Shakespearean No. 2.

Latin, there is held out an almost irresistible invitation to further study. It has been urged that it is absurd to examine very young boys, as for example those who go in for the Junior Oxford Local Examinations, in a play of Shakspere, inasmuch as they are both ignorant of Shakspere's position in the history of English literature, and unable to appreciate the beauties of the poems, but here we must trust to the good sense of examiners. In such a case the play is not, or should not be, set to give an opportunity for questions on either of these subjects, but simply as an example of pure English, to be carefully studied in syntax and vocabulary, and in all cases of examination on Shakspere it is the same. If questions are always set with a due regard to the character of the examination, the results of the employment of the Poet's works cannot but be highly beneficial.

Lastly, we have to mention what we regard as the highest result of this sudden zeal for the study of Shakspere. More important than the minutest investigations of the New Shakspere Society, more important than the readily-acquired knowledge of the worker for competitive examinations, is the impulse given to the spread of Shakspere generally throughout the mass of the people. The Founder of the Society is continually enforcing his belief that it will do good for England, and this object it certainly will effect if it only succeeds in making greater numbers of Englishmen read their national Poet. It has been said, with too much truth, that we are a people "whose Hell is the fear of not getting on, especially of not making money." Shakspere will not aid us in our Mammon-worship, and therefore he is neglected. But we cannot afford not, not even from a material point of view; to neglect him. The better he is known among us, and the deeper his words sink into each man's heart, the purer will be our national life, the higher shall we stand among nations of the world. In Shakspere the most imaginative will find realms to explore that they never dreamed of, and the most earthly-minded will find one whose insight into man's nature puts to shame all their boasted knowledge of the world. Undoubtedly, the best possible method of making Shakspere known to the mass of the people is that which he himself had in view when he wrote, viz., the stage; but herein we fall sadly short of the ideal. present century has no distinct notion of the importance of a national theatre. It is true that some fancy they at length see signs of a more healthy time coming; let us hope they are right. In the meantime we will hail every movement which tends to increase the study of Shakspere among us; and, since he who would better his country should begin by bettering himself, let each of us strive by constant reading to increase our knowledge and love of the world-poet.