davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19
The Living Shakespeare
By Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
q From His Book Entitled I"Thoushts
and After-Thoughts.'


TT will be my practical endeavor to
show that the public Of to-day de.
mands that. IL acted at all, Shake
speare shall be presented with all the
resources of the theatre OF our time
that he shall be treated, not as a dead
author speaking dead language, but as
living force speaking with the voice of
living humanity. And 1t will be my
further endeavor to show that in making
this demand the pubic is right
am quite aware that In this assertion
am opposed by those who regard Shake.
speare as mere literary legacy, and
themselves as his executors, for whose
special behest his bones are periodically
Iexhumed In order to crafty a pretty
taste for literary pedantry. But great
poetry Is not written for the few, elected
iof themselves; 1t must be living force.
or it must be respectfully relegnted to
the dingy shelves OF the great unheard-
the little read.
Is Shakespeare living or Is he dead?
That Is the question. Is he to be. or NOT
to be?
IL he is to be, his being must .be9of orr
time-that Is to say, we must look at him
with the eyes and we must listen to him.
with the cars of our own generation
And 1t is surely the greatest tribute TO
MS genius that we should claim his work
as belonging no iess to our time than TO
his owni ~
- There are those who contend that II
Isnakespeare be fit to play to our age, in
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19

sons memorable production OF "a Win.
Ter laie at the same theatre, where
inc Leontes was Mr.. Forbes Robertson
, another actor of the modern school tina,
Old school which is externally new
might say the right schooD, not 10 men.
ton Mr.. John Hare's LAS You Like II "
MT. Wilson Barretts Hamlet" and
"otheilo," and Nj. George Alexander
AS You Like 1t" and Much Ado About
Nothing" Again, at the HAymarket, I'M
DER recent management, one might
nave seen produced in this same culbable
fashion Hamlet" The Merry Wives OF
Windsor and Henry w"
Now. am not in a position by mans
OF the brutal but unanswerable logic NJ
hsuIes, 70 speak of the success which at
.e"uea inc various productions OF my
>orother managers; nor shall I seek 10
set up commercial success as the stand
ard oy which artistic endeavor must no
gagged. can speak with authority in
reference to those productions for which
l myself have been responsible-if in.
deed 1t be permissible to call oneself &c
witness TO prove ones own case. For
the moment modesty must give wav to
the exigencies of the
situation as modesty
frequently must. ..sssSe
In three years at
Her Majesty's Thea.
tire three Shakespearean productions
nave been given-"Julius Caesar" King
John" land "a Midsummer Nights
Dream: and much, no doubt, as 1t will
shock some people, l am not ashamed to
say that for these productions | have
tried TO borrow from the arts and the
sciences all that the arts and the lsci-
'ences had to lend. And~what has been.
the result? In London alone two hundred
and forty-two thousand people witnessed
Julius Caesar" over one hundred and
seventy thousand came to see ',King
john" and nearly two hundred and
twenty thousand were present during the
run Of "A Midsummer Nights Dream
IN all grand total of six hundred and
thlrty-two Thousand visitors to these three
productions. And no doubt my brother
managers who have catered for the pub
lie in this manner could. with the great
successes that they have had, point to
similar figures
think, therefore, it Is not too much to
cialm that the public taste clearly and
whether that taste be good
or bad-iies in the direction of the
method In which Shakespeare has been
presented OF late years by the chief met.
ropolitan managers 1t Is for me to prove
that that taste Is justified, and that tho
great mass of English theatregoers are
not to be stamped as fools and ignorants
Copyright, 1915, by tho Star Comnar
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19

