at the same session The
subjects are Literature and Vocal Ex-
preston" ana the Interpretation Of
the Printed Page"
Dr. Angel win address tho teachers
Of the city AT Barrott Han at 10 a. M.
tomorrow The public ia invited to
attend,