Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-05

Great cultural benefits are predicted
as a result of the fund of 100000 600
left by Henry Clay Folger, long an
official of the Standard OIL Co. as an
endowment for the Shakespeare Me-
mortal library in Washington, which
Is to house the priceless Folger collec-
ton of the works of the poet. The
country and the National Capital are
declared to be great gamers.
Renewed interest in Shakespeare IN
America is foreseen by the Fort Wayne
News Sentinel, recalling that there
has been much proper lamenting OF the
fact that while in every town OF any
size in England, Germany, France,
Russia and Austria, there are, every
year, Shakespearean seasons OF geneT-
Americans have been shamefully neg
lecting his genius for more tnan
quarter of a century. No more impor-
tant step to implant and revive the arr
of Shakespeare in the United states
was ever taken than that OF the late
Henry Clay Folger, New York capltal.
ist for many years actively connected
with the Standard Oil Co., as president
and chairman of the board. II
will be a most appropriate memorial
both to Shakespeare and to one whose
DeQueSL hILOuAu 81 AoA W OR. TTN.I-a
spearean knowledge in the unlteo
States"
The suggestion that engraved upon
the portals of the memorial should be
the finest tribute ever paid TO the Baro
of Avon, by the late Robert @. niger
soll. AN ocean of intellect whose waves
Tapped every shore of Thought, Is
made by the Oklahoma City Okla
homan, while the Pasadena Star-News,
referring to the priceless rlcnes IN
the works of this author, with tneir
"riches of imagery, refinements OF cul-
ttlre and adornments of learning,
finds it of interest that "a man OF large
business affairs found time in the midst
of the strenuosities of modern lie 10
drink deep of the fountain OF SNAKE
pearean wit and wisdom"
Nowhere else, even in England,
| saws the New York World, ARE there
such advantages for study OF his period
as the institute will ofter: The Folger
Shakespeare Memorial will be great
addition to the attractions OF WASH
! inqton as q museum city. They are
Already considerable. The National
Museum is growing. Some day the
valuable exhibits of the Agricultural
| Museum may be worthily housed. Sucn
| buildings as the Pan-American and
National Geograp hic headquarters, the
| Patent Office the Library OF Congress
and the Government Printing Once
| have some pretenstons as museums
! Private donors like w. w. Corcoran
| have remembered the city. In tne
Freer Gallery, for example, are UNIQUE
opportunities for viewing and STUDYING
| the art of Whistler"
That the gift strengthens the posi-
| ton Of the Library OF Congress IN lts
research character as q resort ior
workers in all fields" Is the conclusion
| of the Providence Journal as 1t points
out, THE resources of the Folger
Memorial will be exactly as available
10 students as II it were under the rooi
! of the Congressional Library. Inc
! journal views It as IAN interesting
! tribute to Mr.. Folger's alma mater that
he lays upon the trustees OF Amherst
| College the duty of administering the
| library and its great funds" Tha'
paper continues: "Longfellow once
envied Shakespeare his undisputed po'
sition in literature as an author by nc
critic vexed,' but the Folger snake.
peare Memorial shows that the great
dramatist has the further distinction
of being q poet upon whom kinglJ
fortune has been iaVished In order tc
assemble his works and everything
bearing upon their Interpretation fol
the benefit of the present and future
ages"
The plays of Shakespeare" record:
the st. Louis Globe Democrat, do moi
draw such large audiences as they die
in the years gone by. Talking pictures
the radio and many other things were
causing the flame that has burned fol
centuries, and which should now burr
bright, to flicker, and professors were
finding 1t dificult to interest students
in these sixteenth century dramas. Til
large sum provided by Mr.. Folger ar
rives In the nick OF time, and with sucf
backing Q genius like 5hakeSpear