THEthrce hundredth anniversary
OF tho death OF William Shake.
spcare. shortly 10 be celc-
DRAFTED throughout this country, hnds
the public indebted TO one living actor
or Shakespeerean roles who has done
more than probably any Single indi-
Vidual among his famous predeces-
sorH 10 demonstrate 10 the multitude
now universal was the genius OF the
worlds greatest poettlramatist.
On this page that actor-manager
and elaborate producer of the trag-
edies and comedies of Shakespeare
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Trees rep.
resented i'll an extraordinary divers
ity OF chara ctcrization. including
three OF Shakcspeare's greatest ere.
atoms. His special contribution 10
the Shakespeare Festival is his own
conception OF Cardinal Woisey in
Henry VIII with scenic produc.
tion Of this play more gorgeous
than has ever before been attempted.
AT his theatre in London for many
years Beerbohm Tree has never
failed TO commemorate, the poets
birthday with some Production from :
his works on scale hardly less mag
nihcent. He believes in Shakespeare
as an everything force in civilization,
and therefore applies the most mod
ern arts Of stagecraft in presenting
his plays. On that subject he writes
with conviction. as in the article here
printed for its general as we'll as
timely interest
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19

10 another age, but do not let us be &C.
!uded by too diligent study of magazine
articles into the belief that we must re-.
gard these great plays as interesting
specimens for the special dedication of
epicures in antiques.
We have, then, in fact, two contending
forces OF opinion On the one side we
nave the literary experts. as revealed in
print; on the other we have public opin.
ion. as revealed by the coin of the realm.
we are told in this connection that the
ideal note to strike is that Of Adequacy"
We are assured that We are not to apply
10 Shakespearean productions the same
care, the same reverence for accuracy,
the same regard for stage illusion. for
mounting, scenery and costume, which
We devote to authors of lesser degree;
mat We should not. In fact, avail our
serves of those adjuncts which in these
days science and art Place at the man.
ayers right hand; in other words. that
we are TO produce orr national poet's
works without the crowds and armies
without the pride. pomp and circumstance
which are suggested in every page OF the
dramatists work. and the absence of
which Shakespeare himself so frequently
laments In his plays On this subject"
rightly or wrongly (but I hope shall be
able to prove to you rightiy)-tne public
mas spoken with no hesitating voice; the
trend Of its taste has undoubtedly been
toward putting Shakespeare upon the
stage as worthily and as munihcently ss
the manager can afford
1t would be interesting to ascertainA
how many English playgoers have epeour.
aged this method Of producing Shake.
speare since Sir Squire Bancroft gave us
THE Merchant Of Venice" at the old
Prince Of Wales Theatre. which Is my
earliest theatrical recollection of the
kind; and do not remember since to
have seen any Shakespearean presenta.
ton more satisfyingaeo my Judgment. 1t
was here that Ellen Terry first shed the
sunlight Of her buoyant and radiant per.
sonality on the character OF Portia; it
was tthe first production in which the
modern spirit Of .stage-management as
serted itself. transporting us as it did into
the atmosphere of Venice, into the rare
he'd realms Of Shakespearean comedy.
Since then, no doubt, millions have
hooked to this class of production. as we
reanze when we recall Sir Henry IT..
wings, beautiful Shakespearean prescnta.
lions from 1874 to 1896; presentations
which included Hamlet" Macbeth"
Much Ado About Nothing
Nlhg Lear, Romeo and Juliet" THE
Merchant of Venice" SHenry VIII"
Richard III" and "Cymbeline": and
when we remember Miss Mary Ander.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19

the sioth into which he has fallen by a
return to that primitive treatment which
may be indicated in such stage instruc-
tons as This Is q forest" This is
wall" This is youth" This Is
maiden This Is O moon"
contend that greater service for the
true knowing OF Shakespeare's works Is
rendered by the careful production OF
one OF these plays than by the indifTer-
ent--or, as believe it is now fashionably
called. the misrepresentation OF
half dozen of them. BY deeplM i'm
pressing an audience. and making their
hearts throb to the beat of the poets
wand, by bringing ont through represen.
'atlon the full meaning OF his works. by
enthralling an audience by the magic of
the actor who has the compelling power,
we are enabled to give Shakespeare a
WIDER appeal and larger franchise
surely no mean achievement! Thousands
witness him instead of hundreds: for his
WORKS are not only, or primarily, for the
literary student-they are for the world
at large.
indeed, there should be more low over
ninety'nine Philistines that are gained
than over one elect That is preserved
contend that not only is no service ron.
fered to- Shakespeare by an adequate"
representation, but that such perform.
ances are a disservice, in so far that a
large proportion OF the audience will re-.
eei'e from such representations an i'm
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19
MIR. Tree in the Character of FaI
staff, the "Fat Knight" OF
Henry w." and "The
Merry Wives of
Windsor"

because they have shown decided pref.
'erence for contemporary methods.
Many able pens have been busy OF
late, and much valuable ink has been
split in assuring us that the modern
method Is wrong method, and that
Shakespeare can. only be rescued from
Great Britain Rights Reserved.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19

order to appre.
ciate his works
they must only
be deckcd out
with the thread
bare Wardrobe
Of a b go n 9
time. Let us
treat these anti
guardians with
the resDect. due
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06

