The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-02
The Shakespeare Tercentenary

The Shakespeare Tercentenary
 Extensive preparation will be made for commemorations next April of the tercentenary of Shakespeare's death An informal conference of literary men and women was held a few weeks ago in Washington under the chair manship of E. H. Sothern, the dis tinguished actor, to consider plans, and on October 1 there will be a formal meeting at which a tercentenary or ganization will be perfected. Mrs. Sothern (Julia Marlowe) is co-operat- ing with her husband in the prelim- mary work. Grosvenor Dave of Washington is acting as temporary secretary and, according to state ment just issued by him, it is the desire of those who participated in the recent conference to have "the celebration reach every school district in the United tSates'
 It is further remarked by Dr. Dave that "a thing more im- portant than an evanescent com memoration" is for the people in terested in the occasion Ito question each other as to how to give enduring national form to our sense of debt to the Shakespearean drama, ltera- ture and language"
 The tercentenary movement is sure to arouse enthusiasm throughout the country and the October conference should be well attended. The especial cooperation of the Drama League of America should be and doubtless will be sought. That association is not only thoroughly organized but it is noted for the zeal of it's members in promoting plays of the highest order.
 AS to how best to honor the memory of the worlds greatest dramatist in "enduring national form," there will be many suggestions, and such sugges- tions are earnestly invited by those who have taken the initial steps for the tercentenary observance.
 So long as we have sculptors of
 
 ability statues will be in order; but let's have something different from the conventional portrait figure in marble or bronze.
 A beautiful playhouse erected in New York by popular subscription to be styled the Shakespeare theatre, would be appropriate. Men, women and children in every part of America would ontribute-children their pen nies and adults larger amounts-and in this way a great total could be ob- tained
 Shakespeare bioliography, already voluminous, increases with each year. But biographical material is singu- larly meagre. Much has been printed, but little is actually known of Shake speare's life. Of commentaries, how ever, there will be no end. Discussion concerning the literary and spiritual value of the plays and sonnets will always be of interest. Some of the critical essays are Illuminating, but after all the best way to read Shake speare is to read him without notes, taking the words in their obvious sense. Many learned Shakespearean authorities strive for originality. They have confused the lay mind by reading meanings into lines that the author never intended. Partly for that reason the real lover of the immortal bard discards commentaries. The young student needs a glossary and he may be helped by few side lights. But the matured reader and the intelligent actor revels in the text as he finds it, for he has reached the conclusion that Shakespeare is his own best commentator.
 It is curious fact that Shakespeare died on the anniversary of his birth. He was born April 23, 1864, and died April 23, 1916. The tercentenary of his birth was celebrated in Stratford and in London in 1864; but the com memoration of his death next year promises to be the most impressive event of the kind ever held.