New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-24
Great Ones of the Earth"
Drop Mexico Bulletins to
DO Him Reverence"
SHAKESPEARE MEMORY
EXTOLLED BY THRONG
Central Park Sees Impressive
Observance of 350th Anniver-
sary of His Birth.

rs distinct from the spirit. he would have
been $50 years old. So various adult wor-
shippers Of his and thousands OF school
children took occasion TO gather about his
statue in Central Park. TO flock 10 the
great hall OF City College, 70 attend exer-
cses In the high schools and 10 invade
the National Arts club for dinner. all In
honor Of his penetrating personality.
The Central Park celebration. which
centred about the placing of wreath on
Shakespeare's bronze shoulders, occupied
the foremost place on the programme
There. from a hag-draped stand on the
Mall. the Mayor and Cabot Ward, the
Park Commissioner. spoke Douglas
Wood read an original poem written for
the occasion by Percy Mackaye. Presi-
dent Thomas W. Churchill OF the Board
OF Education addressed the well packed
crowd of celebrants: the boys OF Public
School So, Manhattan. executed Eliza
bethan folk dances on the vivid grass, TO
the accompaniment of their own or
chestra.
Miss Marie Ellington, an English
actress. read the speech OF Constance
from King John; the pupils OF the
Norris High School. the Wadleieh annex,
the De Witt Clinton and Washington Irv
Ing high schools, under the direction of
DR.. Frank r. Rlx, sang Shakespearlan
songs; the dramatic club from Public
School 1888. Manhattan. under the auspices
Of the Educational Players League, gave
the casket scene from THE Merchant Of
Venice" and Fritz Leiber. an actor play
Ing with Robert Mantell, delivered the
Seven Ages" The Hebrew Orphan Asy-
lum band filed in the chnks with music
and Henry Clews presided.
Mayor Mitchell told his audience that
celebrations OF this sort were held in
honor Of those only who moulded a peo-
pies life.
THE art OF Shakespeare he continued
rs not only the art OF expression and OF
FORM but that OF understanding We
can't be Shakespeares. most Of us, but
each of us can acquire a sympathetic I'M
Outstanding OF his fellow men. In or
work in this city the chief problem Of
the Mayor and his government IS TO I'M
derstand the point OF view Of the average
man"
He urged his hearers 20 read Shake
speare, as this would help them, as II had
helped him, TO a better understanding OF
human nature.
Park Commissioner Ward emphasized
Shakespearc's love Of the out OF doors az
reflected in all his writings. and this lei
him naturally to the subject OF the city's
parks.
The exercises were under the auspices
of the Shakespeare Club Of New York
Miss Myra e. Martin. its president was
the one 10 place the wreath on the Shake
speare statue
In the evening a small company of
eighty or one hundred recruited from
among those who had arranged the exer-
cises in Central Park. broke bread al the
National Arts Club, in Gramercy Park,
with the spirit of Shakespeare.
Henry CleWs reminded the diners that
he had served on the committee which
had In charge the Shakespeare celebra-
ton fifty years ago.
To-day he continued, "ex-Vice- Pres
ident Levi p. Morton. Henry Holt and
myself are the only survivors OF that
memorable committee
Percy Mackaye both spoke and recited.
Among others present were Miss Edith
Wynne Matthison. Philip Lydlg, John De
Witt Warner and Charles Ram Kennedy.
Very elaborate was the Shakespeare
celebration devised and essayed by the
damsels of the school called Washington
irving" There was a performance
Wednesday afternoon, but the real event
came last night, when friends and parents
of the actresses crowded the Municipal
Theatre In that school TO see the show
Thomas Churchill president of the
Board Of Education. read the prologue,
but the girls did all the rest. The stage
vas set as the Highway OF the Years"
and Memory ethel Boston, stopped the
march OF the seasons and turned back
the glass Of time. Then came Shakespeare
Cora Ghertler), and after him Morris
dancers. and then, Shakespeare being
overcome with sleep. the various children
OF his brain appeared and acted their
parts before him.
The girls OF Wadeigh High School be-
gan last night the competitive productions
of the Midsummer Nights Dream"
which form their Shakespeare festival
Two casts are in the competition and the
play will ne given nightly at the school
until May Is, the winners giving the last
two performances.
Dr. William H. Maxwell. the City SUI
perintendent. gave the opening address.
other members OF the festival committee
present were Thomas W. Churchill, John
Creepp Igadore NJ TeXv a nd DR. Tqrnee
p. Haney. The school was crowded
Miss Jennie Erskine Murray acted as
stage manager. The costumes and the
art work On the programmes and posters
were all produced by pupils. Members OF
Miss Maude Adamss company assisted
with hints as to the correct staging.
Educational schools In Brooklyn. both
public and private, began yesterday the
celebration OF the 35Oth anniversary OF the
birth OF Shakespeare The Commercial
High School gave the court scene from
The Merchant Of Venice" and music was
rendered by the boys orchestra.
David A. Brocdy. former Mayor OF the
old City of Brooklyn. spoke at the cere-
monies conducted at the Berkeley Insti-
tute. The students presented a Shake
spearian masque.
The Rev DR.. S. Parkes Cadman, acting
president of Adelphl College. gave an ad-
dress on Shakespeare at that institution.
Similar programmes were given at the
Polytechnic Institute and all public
schools.
Apropos OF the celebration. Il was
toorrad tbat Nra Catherine do TI.Xrnap