Street car service in Washington stopped at dark last night after about fifty per cent. of normal runs had been made throughout the first day of a strike of union carmen for higher wages and shorter hours.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
TURKISH WOMEN PROTEST
 SENDING OF MEN TO WAR
They Threw Themselves on Rails in
 Front of Troop Trains.

Odessa, Russia, March 5, via Lon don, 525 p. mt is reported from Constantinople that Turkish women broke into railroad yards where troop rrains were about to leave, shutting protests against sending the men ito go to their death.'' They threw them selves on the rails in front of the trains. The authorities refrained from using force to remove them, these ad- vices say, fearing a mutiny among the soldiers. The men were taken from the cars, but later were sent off secretly by night.
 It is also reported that the Turkish general staff declined to summon be- fore a court martial Kiamil Pasha commander of the Turkish army in the Caucasus on account of certain dis closures which might be made. Con- sequently, the commander will receive an honorable discharge.
 These reports say further that the people of Constantinople were led tC believe that the German army had achieved a much greater victory al Verdun than was actually gained and that when the facts were ascertained rioting occurred. It is stated German troops suppressed the rioting.
 Forty persons are reported to have been killed in the wreck of a passen. ger train on the Berlin n-Constantinopl pic railway near Nish, Serbia. Investiga- tion showed that rails had been loos- ened and many arrests have beer made.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
AN EPISODE OF THE
 BATTLE OF VERDUN
Germans Piled Up Their Dead to Form
 Barrieade.

Paris, March 5.-An episode of he battle of Verdun is told by a wounded man who has arrived here and who was posted in a quarry at LOuvemont on the Mouse heights. He says:
 The quarry ended at the rear in a deep cafe running under the plateau of which the Germans would have ad- vanced to the attack. A detachment to which l belonged took refuge in the cave, while the heavy bombardment lasting AS hours was going one and after which the attack was delivered. Arriving at the top the of pIeteau, the Germans dug an opening into the cave from above, but were prevented from entering, as they saw us with a machine gun ready to receive them.
 Tn the meantime they had got in- to the quarry, so that part of our de- tachment had to rush forward to de- fend the entrance to the cave. The Germans had no machine gun, but they used long jets of liquid fire of red and green color and it was by the light of this given that the struggle went on.
 For some minutes the Germans held their ground by piling up their dead so as to for ma barricade, but at last our machine gun drove them back and they were then attacked and driven out by another of our de- tachments, which arrved in the nick of time."
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
BRYAN FAVORS WARNING
 AMERICANS OFF SHIPS
Will Use His Influence With Members
 of Congress to That End.

Washington, March 5.-The influence of William Jennings Bryan will be felt in the fight over the armed ship is sue, which administration leaders plan to bring to a vote in the house Tues day
 MT. Bryan, who outlined his views in favor of warning Americans off armed merchantmen yesterday to Rep resentative Stevens of Nebraskaz, will come back from New York tomorrow to spend the day and he has an en- gagement for lunch with Representa- tive Bailey of Pennsylvania at a hotel near the capitol and in which eight congressman make their homes. He will be there while the house rules committee is framing it's rule to bring before the house for action after linn tied debate the report of the foreign affairs committee recommending that the McLemore warning resolution be tables and setting forth that the pres ident should be permitted to exercise his constitutional right of handling diplomatic negotiations without inter- ference from congress.
 MT. Bryan has declared that he would not participate actively in the controversy and his closest friends here say ne has no intention of chang ing his mind. His views are vel known, however. and they are being repeated industriOusly to members ol the house. He leaves Washington again tomorrow night for Whining ton, Del, to deliver a lecture.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
A PLAN TO ORGANIZE
 AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS
Would Make a Valuable Asset of Ma
 tion, Says President Wilson.

