Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-16

speare in the high schools alone, Increased
during those ten years Al the rate OF 400
a year. And what IL true of the high
schools IL true IN large measure Of the
whole 2,0D1.H1 students IN secondary edH-
cation. EYcn Of the $4,000 IA tho Gle
menisry schools good many IN the
grammar grade or elsewhere get some
taste Of Shakespeare. Besides, every one
OF Intelligence, ~ a matter Of course. y
supposed 70 know something ~ Shake.
spesre, and " home IL provided with
the Bible and dozen other books one
Of them Il almost certain 70 be Shake
Spesfe. No wonder publishers find shake.
spsarc still their best seller.
Teaching Of Shakespeare.
IL an English review of hook on
shakespsars by one u my colleagues
few years ago, II WAS eald With evident
s1rpriae. In America they seem 70 teach
Shakespeare VIZ most certainly DO
Are We to infer that IN England you DO
notg
In the universities Of course through.
oui the world, Shakespeare IA taught Or
icctured upon. Every college and unlysf.
slty in America offers one, two Or three
courses in Shakespeare every year
While tho methods Of getting at him of
fer, the aim Of Intimate acquaintance
with him Ia tho same In all IN the uni
ysrsity with which | have the honor 10
be associated VIZ aim 10 study him NJ
first hand IN the light ~ life, measuring
ideal against IDEAL by specific means
that cannot here be touched ueon. Life
\ Ia q hotter criticism Of ART man MT IL 81
life, and va find mons that 80 stands
tho test ~ shakespeare. ana cons quently
nons that moro completely enters into
the iiyes Of our men and women.
Amevfca's Notable Contribution,
A. America has received from Shake.
spsars, 10 II has returned. N We DO mol
fully Justify the recent oppression Of ~
English writer 10 me on this point
uttered with an air Of pleasantly, "You
havs made Shakespeare very famous
We have at least done somewhat, Critlca
and school editions OF the plays, com
mentAriss, sppreciatIons and other help
fui books pour forth from our presso'
IN constant stream, some Of them OF
high order. In criticism on the hishss
judicial level, need cite no more thar
Richard Grant White and James ftuessl
Lowell Among our many, and sont'
ilIustrioDs, editors, that Of my late friend
Dr. II. ~. FurneFs stands IN the esteem
~ scholars throughout the world mex
after the first folio and quartos. Amonl
school editions, that Of the Int Dr Rolf
takes high rank. IN helps 10 the studs
of Shakespeare, We stand easily first
Our libraries and men ~ large i1eanl
eagerly collect Bhskespeareana, thu
greatly enlsrRng the means and oppof
tunities for study. Two Of these collcc
tions, one public and ono private, or
among the most important N tho world
or fhe many great American interpreter
Of Shakespeare on the stage, J need onll
10 mention the name Of Edwin Booth 4
awaken tribute IN the hearts OF all Il
painting, as highly exemplifled In tbi
work OF 10 A. Abbey. In sculpture. u
music, Shakespeare is perpetual aourci
OF inspiration through that everlasting
appeal that makes the IDEAL want TO en-
body itself In tangible form.
All these are crcditable. and are pleas
ant 10 contemplate. Yet they are but III
trappings. the outward signs Of the spiri
they elothe. The contribution that "
have returned 10 the world back Of OIL
there In that intangible somewhat that
part OF our life and being. and urge
US on 10 higher things. In continued com
panionship with the noble unachieved 4