The Washington times., 1908-03-05
GRIGGS LECTURES
ON JULIUS CAESAR
Third of Series of Entertain
mentS Given by Play
grounds Association.

An audience that filled every seat in
| the Church OF Our Father, Thirteenth
and l. streets nOrthw est, heard Prof
Edward Howard Griggs lecture IN THE
Individual and the State: Julius Cae-
sar," last night
1t was the third in a series of six
Shakespearean lectures uncer the au-
spices Of the Washington Playground
Association. and the subject gave Pro
lessor Griggs an opportunity for
stronger Interpretation Of the charac-
ters than his two previous talks.
Analysis Of Characters.
Tracing the authors genius from the
first TO the last line Of tie play. Pro
lessor Griggs gave a careful analysis
OF the various characters, showing the
poets wonderful genius and power IN
the development Of the plot. Analysis
is the basis of Prof sssor Griggs'
ShakespeaTean talks and IN no other
play is he given a wider range for
strong exposition of characters.
He is sympathetic and accurate and
his wealth OF expression and readiness
for utterance add a charm that hold
the rapt attention OF his listeners. He
draws NAM. moral conclusions valuable
for present day application and not for
a moment does he allow his audience
TO loose interest in hts remarks.
Caesar" he said. had an fdealism
that was perfect. but his reasoning was
all wrong"
lie told Of the morning OF Caesars
assassination. Brutus had informed the
other conspiratOrs that he would pro-
duce Caesar at the senate house that
day. From this epoch in the Emperor's
life he gave an Illustration OF how II
was comparatively easy for one to
climb to great heights, but that the
difficulty was TO establish ones self
when great heights were reached.
Treachery Proof Of Crime.
There is a world OF truth in the say
ing OF Marcus Aurelius. the lecturer ex-
planned. that the only real proof Of
treachery is its accomplished crime
Napoleon was another example Of the
downfall that comes to men who have
azcended TO great heights. History re-
poats Itself. While Napoleon was at
the head 1T a handful Of ruffians in
the streets Of Paris he was their lead-
err again when he marched at the head
OF the army Of France he was the man
o. power, Of triumph, the leader OF
men, in whom men trusted and believed,
and followed. But when he was esrab-
lshed as the Emperor of the France,
the world pOWe got together and
Waterloo was the inevitable result"
Probably the strongest analysis ana
Interpretation of the play was the re
markabIe contrast he showed III the
personality OF Brutus and Mark An
tony from their famous orations fol-
lowing Caesars death.
'Brutus killed Caesar TO free the peo-
pie and those very same people rose
up and said, We'll, let us crown Brutus
If BTutus could have known this he
could never have raised his hand against
Caesar. II was Brutus' business not
only 10 believe ia the ideal Of a repub-
lie, but 10 see that that ideal prevailed 90
Marx Antony's Work.
Mark Antony he compared to a "yel-
low journal"
Mary Antony" ne said. used every
one OF the deceptive methods employed
by the INSCRIPTIONS newspaper writer
by the use OF misleading words. Then
he appealed 20 the cupidity OF the peo-
pie. This is the method OF the evil end
dangerous newspaper.
THE htdeOus exploitation of a crims
breeds crime. I might lie able TO ree<
such an article, and you might be able
10 read & without being filed with an
emotion, but there are many TO whom
this power IS able % incite emotion In
their brains and ~ a way IL controls
their actions. These papers misuse. their
power snd Mark Antony misused his
power IN Just the same way"