New York. March 1.-The plan to organize amateur radio operators throughout the country into signal corps and give them military traintuI as outlined by the National Amateur Wireless Association undoubtedly would be a valuable asset to the na- tion," in the opinion of President Will son, from whom a letter to J. Andrew White, acting head of the association, was made public here today.
 President Wilson wrote that it is only through the agency of such or ganized bodies under the direction of representative American civil, military and naval officials, that maximum eff ciency can be obtained.
 The value of such an organization, 9 continued the presidents letter, 'in co-ordinating the activities of large number of specially qualified young men along carefully planned lines will be of great benefit not only in an edu- cational way to the young men them selves, but also to the country al large when the necessity for their em- ployment, individually or as an or ganizatioh, may develop"
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
COLONEL E. M. HOUSE
 ARRIVES FROM EUROPE, Heard No Criticism of the United States in BelIigerent Countries.

New York, March 5.-ColoneI E. M. House, who sail for Europe Dec. 7th on confidential mission for President Wilson, arrived here today on the steamer Rotterdam from Falmouth. As soon as he landed from a special coast guard cutter which met the Rotterdam at Quarantine he Announced he would leave at once for Washington to meet the president
 He declined to comment on his mis- sion or what he had seen or done While abroad, reiterating the state ment he made prior to leaving here in December that his mission was to convey to some of the American am bassadors information having to do with international questions which could not be supplied them by cable or letter.
 Asked if he had noticed any marked change in the attitude of Europe tow ard the United States since his previ- ous trip, Colonel House said: Reports of an unfavorable attitude toward the United States by the people | of Europe are exaggerated At least I heard no criticism in any of the countries visited. I will say also thai
 we should remember that the people | of the belligerent nations are lIvine with their nerves on edge and we
 should make allowances accordingly
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
Record Earnings
 OfNeW Haven Road
JANUARY INCOME LARGEST IN
 THE ROADS HISTORY
GROSS INCOME $1, ,543,o22
Expenses of Road Were Greatly In-
 creased by Storm Damage During
 December by Demurrase Proceedings

New York. March 5.-Earnings of the New York. New Haven and Hart ford Railroad company for January were the largest for that month in the history of the road, according to a statement made public today. The gross income was $1,543.022, as against S1,254, oSS for January. 1915. The net corporate income, however, showed a decrease, the figures being S266,4S5, as against S305.692 last year. Storm dam age during December, with bad weather, congestion of freight that re- suited in slow movement and much overtime are said to have contributed to the roads expenses. In this con- nection it was pointed out that per diem charges for freight cars alone increased $213,25S. Transportation ex- penses increased $45S, ,524, compared with an increase in earnings of $1,- 2S1.74S.
 An enormous increase is shown in the net corporate income for the seven months to January 31, the figures be- ing $3,O40434 for 1916 and s65O, ,0OS for 1915. The net corporate income of separately operated companies in which the New York, New Haven and Hartford has an interest amounted in January to S1.217,690 as against s359.- 335 for the corresponding month a year ago.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
BERLIN SILENT ABOUT
 BATTLE AT VERDUN
Merely Mentions There is no Infantry
 Fighting of Importance.

Berlin, March ,. via London. D m. The battle af Verdun received only passing mention in the war office statement of today. I. is said French artillery is kecIing up a very heavy fire especially in the region of DOuaumont, but that there has been no further Infantry fighting of great importance The statement follows:
 "Western front: Towards evenrna lively artillery fire of the enemy de- veloped at several points on the front Between the Mouse and the Moselle French artillery continued very active, especially in the region of Douali- mont which at times was bombard- ed with great violence. There was no lively infantry fighting.
 TO avoid Unnecessary losses we evacuated yesterday the trenches cap tured fro mthe French on February 2s near the Forest of Thiaville northeas, of 8adonviller Oorraine) before the concentrated fire of the enemy against these positions.
 Eastern front: In the neighbor- hood of nlOukst an attack planned by the Russians, followed some mining operations against our positions could not be carried out. Advances by recoinoitering parties of the enemy at other points were repulsed."
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
MEN WITH DYNAMITE
 ARRESTED BY BOSTON POLICE
Were In Shed Adjoining St. Mary's
 Catholic Church.

