Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-22
England Plans
a Modest Festival Of
Praise and Com-
memoration

TT IS one OF the terrible Ironies OF the
i great war that the land OF Shake
speare's birth cannot give the tercentenary
of his death the full honor Il deserves or
that the nation planned. Yet there viii be
widespread celebration, though OF a
humber sort.
The National Tercentenary COMMITTEES,
under the patronage of the King and
Queen, has arranged for Shakespeafn
services In virtually all the churches OF
the kingdom on April 80, with the princi-
pal service in Westminster Abbey. on
Monday. May 1, n meeting Will be held In
the Mansion House. with an address, IL
is hoped. by the Prime Minister, and other
speeches by well-known persons celebrate
ing the national memory of the poet.
on May 2 there will be a gala per-
formance of Julius Caesar" under royal
patronage at the Drury Lane Theatre,
with all the great English Shakespearean
stars as actors
May will be celebrated IN the schools
as Shakespeare Day" On the saIue
day Prof. John w. Aackail of Oxford,
will deliver the annual Shakespeare leo
ture at the British Academy, and a ma
tlonal committee will meet to arrange
for a permanent memorial Of the occa-
sion in behalf Of the school children of
the nation. on Friday, May s, Pilgrim
age takes place to Stratford-on-Avon
give a performance of scenes from Shake
spearean dramas at the Memorial Theatre
In London a series of memorial lectures
will be given by Sidney Lee at London
University, while similar course Will be
given at Gresham College by Prof Fostor
Watson.
The London Shakespeare League has
arranged for the unwilling Of memorial
in Curtain road to mark the site of Shake-
speare's theatre In Shoreditch. Under the
same auspices there will be lectures On
Shakespeare and a reading of Hamlet
by Ben Greet. Mr.. Greet also VIII De IN
charge of the presentation OF 20 Shake
speare plays at popular prices IN the oid
Victoria Hail. rs
The British Empire Shakespeare Society
will strike a commemorative medallion
likeness, which will go to all parts OF
the world. 49,
Several of the London boroughs Will
havo celebrations of their own. Harnp.
stead. for example, will have series OF
lectures and readings, under the chhir-
manship of the Mayor
The National Committee Is preparing
IA Book of Homage" which will con-
tain tributes to the poet from different
parts Of the globe. s,sg.
Al Stratford-on-Avon there will be =
fortnight of Shakespearean, performances
and long series of special celebrations.
including a procession to Shapespeare's
church and a floral decoration Of the tomb
in the chancel. b.
oxford is to have tercentenary ex.
hibition at Bodieys Library, opening on
April "a. Manchester has a committees of
its own, which has arranged an elaborate
series of lectures. recitals, performances
of songs, prize competitions and exhibl-
tions. A permanent memorial VIII be pro-
yided at Manchester In the form OF
Shapespeare garden. laid out on lines
parallel to that at Stratford-on-Avon.
There will be less important tercen-
tenary performances and obseryances N
virtually o. cry city of Importance In
Great Britain and Ireland. The feature
at Dublin will be gala performances OF
Henry v.
The little group of enthusiasts who
maintain that Bacon really wrote most
of the works attributed to Shakespeare
is reported to be preparing a ceremony
of derision." Of which. however. no details
have been announced.