#10

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. FRIDAY, APRIL 23,

1937.

SHAKESPEARE

Man of Mystery

HAKESPEARE

pre-

sents what is probably

killer

By MAURICE LEWIS

the greatest enigma

of caltie, of Stratford-on- of personality in literary Avon.

William was baptised on April 26, 1504. He was the third of a family history.

of eight-four boys and four girls. Five

of type In HIC There is no evidence of his enter- *Telegraph would suffice to give ing or leaving school, and his life all the authenticated facts of his presents a blank wall to the historian private life.

until his eighteenth year.

Then house in which he was born pre corde, two strange events are re-

Uney

The date of his birth and the

alle unknown, and there is no record of his marriage to Anne Hathaway.

*

*

*

FIVERY possible channel has

been explored for a serup of the writings of the greatest dram- ntist, who wrote so copiously.

The records of Stratford and all the neighbouring villages have been sifted; the Record Omee and the Stale papers have been ransacked; but the sum total of all these efforts is five, or maybe six, strangely, dif- fering signatures, variously spelt.

Three of these are appended to his will, two

found on docu- thre ments relating to purchase of a house in Blackfriars, and a pos- sible sixth is on a deposition con- nected with a lawsuit.

are

The only letter addressed to Shakespeare that has been discover- ed is one requesting the loan of

£30.

Two Strange

Events

Shakespeare,, still a minor, Was forced to break his pledge with the maiden of his choice, and was compelled to link his future' with Anne Hathaway, liis senior by eight years. The sequel reveals why. There is

no record of a marriage ceremony, but six months later, Anne Hathaway, new Mrs. Shake- christened Susanna. Two years speare, gave birth to a girl, who was later Under the date November 27, 1582.

ivere born, Hamnet and twins ivere

er, the the Bishop of Worcester's register Judith. Thereafter,

of curtain revents that a licence was issued secrecy falls again to hide the poet, authorising the matrimonint union of for from the, baptism of the twins William Shakere and "Annam 1582-seven years later.hurro

Grafton. Whateley," of

15 no contemporatestimony

reference to him. puzzling development swifty

The siender.

that we followed, which has baffled Shake- have suggests that Shakespeare's spearian commentators to this day, married life was unhappy. He was Within twenty-four hours of the forced into a distasteful union with grauling of the marriage licence, woman much older than himself another entry was made

By his will every known Item that register concerning the he possessed is disposed of, but with

William the exception of his "second-best

seled marriage

Shakespeare of Shattery.

of

in the

Martin Droeshout's Portrait of Shakespeare

the Record Office as late as May 1930,

and Anne Hathaway, bed," which was added as an after- fair man named "Will," younger than thought to the first draft, nothing is himself and of high social standing,

Mr. Frank Marchom was engaged who dominated his life. In these he This latter entry holds many pecu- left to his wife and there is no other promises that through his verse his in a search through the calendar of lar features. It was in the form of mention of her name.

friend shall gain immurtality.

Chancery cases when by sheer chance a deed, signed by Fulk Sandells and

The remainder, with the exception he came across the signatures of Jufr: Richardson, two farmers from

Hall and Thomas

TO-DAY

is

SHAKESPEARE'S DAY ST. GEORGE'S DAY ZEEBRUGGE DAY YPRES DAY

*

י

**

Nash,

IT is assumed that the of the last two, are written to the Susanna

Now Susanna was Shakespeare's whole of his dramatic duris rller sonnets to his mistress eldest daughter, who married Johni

The

work

was produced within two

of strike a playful note, but the latter fall, a physician of some reputation decades, between the ages

in Warwickshire. Thomas Nash was twenty-seven and forty-seven, at ones are a cry of tortured passion.

The woman "colour'd who had her son-in-law, the first husband of the rate of two plays a year, each

the cast her snares over tim his her only daughter, Elizabeth. a supreme achlevement of playwright's art. And this period friend is a wanton, and be is fors- concrals a greater mystery than worn in loving her,

alf the rest.

Yet Shakespeare himseit has left clue that one day may help to solve many of these baming problems. The sonnets supply the key to his per-

of

**

and

*

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The document to which their sign- atures are appended records how bailiff's burst open the study of *

Shakespeare's house at Stratford-on- will this Aven after his death, and took away Twe fully authenticated likenesses

WHEN, if ever,

enigma be solved?

boxes and books under a judgment of Shakespeare are in existence. The

Mony men have been put forward for £77. first is the coloured half-length statue of him in Holy Trinity Church,

sonal drama, and the major portion as the original of Mr. W. H., "the at Stratford, erected a few

years

his dramatic work. For in them onlie begetter" of the sonnets.

The most probable person to link HERE is rooh indeed for after his death; and the other is the

is buried the secret of his two loves,

astonishment and wonder- copperplate engraving by Martin' the neighbouring village of Shottery which fanned the fires by whose heat to the sonnets is William Herbert, Droeshout.

and friends of Anne Hathaway's

the young Earl of Pembroke; and ing conjecture. were wrought his high tragedies.

