The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-30
SHAKESPEARE IS THEME
FOR DAYS LECTURE
Dr.. Snyder Also Gives Very interest
ing Lecture, With Sidney Lanier
as the Subject.

University, June 29.-(Special) -Yester-
day afternoon at the o'clock lecture DR..
Snyder departed from the regular theme
of his lectures and by special request
delivered his splendid lecture on Shakes
peare. By way of introduction he re-
lated a number of legends in which the
great bard was the hero, to show that
he was not a super-man, on the con-
trary, one of the most human of hui
mans. The speaker next took up the sub
ject of his wide and deep learning and
showed how the entire range of human
experiences are truly and wildly record
ed in his works. AS to the charge of
plagiarism sometimes made against
Shakespeare Dr. Snyder said that he was
a plagiarist to the extent that he took the
worthless dross of lesser minds and, pass
ing 1t through the white-hot furnace of
his brain, transmitted 1t and gave it to
the world in the form of fine gold.
In regard to the characters in his plays,
they differ from those of other authors
in that they are not bits of their creator
but characters of the world. In their
variety and individuality they are in
finite; all types of men and women are to
be found in his pages, and they reveal
the essential qualities of human nature.
Shakespeare's work as a whole is pro-
foundly moral, the speaker said. Though
he was no preacher, in his works are to
be found the greatest moral truths; he
shows that the real issues of life are
not those of material things but those of
the conscience, of the soul, in the words
of Lady Macbeth, 'Naught's gained all's
spent II joy is got without content"
One of the immortal qualities of Shakes
peare's work is that he pictured life as
he found 1t. He was not one of those
writer's who, having led his hero and
heroine through an impossible maze of
adventure, brought them at the last to
each others arms, set them up In
brown stone front, and gave them a
happy ever after No; he was as Impair
tial as life itself; If he found 1t dark,
obscure were the colors into which his
brush was dipped If he ~ nd 1t bright,
rosy were the hues in WIZ he painted
This morning at 1920 o'clock DR.. Snyder
delivered the last of his delightfully."- en-
pertaining and instructive lectures, his
subject being sidney Lanier." AS pre-
face to his lecture he gave brief sketch
Of Lanier's sad yet glorious career In
Johns Hopkins University, and showed
that in all these yicissitudes of life his
indomitable and noble spirit never once
forsook him. He said that If anywhere
In the world nalier's spirit now lies, It
is in his book of poems
d. Snyder then pointed out some OF the
characteristics of Lanier's poetry. I'm the
first place." he said. in his conception
of art he believed in himself. Next, he
believed his art a sacred thing, for in
his poetry Is clearly audible religious
tone; and as he grew his poetry actually
ethical quality in his art. In the fourth
place, he was mo Idle singer of an empty
day." but one who expressed the great
truths of life in terms of wisdom. beauty
and love.
The speaker next took up several poems
for comment, and pointed out the poets
fondness for drawing analogies between
nature and human life his charming mys-
ticism or symbolism, his optimism, his
harmonic gift and his original force. In
conclusion Dr. Snyder oontrasted Lanier
with the earlier southern lyricists, show
ing that instead of basing his poems on
some sentimental theme, he laid his
foundations on the ground rock OF trutn
and impregnated his structure with
thought, not with mere dry seed of
thought. but with thought illumined by
the imagination, filled with emotion, ana
expressed concretely, so that 1T can be
visualized.
DIR. Snyder left this afternoon at S:12
o'clock for his home in Spartanburg, 8.
G Every one who once heard him re-
grets his departure for more magnetic
speaker or more inspired student has not
vet appeared on the rostrum before the
summer school. The indlsputable evil
dence powers as lecturer IS the TACT
that at each successive lecture ne mas
Drawn q larger crowd to hear him.