Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-27
Uscad before the Wonan's Club by
Mrs. \. T.. kcitIl.)

1t was while touring Italy with
friends that the characters in the
Merchant of Venice suggested them
selves to Shakespeare. The nearest
dates obtainable are in JULY, 1898.
the play vas registered at the Sta
TONER, in London, but with a special
proviso, that it not be printed with
out permission from the theatrical
company to which Shakespeare be-
longcd. known as Lord Chamberlain's
Servants.
The trial between Shylock and An
tonic is an unheard-of and singular
case, but. nevertheless. is recorded rs
being an actual event. portia is
quoted as being the beauty of the
play. Shylock the strength of it. l
think, TO speak OF Sliylock as he is
generally considered, one must pie
ture him as a hardened. grasping
money lender, demanding in this case
blood money in the true sense OF the
word. but charity should hold the
scales in which we weigh the deeds of
this man, for there is nothing more
true In connection with our lives than
that we grow into The likeness of
those things we contemplate. our
characters are the sun total of our
habits. one who follows the high
est ideals day after day, year after
year, viii finally attain them even as
Dante followed his beloved Beatrice
From world to world, and finally
found her at the gates of Paradise,
ana, nov, as a sculptor. who hesitate
ingly lifts his chisel and hammer to
the block at hand" before this de-
formed character. Shylock, l stand
and ply my tools and mental gifts.
I'll cut away the huge unsightly" side
of greed and sclfishness II I'll
smooth his character to such a curve
~ will show the outlines of the cause.
Actions are deemed right or wrong,
according to experience and theNcon-
clusion Of reason. And Shylock has
been made a bad character, an unjust.
unprinclpaled man. simply because we
have not taken the time to reckon
With tine matter of cause and affecS
lie must have been an acknowledged
financial power, or Antonio would not
have gone to him to borrow the
money. This shows his strength in
one way.
Then he offered Antonio the money
as n friend and asks him to ACCEPT
it as Il friendly loan, asking no bond,
and Antonio scorns his friendship.
Then when he realizes tho contempt
Antonio shows at his offer of friend
ship, the insults he heaps on him, and
the everlasting gulf there is between
lltnl, can We WOlutI THAT ne ItStttS
it in the most bitter manner possible.
Antonio has called him a dog, a de-
spised jew, and tells him he will call
him 50 again when he meets him in
the market place and will perhaps
spit on him. Shylock felt he was not
only %rcsenting his own wrongs. but
those of his people. This treatment
was such tina his religion. his patriot
ism and his affections all stimulated
his cnmity for Antonio, and all cry
out for revenge, and he says this man
Antonio ~disgraced me. laughed at my
losses, Knocked at my gains. threat
ened my bargains. cooled my friends,
heated my enemies. and, above all.
has scorncd my nation. And for
what reason, because l am a Jew.
Hath not n jew eyes? Hath not a
jew hands. senses, affections and pas
sions? Is he not fed with the same
food, hurt with the same weapons.
healed by the same means, warmed