First, this is the only unquestioned This engraving was used in the father.

There is no question that his darkt Shakespeare's dark mistress can then The document makes it clear that First Folio, which was published in

possessed any books, for none is 1023, seven years after the poet's the bishop was dubious about grant-nistress whom he loved with a love be easily identified as Mary Fitton, record of the fact that Shakespeare

that at times verged on hate his maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth. death.

Ing the second licence, for under the black beauty with her "false-speak- Such was Frank Harris' theory in his mentioned in his will, a point that The artist Droeshout was only deeds Sandells and Richardson were ing tongue," her "proud heart" and play "Shakespeare and his Love" has been strongly stressed by those Afteen years of age when Shake bound by surelles of £40 each--a big speare died, and his work was al sum in those days--to shoulder any her disdain-was the mainspring of and G. B. Shaw utilised the same who maintain that Shakespeare was his later tramas of passion. Who idea in his Inter play. "The Dark not the author of the plays which

Lady of the Sonnets," most certainly not a direct portrait. legal responsibilities that might arise.

A very strange circumstance which But the bust and engraving fre 11 was feared, apparently, that the

A great deal is known of Mistress startlingly nt varlance.

union of William Shakespeare and Sonnets To

Fitton, and from this knowledge she calls for explanation is that Susanna Anne Hathinway might be challenged

appears as the very embodiment of all did not pay this debt of £77. and its validity threatened by the The "Dark Lady" Shakespeare's false fascinator. She dier father died a wealthy man, und disclosure of a Jawful impediment

was goy, daring and vivacious, and the bulk of the property was willed by reason of pre-contract."

The sonnels

to be stencil-clear popular with all at Court. There are 154 of A hosty marriage, too, was aimed autobiography.

It seems scarcely probable that In 1000 a maid of honour was

Shakespeare's favourite at, "with once asking of the bannes them linked one to another in a re- married to the son of the Earl of Susanna,

velatory sequence af netion, and cornchandler, between thein."

Worcester, and Queen Elizabeth com- daughter, should have held The first 126 are addressed to a nanded special celebrations, attend- father's memory in so little respect ing the festivities in person. On that that she deliberately refrained from choosing occasion, Mary Filton was the cen- aying one of his debts,

rather to meet, it by handing over tre of attraction.

The young

Earl of Pembroke was books that must have held charmed with her, and shortly after she became his mistress.

*

*

።።

WHAT, then, is known with certainty about this stu-

pendous gentus?

His father was John Shakespeare,

glove-maker

á

and possibly also a small former and Of course, the truth is obvious,

was she?

ore

that

The things make people tired

curry his home.

her

paternal associations.

curries This incident ciemnents of mystery.

all

sirong

Lic

It

picturesque

speculation

The Queen was furious, and' at first threatened them both with supplies, Indeed, an additional Imprisonment. The young carl "utterly renounced all marriage," and was sent to the Fleet Prison for correction, Mistress Fitton being dismissed from the Court,

for the believe Baconians and others who Shakespeare to be but dummy figure, hiding some great unknown, who was the true author of the poems and plays.

*

*

*

JERE is the reason, they argue, con

Her subsequent progress would bring a blush to the cheeks of even the most emancipated of modern young women. There was always some scandal attached to her name, temporary evidence linking up Such, then, was the character of Shakereare of Stratford-on-Avon the dark lady who, together with with the author of the plays is so

-THEY'RE NOT AS OBVIOUS AS YOU'D THINK "Mr. W. H.," for eleven long years astonishingly meagre.

from

T

HE aim of employers is to reduce fatigue in all feel tired at the end of the day.

methods of work, not merely out of regard towards employees but because it is the means of reaching greater output.

a

When you leave your work night you may be suffering physical fatigue through the con-

of your tinual stimulation

each

body

and not dangerous.

shook, the heart of Shakespeare, and They might maintain, too, that In that progress lore out of his being this incident of the removal of boxes those plays of feree mental conflict, and books accounts for a strange fact "Othello," "Hamlet," "Macbeth," which has always puzzled the com- rimon of Athens,” and “King Lear!" mentators: that while the authors contemporary with Shakespeare have most of them left holograph speci-

**

*

in relation to his unknown letters and documents, of Shake-

muscles. This to a healthy fatigue THE mystery of Shakespeare mens of their work, in addition to Mental fatigue, resulting from con- loves, and their significant influence speare's actual writing-although he Girls folding hardkerchiefs proved least tired when they folded tinual brain-work, is a more harmful on his dramatic genlus, is elucidated was one of the most copious authors for five minutes and rested one minute; men shifting 92lb, weights fatigue, as it involves no physical at all points by this theory. But of his time there are only these few were least tired when they rested for three minutes after each activity and accompanying stimula- will certain prect ever be furnished disputed signatures.

to give to it historleal substance? The implication might be carried tion of circulation. twelve minutes' work.

