Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-19
THREE .HUMDRED7H
ANNIVERSARY OF
SHAKESPEARE'SBLRTI4
MANY CITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES ARE
PLANNING FITTING cELE BRATIoNs OF THE GREAT
PLAYWRIGHT's BIRTH
PLAYWR1GHT's BIRTH

The coming year will be one of great
interest to all lovers OF good ltera-
turc. On April 23, 1916. lust three
hundred years ago. there ended the
litc OF the greatest bard of modern
times. And in commemoration OF the
immortal work he accomplished in his
thlrty-thrcc years of labor, we arc to
celebrate the tercentenary of his
DEATH
A number Of cities throughout the
United States are already at work pre-
pairing various demonstrations. New
York City is planning an impressive
masque which will be given in May
under the direction of Percy Mae
Kaye Hundreds of students and
actors will participate and thousand;
of dollars will be spent for SCENERY.
costumes, etc. St. Louis will also have
very noteworthy celebration. They
are to build a sort of stadium or am
p'theater and turn it over to Miss Mar
sarct Anglin, a talented actress who
has produced a number of Greek PLAYS
at Berkeley, Cal She will be supported
by large company and several Shake
spearcan plays will be revived. Other
cities and communities will organize
plays, pageants, Mosques. lectures, and
similar exhibitions to stimulate an in
tercst in the works of the Bard of
Avon
Although the plays and sonnets, of
Shakespeare have existed for three
centuries, it has been during only the
last fifty years that they have been
1nDrPrI3tpI
to their real value. Of course some
OF his plays have always been more
or less popular with various men of
letters, but it has been in recent years
that his thoughts have come to be
read and studied SO universally Per-
1aps no dramatlst has ever been able
to put himself III the hearts of all
casscs and nationalitics so completely
as has Shakespeare AT any rate. it is
certain that no man has had greater
effect upon the literature of the world
than he. In all forms of present day
literature one can see the shining
truths that were first given expression
by the great Englishman.
One Of the great things about the
writings Of Shakespeare is their ap-
PIo' W t'Il SOltS dIiu (O1lQltlOllS OF DcO-
pies. One never is too young or too
old to read him. Kings get no more
pleasure than the peasant Russian
finds his characters as interesting as
does a cultured Mexican. This is not
merely because he was such great
poet, but because he knew and under
stood human nature and because the |
fundamental passion that stands out
in all his characters is love. Human
nature will be. the same, for all time.
and love will be the greatest passion
Tor all time. therefore the works of |
William Shakespeare, will live for all
time.
For sometime educators and stud
cnts in America; England, Germany.
and other countries have recognized
the benefit to be derived from the
study of such plays as Hamlet, Mac
beth, The Merchant of Venice, etc.
For that reason Shakespeare is fast
coming to be appreciated by all people
III general. To-day there is hardly a
school throughout the land that does
not study his philosophy. A number
OF his plays have been produced at
various periods, and hundreds have
found great pleasure in seeing them.
But the fact is evident that Shake
speare is not read or studied by as
many as he should be. Only few |
can go to college. and only fortunate
few of us ever have the opportunity |
to witness one or more Of his plays |
on the stage. But there is no reason
why all Of us cannot study him in our
homes. Books cost very little nova
days, and by systematic application
anyone of average intelligence can soon |
thrill under the spell Of his golden
thoughts. ......
One does not nec~l to 60 20 very
much trouble to fad that our great