The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-05-01
WOMAN'S
DEPARTMENT.
A SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL.

At last Shakespeare is to have
fitting memorial-one not built en-
tirely by hands, but infinitely moi,
enduring, more in keeping with GU
recognition of and appreciation fo
his divine genius.
1t is quite an encouraging sign O
the times that the world has awaken
ed to the fact that there are NOR
desirable monuments than those bull
of brass and marble.
England is to have a national the
alter as living memorial to the great
poet and playwright. 1t is hoped to
have the opening in 1916, the tercen
tenary of Shakespeare's death.
AS no musical comedies will be
allowed on its stage, it would seem
that the committee believes with the
immortal William that "the plays the
thing" Those who desire to see a
revival of classical drama and the
proper encouragement of really good
modern plays will be pleased with
this provision. In this new theater
it is planned to have three different
plays each week, one a Shakespeare
or classical play, the other to be Sc
lected from new works of exceptional
merit, translations of the best for
eign plays, both modern and ancient,
and Enacted plays which have been
found unavailable for ordinary the
tiers.
The committee asked for a fund of
$2,50O,O0O, one half of which is to be
held as an endowment fund for keep,
ing the theater in operation. In solic-
iting for subscriptions to this fund
thew have sometimes met the sug-
gestion that that it is an immense
sum to secure at the present time
But they have cheerfully reminded
all such that it is only third of the
money necessary for one Dreadnaugip
which in twenty years will be rele-
gated to the scrapiron pile and the
loyal taxpayers asked to buy more
expensive type of fighting ship. AS
for the life of the National Shakes
peare theater, at the close of its sec
ond decade it will but have begun
it's good work.
What more fitting than that the
man who was mot Of an age but for
all time" should have a living monu-
ment, the degree of living that leads
to Immortality? Shakespeare's plays
will be simply and powerfully pre-
sented, and encouragement CIV
en- to modern genius, both the
writer and actor. In this way not
only will Shakespeare the man be
honored for his achievements, but his
great art as we'll.
The good effect of such theater
can hardly be estimated. The Orig
nal plan for a memorial was for an
architectural monument and stature
but this did not meet with the APP
proval of men Of letters or actors
and not until the thesteI was propos-
ed was there any hope Of an agree
ment. A building and statue, be
they ever SO magnificent and splendid,
could never take the place of the
highest art This theater will be
filled with a living, thinking, ever
changing throng, will perpetuate the
influence of high dramatic art. Not
only will the brilliant past be pre-
served, the choicest Of the present
assured, but the great work which
the future will most surely produce
be given a hearing and proper set
ting, thereby portraying to the COM
ing generations the works which will
be their classics.
1t would really be worth while to
assure to future play-goers tragedy
as majestic as King Lear" a COM
edy containing as bright sparkling
repartee as Beatrice and Benedict in
dulge in, as tender love scenes as in
Romeo and Juliet" an historical
play with as patriotic, stirring speech
es as in king John" or women as
brilliant as Portia, virtuous as Cato's
daughter, loving and forgiving as Cor
della and charming as Viola; or again
a drama with the heart interest OF
THE Old Music Master" and THE
Thief" or a sermon whose great
truths shall ring down the ages suCn
as The Servant in the House and
Ghosts MINNIE RlCE'