Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-03

.DEPL0RE AME. R|CAN
LACK OF REVERENCE
Tourists Attend Services 10 See Shake
Speare's Tomb and Write Posnl
Cards in Church.
Especial Dispatchl



This Is Londons annual silly season
But so wholly Is the public NY
devoting itself TO holiday AFFAIRS that
the usual crazy quilt" discussions which
are wont TO rage in the columns OF the
metropolitan newspapers on problems OF
such peculiar import as 10 give the period
its name have been utterly lacking. Pol
tics went to sleep weeks ago Even be-
fore Parliament adjourned politicians
merely talked In their sleep; now they
wander instead. Law is dead Confer
ences OF Importance await until the future
So in this condition OF affairs, the Amer
lean tourist has had TO serve as a conven-
lent subject for verbal dissection
From stratford on Avon has come the
complaint OF the "irreyerent behavior Of
a certain class % American visitors who
attend the services in the parish church
with the object OF visiting Shakespeare
tJr-:S in the chancel and not for the pur-
pose Of divine worship" This practice.
It Is alleged, has become so general as to
account for the placing OF a card lame
idiately after each Sunday service across
the west end Of the choir, which reads--
Shakespeare tomb Is not shown on Sun
days, and on other days a small charge is
made, the proceeds being expended upon
the church and its service and the care Of
the churchyard."
4 stll further and moro serious COM
paint against "a section Of Americans"
IL recorded in that they have been seen
to 20 through their purchases of pictorial
postcards and actually - address item
during the time 81 divine service" So
vigorously have the chlrcl wlrdeas and
the vicar taken steps 20 put a stop, as
they characterize It. TO the practice which
Is the outcome very largely OF the modern
laxity in proper observance Of the Lords
Day" that the London Globe has released
itself OF the following comment
we could wish that that certain class
OF American tourists who go 10 STRAIT
ford on Avon 10 visit Shakespeare's tomb
and forget TO behave with at least super
fcial reverence in the church during divine
service would make a rather more careful
study Of the works OF Shakespeare before
they pay their respects 20 his grave.
Shakespeare, we feel sure reveals in his
poetry a spirit contrary TO that which In
spires one TO go into a small local church
] I'm a strange town, and under the eye OF
the vicar temper public devotions with the
task Of addressing a large stock OF picture
postcards TO the old folks at home shake
speare created some constituencies men
nd women. but none who did this pariicu-
lar thing
so obviously did these visitors come TO
see the tomb OF the poet rather than 10
take part In the services that the vicar
and church wardens have made certain
res trictiOns As to the publics opportunity
OF viewing the tomb. 1t Is not shown on
SUNDAYS, and a small charge for church
purposes Is made on the other days. This
state OF AFFAIRS. no doubt necessary one.
affords US regrets: regret that 'certa n
class small as u may he. has prejudiced
the position Of these Americans who have
escaped from the defects which marS the
souvenir hunter and hustler OF the ola
fashioned type, and regret that shake
speare's tomb is not one Of those national
sights which are TO be seen by all people
at all times. free Of charge"