The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-13

SetS-B0FteSIues
The Lyceum-Burlesque.
Tho average dramatic writer avoids the
subject OF the Shakespearean author
ship, and places 1t on the list OF tabooed
topics second to none. He would rather
take sides in the syndicate controversies
than TO voice an opinion as to the merits
pro and con between the Bacon and the
Shakespeare adherents.
For this there is the eminently suf1-
Client reason that few persons have either
the opportunity or the inclination for the
research necessary before arriving at a
satisfactory conclusion.
The learned Prof. Wallace has revived
interest in the controversy by his article
in Harper's entitled Shakespeare a Man
Among Men, This article is one Of the
results of the activity in England among
those who are anxious to prove the
authorship OF the Shakespearean plays
an activity that is going on all the time
among enthusiasts who have the time
and the money TO devote to the ex-
haustive delving into records and digging
into the past
It is safe to say that no absolute proof
will ever come to light. Sentiment viii
continue TO govern the majority. and re-
duced TO the last analysis that is about
all the majority has TO go on. It's
opinions must necessarily be based on
peare adherents should make, and that IS
are very much at sea.
One concession. however. the Shakes
peere adherents should make and that is
that the logical conclusion is that there
must have been collaborators in the
making of the plays whose authorship
has been so long in doubt. The supposi-
ton is that men OF education and ex-
perience had to do with these dramas.
men whose rank and station in life were
far above ShakespeaTe's and whose
actual contact with court life. diplomatic
life, and political intrigue enabled them
TO set down with fidelity many things Of
which Shakespeare himself must have
been ignorant.
The Baconians, through a series Of par
allels in the writings accredited TO Lord
Francis Bacon, and on account Of his
high position. his opportunities for travel
afforded by the diplomatic missions with
which he was intrusted, would have him
given sole credit for the Shakespeare
plays They contend, not unreasonably,
that men of position did not at that time
consider it an honor 10 have their names
connected with the theater, and that
Shakespeare. through his connection with
the playhouse was a convenient man to
produce their plays and that TO allow
him 10 put his name TO them was a small
return for the chance Of getting the plays
acted
The collaboration theory is by far the
soundest that has been offered. It is reas-
enable 10 suppose that much grist came
10 Shakespeare's mill. The management
Of the Globe Theater probably had his
hands full turning down aspiring play
wrights. That Lord Bacon was among
the successful is probable, since he was
one OF the foremost men OF letters of his
times. That one person could have turned
out, unaided, however. within the space
OF so short a time. the plays credited 10
Shakespeare, considering that his other
duties were numerous, is hard to believe.
Only man Of leisure, who had been
gathering data for years, could have done
il. The most rabid among the Shake
speareans hurl the word Inspired" for
an answer TO this. thus giving their
champions cause a sort OF supernatural
tinge.
The point advanced by the BacOnians
that Shakespeare could not write, does
not bear Importantly upon the principal
issue. Amenuenses were not unknown in
those days and any poor scribe could be
hired TO set down a great mans thoughts
But a man who could not write was very
apt 20 be Of meager education. and GER
tainly could not have been great liter
airy genius.
The revelations OF the ''eryptogram''
and various curious CIPHER arrangements
have been given TO the public for a dec
ade. but by the vast majority the merits
OF the controversy have been ignored.
If the authorship could be established
beyond doubt, it would be a great thing.
since, besides the importance OF doing
justice to the genius who gave TO the
world the greatest dramatic literature it
has known, it would put a quietus on a
controversy which viii crop out period
ically until the end OF time.