New-York tribune., 1909-05-01
SHAKESPEARE DAY
Celebration at Poets Birthplace
Mr.. Reds Speech.
From The London Standard.


Stratford- Avon, April 23.
The principal feature of the three weeks
Shakespeare festival-the poets birthday-was
celebrated to-day. and, despite ominous clouds
and several heavy downpours there were all the
signs of the old enthusiasm. 1t was day OF
fowers-of dafodils and roses and arun lilies.
Every guest at the hotels sailed forth with a
bouquet and every villager who tramped IN from
the outlying districts brought simple floral Of
fer1ng to lay on the grave of the bard
The proceedings commenced with the unfUri-
ing OF the national flags at 9:45 a. m In the
widest thorOughfare Of the town flag masts had
been erected. and at the sound of bugle call
the national flags given by the respective coun-
tries were set 1uttering in the breeze. The flag
of England was unfurled by the Mayor, that Of
America by Mr.. Whitelaw Reid (the United
States Ambassador), that of Wales by the vicar
(the Rev. W. G. MelviIle) that of Germany by
Professor Feidler that of Russia by the Rev.
R. S. de COurcy Laffan. and that of the Com
monwealth by Dr. Wilson (of Melbourne).
Other flags unfurled were those Of Canada, Den
mark Ireland, New South Wales New Zealand.
Scotland and Norway. AS the flags were un-
furled a choir of children sang the national an
them.
There was something deeply impressive about
the simplicity of the procession that, starting at
the birthplace in Herley street, slowly made its
way through the decorated streets to the church
and the grave of the poet. Miss Genevteve
Ward, the veteran actress. carried a beautiful
bouquet of lilies. and was accompanied by Mrs
F r Benson. The majority of the festival the
atrica1 company also Joined in the procession.
Inside the church the scene was one Of quiet
dignity and reverence. The rain clouds passed.
Nine Marie Brema sang, in her glorious mezzo-
soprano voice. Beethoven's Hymn Of Praise"
seventeenth century song by Kopp and a Ger
man Easter song dating from 1928 Then the
vicar followed with a brief address, and, after
anthem by the choir. Mr.. Whitelaw Reid stand
ing beneath the pulpit, floral offering Of deep
red roses and laurel by his side. spoke of Amer
-iCa's pride in the genius Of Shakespeare. II
was an eloquent speech dramatic and tmpas-
stoned yet delivered without gesture He
platned that the New York club known as The
Players, composed of representatives of the dra-
matte profession, had asked him to lay a wreath
on the poets grave.
Mr. Whitelaw Reid added
When this grave was made there no New
York-only nine years earlier the Ill fated Eng
lishman. Henry Hudson had first sailed past It's
unmarked site, to explore the river that now
bears his name The whole continent then con-
tanned but hamlet Of Englishmen the hard
beset seven -year-old settlement at jamestown.
To-day II is not merely from the second city
OF all the English speaking peoples this tribute
comes to the supreme dramatic genius of the
race il Is from the second CITY Of the whole
world. Yet The Players wreath from that cap
ital Of the other hemisphere brings no added
honor to this renowned dust How could it7
The famous lines by one who might almost have
been here among the mourners beside this new
made grave when il was filed have stood for
many generations as sufficient answer:
Dear son Of memory. great heir Of fame.
What need'st thou such weak witness OF thy name:
But 1t does bring honor to The Players, TO
New York TO all of in the Western World.
to prize and to hold fast place joint IN
heritOrs Of his fame and work. For over three
centuries his rank has been maintained as the
worlds greatest poet During that time the ad-
vance in knowledge. in science, in the elevation
and comfort and enjoyment of life. the ad-
vance. in fact, in nearly every particular OF
human development and power. has been mar
VellOus bewildering. And yet, with all that ad
vance, and IN all that time. the world has come
no nearer a second Shakespeare. We still meas
ure his elevation by his loneliness and our
riches by share in him
, DO not imagine that ever forget that
share. or ever lose sight OF its significance. IL
Is true that a century and half after his death
there came a mOurufui dissensiOn in the race.
Now with the growth OF free institutions among
all Of us and with the irresistible attraction Of
common aims and aspirations. that old dissen-
sion has almost ceased to ,affect our present
feelings. Nothing does more TO soften the MEM
ory and 10 draw near each other than the
absolute concurrence of all who use our Ian
guage under every sky, on every land and sea,
in the passionate conviction put into familiar
words by later poet OF your own
We be free Die. who s7.a< The tongue
That Shakespeare spake the faith and morals hold
Which Milton held.
con this spot and with that inheritance. the
freemen whom ! represent no alien people.
and they take with fraternal readiness your
constant welcome TO this common shrine"
At the close OF the service the people passed
I'D the aisle TO the chancel and reverently laid
their offerings the poets grave
To might the revival play. "Cymbellner was
given In the Memorial Theatre with Miss Mar
garet Halston as Imogen and Cyril keishtley as
IaChimO.