New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-20
Churches and Schools Will
Observe 350th Birthday
of Bard of Avon.
EXERCISES THURSDAY
IN CENTRAL PARK
Percy Mackaye Writes Poem for
Occasion and Actors Will
Give Readings.

Beginning Yesterday WIFI sernons
adapted 10 the occasion in the various
churches. New York has entered UPON
Shakespeare Week. in celebration Of the
s5oth anniversary OF the birth Of the Bard
OF Avon The high schools have prepared
elaborate programmes. which include
shakespearian plays, pageants. Mosques
and other appropriate features.
The main celebration will take place
Thursday afternoon at o'clock about the
statue Of Shakespeare in Central Park. II
Will begin with choruses sung by three
hundred school children. trained by Dr.
Frank r. Rix. supervisor OF music. Miss
Myra 3. Martin, president OF the Shake
speare Club. will place wreath on the
statue. and IL Is expected that Sir Cecil
Arthur SpringiRice, the British Am
5assador. and Mayor Mitchell will make
brief addresses.
An original poem. written for the oc-
casion by Percy Mackaye, will be read
by Douglas j. Wood. Miss Grace George
will give the speech OF Constance from
king John" Montsgu Love and James
Dale. OF the cyril Maude company, will
give the jealousy scene from "Othello."
Robert Mantell will read Marc Antony's
GRAFTON. Eighty school children in cos
tune from Public School So, Manhattan.
will dance morris dances and the chill
dren from Mrs. August Belmont's ORA
matte League will give short scenes from
Shakespeare
In the evening there will be dinner at
the National Arts Club, at which the
guests OF honor will be those who have
participated in the celebration, officials
and special guests.
Many Protestant churches observed the
opening Of Shakespeare Week yesterday
The Rev DR.. Newell Dwight Hills, I'm
Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, preached
Shakespeare sermons morning and even
ing. Several of the Jewish rabbis also de-
voted their sermons to Shakespeare. Next
Sunday A service I'm the Cathedral OF St
John the Divine az o'clock in the after
noon will bring the celebration TO a
close
Mrs. Emma Sheridan Fry's Educational
PLAYERS will give A special reading OF "A
Winters Tale" this evening az the Nor
NAL College. The College OF the City OF
New York will hold its exercises at noon
THURSDAY.
Thursday evening the girls OF Washing
ton Irving High School will give a Shake
spsare masque. The invitation 70 this
function. printed in old English style,
reads as follows:
Good Friend. who lowest Shakespeare, thou
art bid
To meet us a. Merrie Festival
In honor Of his Birth. Here shalt thou sc.
Sweet Nemorie reverse the Glass Of Time
And call again the MAY day Of the World
Shakespeare himself shall greet US as a Boy
And Vision. with her wondrOus Glass reveal
To thee the splendid Creatures OF hts Art,
In gay Procession. mirrored on our Stage
Nhenas HIS Music shall delight thine Ear.
Preceding the masque prologue in
verse written by schoolgirls. will be re-
cited by Thomas W. Churchill, president
Of the Board Of Education.
The Wadleigh High School Thursday
evening will present a series OF competi-
tive casts Of Shapespesre's Midsummer
Nights Dream" Superintendent William
II. Maxwell will make an address.
Friday afternoon. April q. a profess
sional matinee will be given at one Of
the Broadway theatres Robert Mantell
and Miss Margaret Anglin, supported by
their companies. will present scenes from
Shakespeares plays On the same day
there will be an outdoor celebration on
Staten Island. al which the pupils Of
Public School Il will dance morris dances.
Prospect Park, Brooklyn. will be the
scene. on Saturday. OF a celebration con-
sisting Of addresses, readings from
Shakespeare. special music and the dane
ng Of the morris dances by the pupils
OF Public School l22.
The Rev Nehemiah Boynton will pre-
side at a celebration at the Academy Of
Music, Brooklyn, Thursday, and there will
be an address by the Rev. Charles Car
roll Albertson and Shakespearian readings
nv E'redaricx Warde the actor