Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-10-11
In the Forest Of Arden TODAY.


Robert shackleton writes in scribner's
Magazine of "a delightful journey which
he took through the Ardennes. which he
believes (and the weight OF authority
faVors IT'D is the real Forest Of Arden"
of Shakespeare Although little known
to Americans. this is the favorite forest
resort Of all Belgium and northern
| France, and, moreover, it is fun of his
toric association. These extracts from
the article are especially interesting:
There is not only this great Ardennes
at the edge Of France but little Arden
| in England and this is not 10 be Won
dered at. for many geographical name
was carried across the Channel from the
Continent, but some have claimed that
Shakespeare meant the Arden of Eng
land. Shakespeare seems to write. how
ever, with the constant implication that
the forest is on the French border; he
ever portrays Rosalind and Celia as
wearily walking to the forest from their
French home; and his description Of
Duke Frederick leading his army to the
skirts of the wood seems clearly to
point out that he means the Ardennes
that is beside France.
| was in Ardennes in the idylllc glory
Of early spring \ tender warmth was
in the air. and the forest, after the long
unrcsponsiveness Of winter was with
shy generosity giving promise of loving
opulence to come. The fields were pied
with the earliest daisies, buttercups and
viclets painted the meadows with
delight, the first birds were singing and
the trees were gently unfolding their
first buds. 1t was the sweet and happy
Arden OF the sweet and happy comedy.
Guide book and aliases use the term
"Ardennes' with somewhat of unavoid-
able vagueness. Originally, this forest
extended not only over a great part of
Belgium, but stretched also into France
and toward the eastward. Clumps of its
woodland still break the levels OF Cham
payne; there are remains Of il in LuXem-
bourg; and there are still great forest
masses in central Belgium. dotted with
cities and inteTsected by railways. But
the present centre OF Ardennes is in the
southern part of Belgium. along the
line of the Semois, and comprises wide
area of hill, of river valley. of undulating
plateau, of upland heath. And it is this
very part, isolated as il is. with which
most Of the great names that are con-
nected with the forest have had their
association.
In this forest of Shakespeare's the
regular roads and paths may often be
followed for miles without meeting a
human being There is a deep loneliness,
away from the villages; and, as Touch
stone remarked In respect that is
solitary l like il very we'll" From
lofty submits the view seems one of
wilderness illimitable. When the uncer-
tain glory of an April day changes to
sudden storm, the rolling thunder goes
echoing diStantly among the hills In
the heart OF the forest l have come I'M
eNpectedy upon a charming and solitary
mill. One day l CHANGED upon a Trap
pist monestary. 1t is desolate here in
winter when the north wind blows"
said one of the monks drearily.
on Easter Sunday, in Bouillon. they
gave the play of the passion. and in II
the people found agreeable enjoyment.
II did not occur TO them that II bore
religious significance; there was no irrev-
erence. for they did not understand that
reverence was expected; ii was six long
hours of singing and costumes, of picking
out their neighbors beneath great wigs
or behind false boards il was show in
a showless town, and those who know
only cities do not understand the pathetic
excitement of such a condition.
And so, human nature being every
where the same, the people enjoyed the
representation of the unrepressed pleas
ure Of children; thew will soon enough
learn to look unnaturally rave IL
if the representation begins to attract
annual visitors. The young girls were
the sweet and natural part OF 1t; the
men and boys We're inclined to frolic a
little behind the scenes as an offset to
stage stiltedness. And in all it was a
striking experience, to see the Jerusalem
scenes thus acted and thus received
under the walls of Jerusalem's king
Even at the regular Easter service
which preceded the play, the satisfac-
ton had to come mainly from the feeling
that it was an Easter service, and in
that place The church was abloom
with the flowers from new Easter hats
Thus far has fashion penetrated And
the hats were of a kind that may be
bought on Grand street.
The service was of simple solemnity;
the red-clothed suisse deeming himself a
weighty part of it, as he decrepitly
marched about proud of bein the only
man in church permitted to wear a hat
and proud, poor old fellow, Of a childish
medal, pinned prominent, lauding him
FOR good conduct and morality"