Brain-workers should be. parti-

Perhaps even now there may lle further still, and a pertinent query cularly interested in physical exercise in some obscure corner of English formuinted.

Was the balliffs execution put und athletles in their leisure time. a few love letters, a portrait with

demand for the pay- Most harmful fatigue of all is an inscription, a legni dead or diary into effect as

unsult of three centuries ago, which may ment of a genuine debt, they might emotional fatigue, due to

yet dissipate the impenetrable fog ask, or was this a method adopted, ability to

cogni- People of high intelligence engaged which envelops the personality of our with or without Susonna's in routine work; energetic, vivacious greatest Englishman.

sance, of withdrawing from the world people doing jobs which require a slcadier temperament; slow brains doing work which should be handled by quick brains—all these people are

Environment has a marked effect on work. Lighting, heating, temperature, noise-all help to reduce output and rob industry.

In heavy work it has been noted that output is higher in winter than summer. In places where there was good artificial ventilation the drop has been 3 per cent.; in places with poor artificial ventila- tion the drop has been as much as 13 per cent. Mild weather helps work

THE best temperature to work in has been proved to be 08 deg. F. Mild months, April and October especially, have been found most conducive to efficiency both in mental and physical effort.

to your

able to extra fatigue. Change the job

DEPETITIVE work is re- Isponsible for An pecumia-

used muscles. Lactic acid creates

Above 68 deg, F. brain and muscles suffer fatigue, as the blood lation of lactic acid in the steadily supply is utilised in cooling the skin. Sickness becomes more pre- fatigue. valent then.

Some colour is given to this hope acollection of books and writings of by a manuscript treasure that was great importance to some hidden In- unexpectedly brought to light at terests?

TRAVEL A.-O. LINE

For this reason some employers British Steamers: have given workers alternate jobs atj Accidents increase, too. Minor accidents occur least when the half-hour intervals, so that they use temperature is. 68 deg. F. In a city bank, the clerks made 50 per different groups of muscles. Resul cent, more errors when the day's temperature was 90 deg. F. than fatigue has lessened; output has 'In- when it was 68 deg. F.

creased.

.

Below that figure much the same symptoms occur as above it- Good leaders wanted d you begin to experience cold.

poor supervision

and

alds. On an average good lighting increases output by 15 per cent.

fatigue. The chief who does nothing but reprimand when Fatigue is reduced through the simple reason that one-fifth of your mistakes occur can arouse bitter re- energy is used up merely in seeing, and bad lighting makes the job sentment or depression. Such tem- harder, consequently demanding more energy.

Nolse affects the nerves, uses up cent., and the speedier the typlat the energy, and makes you tired. Typists more her work suffered. were tested in n sound-proofed room,

then tested in an ordinary ofcc. Why you feel tired

inevitably disturbance peramental leads to fatigue.

Foremen,

supervisors, managéra all who are in the position of organising and controlling, should be sound judges of human nature.

So classes are run to-day in many

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OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS

ACROSS

180

1 The man in the ranks (two

words, 6, 7).

7 Nothing startling.

Part of speech,

11 Waterless.

12 He never lived straightforward- ly, but always faced the wrong way..

13 This utensil las probably stronger

than it sounds,

16 One can't make bricks without

it.

17 Spots in which one may get

fruit.

finish.

21 What 13 sounds.

23 A girl I have in my eye,

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6 June

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16 July 13 Aug.

18 Juna 19 July

4 July

10 Ang.

Under the noisier conditions they YOUR attitude towards your arms in which special training is:

of the main given in the way to handle people speed of typing went down 43 per factors in deciding whether you shall and get the best out of them.

used 19 per cent. more energy.... The

work is one

4 Aug. 1. Sopt.

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Freight or Passage, apply to:

24 The whisky bird?

25

What young people nowadays

try to get out of life.

28 The nag and the gol go back to

reach this Scottish river.

29 Yankee live-wire (hyphen; 2.

B).

30 These are the vehicles our specă"

merchants started with

DOWN

2 A acvere trial, maybe, or

simple business transaction.

а

3 Doubtless the spectacles are to 'enable one to see the man in it.

4 You may be caught by many a

plant here.

s Clothes for the inefficient,

6 Their pupils see all that is to be

Been.

7 It's mine, liar (anag.),

▸ William's watch suggests he'll

have a lot to do with the brush (hyphon, 4, 7).

10 Chicken.

14 A bang on the head; such a

regi

16 The charm of word-buliding. 18 If you want this confection give

me a ring first,

20 Sounds like a Thames eight-

without oars.

21 Vegetable backsheesh?

22 Describes the feelings of many

at ita tux-inflated price.

26 A convlet in festal attire. 27 Last, but not quite least. Yesterday's Bolution.

| METAPHYSICIAN

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