Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-01
PHILADELPHIA PAYS
TRIBUTE TO MEMORY
OF WIN. SHAKESPEARE
Commemorative Exercises
Mark Observance of Tercen-
tary of Death of
Avon's Bard
EXHIBIT AT ACADEMY

An obscure Engllshman who died aOt
years ago after career which few of his
contemporaries thought particularly re
markable will be toasted and honored
throughout Philadelphia this week as the
greatest genius in the history of English
literature, and perhaps, in the literature
Of the entire world.
He will be honored despite the fact that
only little over a week ago n Chicago
Judge said that there was absolutely no
doubt that he was not the man who wrote
the masterpieces for which he has been
given credit during three centuries but
was only one who loaned his name TO a
nobleman who thought Il vulgar and be.
meath his dignity to become known as a
writer of plays
The activities connected with the
Shakespeare tercentenary will reach their
hlghwater mark this week. which has
been designated as Shakespeare Week in
Philadelphia. Colleges. schools, clubs,
churches, literary societies and even busi.
ness organizations will celebrate the an
niversary of the great poet and dramatlst.
A Shakespeare Commemoration Com.
mittee Is in charge of the celebration here,
and the members say that this city will
lead their country in observing of the
event. DIR. Felix II. Schellng. head of the
English department at the University Of
Pennsylvania, heads the committee.
AT ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS.
An interesting exhibit In Shake
speareana opened today at the Academy
of the Fine Arts and will continue two
weeks. Included in the exhibit. which is
open to the public, is a tiny model of
the Globe Theatre in London. where the
Shakespeare dramas were first played,
and many interesting editions of Shake
speare and rare books of criticism. Many
of these have a bearing on the Shake
speare- Bacon controversy. The decision
of Judge Tuthill, of Chicago, that 1t was
Bacon and not Shakespeare who wrote
the immortal masterpieces that bear the
name of William Shakespeare Is not
dampening in any way the enthusiasm
of the celebration, but 1t is serving as
an additional subject for argument among
the many who are discussing Shakespeare
at great length now that his memory is
being so generally honored and that his
greatness is being called to the attention
of many who have hitherto been indif-
ferent to the marvellous products of his
pen.
The shakespeareana exhibit will COM
prise folios, quartos and other rare and
interesting editions of the poets works,
including translations into many Ian.
guages, portraits of Shakespeare and OF
actors in his plays. prints and engravings
based on his dramas and pictures OF
scenes connected with his life.
WEST PHILADELPHIA HIGH
At the West Philadelphia High School
for Boys the tercentenary will be observed
with some form of activity every day
Today Professor Roy Helton delivered an
address on THE Authorship of the Plays"
at the opening exercises at o'clock. To-
morrow there will be recitations and dla-
logues from the plays, to be rendered
by the following students: Leo Ponti,
Jacques Benoliel, George Swinton, Ed
ward McCaffrey, Russell Dunlap and
Rensselaer, Lee. Wednesday the Glee Club
of the school and a quartet from the
choir of the Church of the Atonement
will render an Elizabethan concert
Thursday morning pupils of the school
will make short addresses on Shakespeare
as follows THE Life of Shakespeare"
Roger Hubbart; "The High School Stud
ents' Interest in Shakespeare" Bowen
Garwood "Polonius' Advice to Laertes as
a System of Conduct for Young Men"
AFFORD Higgins. Friday morning Vice
Provost Penniman. of the University of