1923-11-22 — Page 5

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 1998.

SHAKESPEARE,

HOW HE GOT INTO PRINT.

In the issue of the China Mall of October 17 last, we drew attention to the fact that November 8 was the tercentenary of the publication of what is now known as the First Follo A Shakespeare Day" we were informed, was being observed throughout the world in order to raise funds to endow the only Memorial Theatre to Shakespeare erected on British soil at Stratford-upon-avon, and The Chinu Mail suggested that the day might very well be observed in Hongkong. The follow- lug specially contributed article by Professor Simpson has its own interest and willbe widely read.]

to

this

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The authorship of Shakespeare's plays is a battle in which a man special tactics of scholarship, can't fight unless he is trained to master of an elaborate Elizabethan armoury of evidence shattering weapon, and has an ammunition supply of inexhaust ble facts about the inner life of Stratford-on-Avon and London, three centuries ago.

THE CHINA MAIL.

funds in depleted by theparment of those days, hack no more scu fines, than the author of a printed ples about making cuta la Shake- book that would only make enough speare's plays, while he stood by to pay the printer. Weżnow he had

shares in theatres, but have never among the actors, than our present heard of him holding shares in a day producers have in dealing with printing press. Apparently

THE

FB-DAY'S ADVERTISEMENTS.

HONGKONG SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF. ORUELTY TO ANIMALS

author of plays couldn't be friends contemporary aspirante to success of both actor-manager and of as playwrights. The manager of priater; because the interest of the company would use ShakeE ANNUAL GENERAL MEET- the theatre and the interest of the speare's manuscripts In the pre- be held by kind permission to the TING of the above Society' will priater were opposed.

managers' Because

1. Presentation of Report & Accounta-

for the

1923, onding October 31st

2. Any ather S.P.C.A. business chat may be brought before the meeting.

3. Klection of Officers and Gentral' Committee for the ongoing year.

Heading and Bide note, for "Officore substitute "Pargonnet" After "Members" in the last line, insert "Densting Members."

Such were the circumstances of paration of theatre coples and Board Room of Meurs JARDINE play writing at that time. Hence separate parts for actors, and MATHESON & COMPANY (Jardine's a loophole for cavillers almost might in many cases have so chop Building. Top Floor) on THURSDAY astonishing. Hence also our debt ped and changed the original that November 29th at 5,30 PM. to the univited publisher. The first folio of Shakespeare

We it would be almost impossible for.a.

Business comes forward as one of the topics poet of one's language. A know that here once existed famous publisher, unassisted

by the of the day. As we are all alluding though an understanding of the works of literature.composed by author, to print exactly what Shake- vaguely

a grounds may only lead one to Greek poetess called Sappho. We speare had written. It would be Shakespeare anniversary or, to realise that they are grounds where are told that in antiquity her fame a mistake to assume that the man- display a little more intimacy, a argument is beyond the reach of rivalled that of Homer. But allager changed a great deal or that Shakespeare tercentenary, it might anything but a superhuman, com- that remains of work is a few frag- the changes made necessary if the be well to consider the justice and bination of erudition and skill in ments preserved by chance in the exigencies of stuge presentation significance of the allusion. By the examination of evidence.

works of other authors, She has were as much authors' improve- the twenty-third year of the seven-

become a name. Byron has tried to ments teenth century Shakespeare, as

preserve an image of her when managers don't regularly accept for seven years. He was buried,

Isles of Greece, where burning everybody knows, had been dead

he sings "The Isles of Greece, the . on April 25th, 1616, .according is

Sappho loved and sung." It is the Register-books of the

extremely tantalising to think that Parish of Stratford-upon-Avon,

her nine books of poetry have Warwickshire. Notice that a fact

vanished and left hardly trace be is no use about Shakespeare un-

hind. It is like the loss of the Coll- less you can prove it by reference

ossus of Rhodes. But how much to the Parish Register, or the

inore exasperating it would be for Stationers' Company's Register or

us who speak the English language a tombstone. In 1623 appeared the That is why it is such a popular to know that there had been a First Folio Edition of his plays. It topic for debate in school literary Shakespeare whose plays delight is referred to in the stationers' societies and is often set as a sub-ed the Elizabethans and of whom Register, November 8, of that year.ject for school essays. But for all are old Ben Johnson, his friend The blessed, word Folio means a' that, we may want to know only and rival had said "I loved the book whose pages are about the there is such a battle, or what are man, and do honour his memory;" size used nowadays for atlases and the grounds that admit of doubt. to know this and have nothing to library copies of big dictionaries This can be understood by a little show for it! So far as the author and encyclopaedias. This was the consideration of the main facts himself was concerned this would first collected edition of Shakes-about publication of Shakespeare's have been our plight. We may peare's plays.

well, at this tercentenary, ask who Genius,

were these "mite inglorious" ones who rummaged round for copy, and thought it worth white to un dertake the publication of the play although it hed to be done "with out the co-operation of the author.” 300 Years Agp. There is no copy of any of the

Popular Topic.

plays. After that one doesn't feel quite so forlora if Brown and Smith suddenly elect to chew this much torn rag and say "What about your Spifkins?" You're a great reader. Do you think Shakespeare really wrote his own plays?" no

It

·

Rule

5.

