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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1893)
'6 THE HESPERIAN ly 'bound in brown. She opened it, nnd saw namo given to tho pokor usod by Irvino to her name on tho fly loaf, with tho compli ments of tho author. Then she turned ovor a few pages and came to a picture. Sho looked at it long and earnestly, and then said, "Yes, that's jest Abo right ovor Btir tho dying embers of tho wood firo in tho tiny grate, boforo which ho sat in a straight backed, old fashioned chair, lost in dreamy moditatiou. In a cornor of tho room is tho old clock mentioned in his "Sketch Book," STRATFORD-ON-AVON. -r. . .. .. 1 . . i .t 11 I t . J !l again. It looks like tno very same necktie ana on tno wans nang pictures snu wrmngH he wore the night wo wont to spollin' school of illustrious men who havo visited this an- togother." ciont tavern to pay their respects to tho And then, with the picture before her, sho memory of Shakospouro. It iB not diffi- sat looking into tho fire for a long time. cult to imagine that this coBy little parlor Anna Broady. waB tho rendezvous of Bon Johnson and Drayton when they came from London to see their old friend William, and that hore Bead by O. J. Smith before tJte Maxwell tnoY together drank many a glaBB of good Gliib, October 27, 1893. old ale. Readers of William Winters' uShakoo- Next morning, I wended my way along peare's England" who havo not had tho Bridge Btreot until I stood by tho bank of pleasure of visiting tho scones which ho tho winding Avon, not far from where the pictures so beautifully, may bo of tho opin- grey arches of tho , old Olopton Bridge hid ion that his respect and veneration for tho peaceful river within its shades, and in Shakcspoaro havo led him to overdraw the a few minutes I was slowly strolling up the charming simplicity of tho homo and asso- stone walk, through the church yard leading ciations of tho immortal pooi. Tho language to tho church, old and grey, wherein Shakos he uses may seem a little too "flowery" and peare was christened on April 26, 1564. 1 not at all a true description of the natural could not but feel in a serious humor in my beauty of Stratford-on-Avon. But a vis- dreamy surroundings, as I noted tho several itor to this quiet village cannot fail to see inscriptions on the tombstones heavily laden how Winters' descriptions, so delightful and with moss of ages, shaded from tho sun, rain enchanting, fall short of tho truth, and tho and storm by overhanging lime trees. It is pilgrim's visions of reality will far exceed not easy to describe the fooling of perfect his expectations. peace that possesses one on his visit to this I well remember tho evening of August church . Tho very stones on which you walk 29, 1892, when 1 stopped from tho train at mark the resting place of many an old dwoll- Stratford-on-Avon, and shortly after stood er in Stratford, and one unconsciously steps before tho arched entrance to tho Red Horse with easy tread lest ho may disturb their Inn on Bridge Street. I was ushered in peaceful slumber. .Near tho door, within a through a narrow covered court adjacent to glass case, is to bo seen tho old church reg- tho Inn stablcB and ascended a low stairway istor, and oi. the right hand page nearly half to tho office of mine host, a long hallway way down can bo discerned the entry made filled with relics of varying description, hav- of the baptism of William Shakespeare on ing more tho appearance of a minaturo mu April 26, 1564:. A fow feet away stands seum. MoBt American visitors at Stratford the stono baptismal font in which tho infant stop at this Inn, for its roof gavo shelter to William was christened. One cannot look Washington Irving on his pilgrimage to tho upon it but with rovoronce. Tho pewB of shrine of Shakespeare. In a small, almost the church are woodou, and look old, as well square, room, near tho entrance to the Inn, they might from tho ago of seven centuries is to be seen Geoffrey Crayon's Sceptro, a or moro, and tho sun through tho gothic o nUt aamiiillijIHi ii
