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THE COURIER
13
SHAKESPEARE AND BAGON AT SOROSIS.
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Tho following summary of tho busi
ness situation is prepared for The
Courieu at tho Omaha ofliee of Snow,
Church & Co.:
Tho heavy rains in this section of
tho country havo done much for tho
soil which is in splendid condition. Farmers
report that prospects for a good fall crop
aro better than ever beforo at this time.
Implement dealers report a fair number of orders for corn planters,
and there is every indication of activity in tho country. Traveling
salesmen say that country merchants aro encouraged and every
thing looks favorable; notwithstanding this condition of affairs,
however, thoro a very apparent dulness in trade. Tho passage of
tho Kelly army across tho continent, no doubt, had a depressing
effect upon the public in general, and on business men particu Iarly.
Tho more fact that in this country such a condition exists is of itself,
such an evidence of tho depressed condition of business that it
must of necessity bring homo even to tho most thoughtless, tho ex
ceeding lack of activity now prevailing. Never beforo in tho
history of this most prosperous land has such a spectacle been pre
sented to tho people. Never beforo has there been a tinio when such
a movement as that of tho so-called Industrial army was possible.
In the European countries where the soil and every other resource
has been exhausted to such an extent that it only suffices to support
the dense population, such demonstrations as theso have not been
uncommon, but in the United States, the land of plenty, such
scenes as are now presented to our people, have never occured beforo
since the beginning of the panic; its cause has been attributed to
one thing and another, but the fact must now bo patent to all, that
the' real and only cause of the continued depression of trade is
strictly traceable to the vacillating policy of the present administra
tion. First we had free silver. The discussion of this question
consumed months of time, and meanwhile, the financial institutions
of the country were shaken frem stem to stern. The upshot of all
the talk and-legislation was the' repeal of tho Sherman act and tho
voting of tho Seigniorage bill. Financial affairs had re-established
themselves in the meantime, and with the money question settled,
assumed once more a normal, or at least firmer position.
The tariff bill which, 6ince the incoming of the present congress
has been anxiously expected and much debated by the politicians
and manufacturers, has now for some'time occupied the attention
of the legislature of the country, and the end is not yet. It is now
claimed that this bill may have passed both houses by tho latter
part of May, and when it has, it is possible that it may also be vetoed
It is not now a question of high protection, low protection, or any pro
tection at all; but somo decided policy is absolutely necessary to
re-establish business in somo way. Importers are not bringing in any
goods, manufacturers are manufacturing nothing, buyers for tho
largo wholesale houses are buying nothing; tho retailer is buying
nothing and the consumer is inactive has little money to buy any
thing. All of which is traceablo to tho stagnation in all lines of
dutiable goods, or all classes of articles liablo to be effected in any
way by tho tariff bill.
How long will the people stand this condition? This is a ques
tion impossible to' answer at this time, but so long as affairs con
tinue in the present uncertain state, just bo long will business con
tinue to be poor, just so long will the record of failures each week
show an increase over corresponding week of tho previous year.
Just so long will thero be no rovival of trade in any line. The busi
ness of a country such as this may be compared to the works of a
finely constructed clock. Stop one wheel and you stop tho machi
nery. The stop that has been put to the manufacturing interests of
of this country is tho main spring of tho works that keep trude
moving. The country, as I have stated before, is now in prime con
dition. Every prospect of a largo crop, every indication favorable,
everything points to a large fall trade, but until the tariff question is
definitely and irrevocably decided in one way or another, and not
until then, may we expect a complete revival in business.
Albert Andkllno.
Sorosis mot on tho afternoon of April 30 at tho homo of Mrs.
Durlingim Tho subject for discussion was tho old but still unsettled
'Shakespearean Controversy', led by Mrs A. C. Kickotts. Mrs.
Ricketts was not a believer at first in tho idea that some other than
Win. Shakespeare was or could be tho author of tho plays that bear
his name, but careful study has almost convinced her that a man
who lacked so many essential qualities of mind and heart could not
bo the wisest of men and tho greatest of poets. Mrp. Ricketts re
ferred to the fact that Ilallam, tho historian.said sixty years ago that
ho found it impossible to idontfy tho writer of Henry VIII, and
Macbeth with tho young man who played minor parts in a London
theatre. Tho author or tho play must havo been a scholarly man
showing as ho did a knowledge of Greek and Latin as well as all tho
Romantic languages. Ho must have been a student of !ooks in
those languages and of history both past snd present. Many of tho
plots wero taken from other tongues and were not translated into
English until after the appearance of tho plays. Ho must havo been
acquainted with law and philosophy. Among the many objections
urged wero:
First Ho mado no impression on tho political or social lifo of his
timo. Thero is no record of his having ever been with tho men of
letters and literary tastes. Thero is no word concerning him from
either friend or foe. Ingersoll says that the known facts concerning
his life can bo written in twelve lines.
Second His writing indicates a man without education. Some
critics even try to prove that ho could neither read nor write and
tho specimens of his writing would scracely indicate a man who
couid write pago upon pago. Thero aro none of his plays in his
writing in existence.
Third From official records and traditions we must infer that
Shakespeare was low bred and devoid of intellectual ambition.
Tho name itself signifies a person mean and vile. Othere bearing
tho sanio name petitioned that it might bo changed.
Fourth Thero aro no manuscript copies in existence, not even in
tho British museum where havo been gathered manuscript copies of
almost every known work.
Fifth His personal character was is in direct opposition to tho
sentiments of mercy, love, justice, humanity and hospitality express
ed in the plays. He was born in 15G4, left school at 14; at 16 ho was
apprenticed to a butcher, at 17 he participated in a drinking bout
with somo youths from a neighboring villiage. Ho was married at
at 19. The record shows that he was arrested several times for
stealing and was obliged to flee to London at 21; here he held horses
for the gentry, officiated as call boy and later played the parts of tho
ghosts in "Hamlet and Adam's' "As You Like it." He loaned
money and was constantly engaged in petty law suits. He was also
a brewer. No trace of his plays around his homo nor in the land of
his decendants.
It was shown by Mrs. Ricketts that Edward Reed of Andover,
Mass.. says that the statement that Bacon is author is credible at
least, for he was a philosopher, a man of letters, a linguist, courtier
and a gentleman. His private note book is found to contain 4104
quotations found in ShaKespeare which he had written down for
future reference. Tho evidence which some letters from Sir Tobey
Matthews throw upon the matter is of no trifling value. Bacon was
the only orator of the ago who was competent to write such parts
as Antony's oration over Ca.sar. Ho concealed his authorship be
cause to havo acknowledged it would have caused tho downfall of
his father as well as himself and in that age free thought and speech
led to tho scaffold and stake. The theory that tho authorship was
composite, is ardently supported by some critics, and oven Rolfe
acknowledgd that probably tho plays were written by more than
one author.
The next meeting will be led by Mrs. A. J. Sawyer on tho subject
of "Single Tax." Sorosis will meet with Mrs. Sawyer May 14.
The Spring Medicine.
"All run down" from tho weakening effects of warm weather, you
need a good tonic and blood purifier liko Hood's Sarsaparilla. Do
not put off taking it. Numerous little- ailments, if negie'eted, will
break up tho system. Take Hood's Sarsaparilla now, to expel dis
ease and give you strength and appetite.
When tho ice man comes be sure the name LINCOLN ICE CO. is
on the wagon, they have no pond ice. 1040, 0 Street