The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-04-24
Or. STOCKTON AXsON'S
BARD OF AVON LECTURE
LARGE CROWD HEARS NORM
EDUCATOR ~ SHAKES
PEABEAN LECTURE.
PORTRAIT OF Shakespeare l. Presented
to Library in Recognition of H.
Worth and Help in Pursuit
of knowledge.

The Waxahachie Shakespeare Climb
has won the applause and delight of
many citizens for the great treat on
Saturday night. when DR.. stockton
Arson of Rice Institute. lectured on
the Bard of Avon. The library had
capacity house, and a short pro-
gram was given previous to the lee
ture. Misses Modena Hawkins Mar.
garet Kemble, Lucille Harding and
Virginia Trippet. members of the
club, acted as ushers. The stage
was artistically set in pedestals OF
roses and ferns. In the center of the
stage, a little to. the rear was the
handsome portrait of Shakespeare.
which the club presented to Sims H.
brary, in recognition of its worth
and help to club members in pursuit
of knowledge Mrs. W. L. Harding
made the presentation speech, Civ
ing a short history of the club. and
how it had grown in wisdom since
1t had been extended the Sims Ii
brary and its storehouse Of literary
gems. The portrait was accepted
on behalf of the trustees by Miss
Galloway, the librarian, and she ex-
pressed appreciation of the cooper
alton of the club women and their
numerous courtesies to Sims library.
The musical numbers were given
by the Trinity Glee club, 1.-The Win
ter Song" being the first number,
(which was so attraetively rendered.
they were recalled for number
equally as pleasing. Director John
Bert Graham gave a solo, "Blow,
Blow, Thou Winter Wind" Mr.. Ora
ham is always appreciated, and his
selection on Saturday night delight
ed the audience.
DR.. Hornbeak of Trinity Univer-
sity introduced DR.. Arson. In few
preliminary remarks he expressed
his appreciation that the Shakes
peare club had afforded such an OPP
portunity for the students of Trini-
ty to have an inspiration in their
English work. through the medium
of DR.. Axson's visit. He said the
ways doing something for the uplift
and betterment of the community.
DR.. Hornbeak referred to DR.. Arson
as being a valuable asset to Texas
educational circles, and expressed
gratitude that he was not to leave
the state as had been previously
announced, but was to remain with
us and continue to insure and uplift
not only in the school room, but in
the lecture lyceums of the state.
Starting out upon his magnifi-
cent lecture DR.. Arson referred to
the decision of the United States cir
cult court of Chicago giving Francis
Bacon the credit of writing Shapes
peare's plays, said he had not come
to spend the time on the subject,
but would say that it was and would
continue to be the greatest joke in
history. He said that Ben Johnson
always contentious, critical, and al
ways rowing, never had any other
vision but to give Shakespeare full
credit for the writing of his plays.
He spoke of the poetic dreams OF
the nineteenth century and said the
most successful writer's had been
Browning and Tennyson, and the
best he could say for them was that
they had failed in the drama. lie
attributed their failure to imitation,
which he declared was always fatal
in the field of dramatic art. lie de-
clared Shakespeare's success hao
been in his practical presentation OF
the drama, writing for the tastes
and demands of his own age. III
Arson believes that Ibsen had the
most tremendous influence on the
modern drama and with the somDer
Isben's writing, romantic passion
fled from the stage. He referred 10
the simplicity of Shakespeare stage
settings. which of course was due 10
his day, when plays were given III
the out of doors. In the style oil MS
drama, the lecturer said the age OF
Shakespeare was extrayagant IN
emotional demands, seeking sehsd-
tional climaxes in violence, mnfuei'
madness and revenge. He aiiudeu
TO the English demanding poetry
inst as the Germans are trained 70
90 where the music attracts. In the
south. he said. there was passion
for oratory, and gave as Illustration
the instance of a certain young man
praising the oratorieal powers Oh
public speaker, and suostahtiaeiHs
AaA