Boston, March 5.-Three men arm ed with revolvers and carrying dyn- amite, percussion caps, fuses and blasting powder were arrested by a squad of police on a shed roof ad- joining St. Mary's Catholic church in the North End district, after a sharp struggle today They refused to tell what their purpose was or why they were hiding near the church. After the police had questioned them unsuc- cessfully they were held in S20, 900 each on charges of breaking and entering, having burglars tools in their pos session and assault upon an officer. Later they were identified through records in the rogues' gallery as John Costa of Cleveland, O., and John De Nath and Hossario Cont, of Phila- deiphia.
 Police inspectors were much inte- rested in the resemblance between Cos ta and Jean Crones, who is wanted in Chicago on a charge of putting poison in food served at a church banquet. A comparison Of records carried out the resemblance in many ways with the ex- ception of a very slight difference in the measurements of the jaw.
 The police expressed the opinion that the men intended to rob the safe in | the basement of the church. They carried enough eXcises, the offiche | They carried enough explosives. the | officers said to blow half the edifice.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
VERMONT TO VOTE ON
 PROHIBITION TUESDAY.
Also Referendum Vote on the Direct
 Primaries Act.

Montpelier, Vt, March 5.-The ques- tion whether Vermont, which for four teen years has permitted the licensing of liquor selling under form of local option, shall again adopt prohibition will be decided on at a town meeting day next Tuesday. There will be a referendum vote also on the accept ance of the direct primaries act.
 A prohipitory amendment to the state constitution was passed by the last legislature and will come before the people on a yes and no vote. A majority of the ballots cast in the 246 cities and towns will be sufficient to determine the issue.
 The prohibitory law first appeared in the Vermont statutes in 1852, the state being one of the earliest in the cOun- try to forbid the sale of intoxicating liquors within it's borders A quarter of a century ago agitation in favor of a local option law was begun and, gradually gaining strength, culminated in repeal of the prOhibitory amend ment at a special election in February, 1902. The vote, in favor of local option was Yes 29,711, No 2S,S92. a majority of 729.
 On the next town meeting day 92 out of 246 cities and towns voted in favor of liquor selling. The following year the number of license towns drop ped to 40, and there has been an al- most yearly decrease ever since. At the elections year ago 20 places favored liquor selling, including the l cities of Burlington, Rutland, St. AL bans and Vergennes. In six of the 16 i towns voting yes the authorities re- | fused to issue any licenses, which left l Bennington, Bethel, Brighton, Canaan | Colchester, F'airhaven, Pownal, SheI- | burne, Shoreham and West Rutland
 as the only towns in which liquor
 could be obtained legally.
 l If the prohibitory amendment is
 adopted it will go into effect May
 the day on which all licenses expire.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06
MILITARY TRENCH TRAINING
 AT NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE
As a Part of Field Service Exercises
 for Students.

Durham, N. H., March 5.-Military trenches, the counterpart So far as possible of those in actual use in the war areas of Europe, are to be dug and fitted up by members of the stu dent cadet regiment of New Hamp- shire college as a part of their train ing for field service, according to an announcement today by Lieutenant Sutherland, a regular army officer, who Is in charge of the department. The work will be started as soon as weather conditions permit, and 1t Is planned to make the entrenchments suitable in every respect for actual occupation. One afternoon week Is to be devoted to the work of the military depart Tnent
Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-06

The Germans in the region of Verdun are being hard held to the positions they occupied by the French. The fighting throughout the region Is still vigorous, but it consists mainly of ar tiIlery duels.
 Douaumont Is the storm center, and here and in the wood east of Vacherau- vile, on the east bank of the Mouse, have occurred the only infantry at- tacks. On both these sectors the Ger mans were repulsed by the French. The German attack at Douaumont ex- tended from the Haudremont wood to Fort Douaumont, but, according to Paris, it was stopped by the curtain of fire and the rifles of the French in fantry and ended with the French holding all their positions.
 Paris reports that in the WoevTe region, about Fresnes, the lombard