The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-28

reached us. and not familiar line from
his hand, or the record of one interview
at which he was present"
Dr. Richardson is afraid that DR.. Evans
and the Baconians will profane the mem
DRY of his "demigod." Is 1t possible to
profane a nonenity?
These are the essential factors concern
ing William SHAKESPEARE In the discussion
OF the authorship. DR.. Evans has point
ed out some of the strange facts re-
garding the publication of the plays, their
revision, alteration and enlargement
years and years after the death of VIII
liam SHAKESPEARE, and 1t is not necessary
to go over that ground. Nor would
these facts of the darkness of the life
of SHAKESPEARE with the net conclusion of
his incapacity, with the facts of the late
publication OF his plays In the folio of
1928, be conclusive that SHAKESPEARE was
not the author, though well nigh so. Ba-
contains do not come with only one ar
row in their CULVER; nor are Baconians so
demented as not to recognize that zone
swallow does not make a summer" that
no one fact ever so important in the con-
troversy establishes the claim for Bacon.
They realize that however significant
the disparity between SHAKESPEARE the ac-
tor and the works attributed to him,
that alone does not make out case for
zant that they must present an accumula-
ton of facts, external and internal,
which must be practically overwhelming
to support their contention; that mass
of historical and classical evidence must
accompany the claim. And this is just
what the Baconians have been doing for
we'll nigh half century now, and what
they have accomplished is the fact that
they have already forced the partisans of
the Stratford actor to defensive tactics,
behind their brea of tradition and
prejudice, we'll nigh starved out for as
far as facts and evidence to sustain them
are concerned, they are in precarious
condition on very short rations. Good
ness knows how they still hang on with
so low diet. Theirs is a losing fight,
with supplies being exhausted, ammuni-
ton giving out, no hope of reinforcement
with only the breast works to protect
them from the ruthless and irristible enc
my. How may they fare when new
generation comes in with no pride of ira
dition, and the old SHAKESPEARE prejudice
broken down by the tncessant voleys
from Baconians?
Well then, what about Francis Bacon?
How account for his entrance into the
controversy? Dr. Evans has sketched
some of the points, and many volumes
have been written thereon which defy
condensation.
1t is only necessary to say mat MS
life was, OF course, contemporary with
SHAKESPEARE. His career matches with
the output OF the plays. which appeared
coincidently with his leisure or practically
So AS soon as Bacon reached manhood
he wanted perferment His correspon-
dence with his uncle Burlegh, mentioned
by DR.. Evans, and with his cousin, Cecil,
proves 1t. He needed 1t. in fact. He wrote
the plays. Why? For the same reason
that VIII Shakspere would have, II he
could have--to maintain an existence
while waiting for preferment. Why did
he not acknowledge these works of his
mind? In view of the universal disfavor
Of playwriters, had he admitted the au-