Heading for "Constitution" mab atituta "Magagement." Line 2 alfor "Coramitten" add " of

› which the President, Vioo President, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer shall be members ex officio."

Rule 9.

der the present rula substitute the following:-

"Any pason may become a Mem bor of the Spoiety by paying to the Hon. Transurer an annual subscrip tion of $2 (Two dollars), or s Dons ting Member by paying anpoal anhacription of $5 (Five dollars), -or a Life Member on payment of a sum of not less than $60 (Fifty dollare). To evory such person the Hou, Treaturer, will issus a Card of Mem. borship."

Hongkong, November 22, 1923.

DD

in a large variety of style. NB.-No ticket can be exchanged? for Souvenir if presented after 25th November, 1929, after which date the Bazaar will be closed,

At the canelssion of this meeting, an alteration; and even an actor playa Nas. 4, 5 and 9 of the Society's Balea plays that require considerable extraordinary General Meeting will be held to consider proposals to smond wright may find that what he, thought good enough at first as follows writing was capable

of im- Rule 4. provement in the acting. Yet the plays were often altered enough to. create confusion as to what is the real version. We know too, from Shakespeare's readiness, to jest about it in Hamlet, that the actors themselves were prone to exercise a certain amount of liberty in alter- ing their own parts. So that was ample scope for divergence be tween what Shakespeare wrote and what the printers of the Quartos published in his lifetime. After all, the interest did not le in printing Shakespeare. The object of the printers was to publish plays that had scored a success on the stage and to publish them Shakespeare is marked as a man

as nearly as possible in the form of the very first genius from then

in which they had scored that on; by the fact that, having failed to

success. That would make a sale- make a collection of his own works in his life-time, he was distinguish-longer necessary to get out of the

ahle book. In this they so far ed by having this collection made difficulty and hope you are retain~

succeeded that several of the plays printed in Quarto ran into several by an enterprising syndicate of ing your literary halo by regain-plays, known to exist in Shake- editions in the poet's life-time. actors and printers, working for ingAs Sir Roger de Coverley speare's handwriting. Of all the But others, twenty in number, were profit, seven years after his death. would have said What we celebrate this year is much to be said on both sides.

I think there is quill-driving that this man must not published at all until after his neither the life of the author, nor One hasn't quite so extreme a years ago, the solo undoubted First Folib of 1623.

have done, only three hundred death when they appeared in the the writing of his works, but an sense of weakness. Some of us, samples that survive are six signa-

ITALIAN CONVENT. The Firat Folio claimed to be absolutely indispensable and in-of course, are not obsessed by any tures. Three of these signatures the authorised Version. Right away valuable edition of them.

Printers and publishers ought be ridiculous to feel weak just be- on which his will was written edition the publishers make that

such sense of weakness. It would are from the three sheets of paper in their preface to this collected BAZAAR BAZAAR!! BAZAAB || specially to celebrate this tercencause we are unable to take part shortly before his death, and the claim for their work and pour scor SATURDAY, 24th November, 1923, tenary. The undertaking is un-in a silly battle where the weapons other three are from legal docu-upon the Quartos as unauthentic surpassed in the achievements of employed are so technical and ments within the last three or four stolen and surreptitious copies."

and the following doy, their history. It is true that the difficult to handle. Bat we may years of his life. What a chance According to the time original commencing each day at 10 am. First Folio is full of typographical feel disposed to take an interest in for the sceptics; attributing 37 of copics" says the title page. This Ladies' Dresses and Underwear, and editorial imperfections which the publication of Shakespeare's the world's greatest plays to a man claim was probably excessive. Children's Frocks, Woollen Sing- a little care could easily have plays, from a sense of gratitude, who left no other proof of his But It Was not entirely lets, Socks, Slippers, Table obviated, much to the advantage of If in the course of going through ability to write than half-a-dozen without reason because the Covers, Handkerchiefs, Cashionu, succeeding editions as well as your old books you should happen almost legible signatures ! But publishers of the First Folio were Photo frames and Fancy Articles, readers. But anxiety to fortify to find a long neglected copy of that's all there is, except for a few well placed to procure authentic one's 'work against the efforts of that First Folfo edition, you would notes of doubtful authenticity on versions. The two leaders in the petty fault-finders was not part of certainly celebrate. Because you one or two important books which enterprise who have thereby ears- the spirit of that age. It would be would have found something that he is believed to have owned-such ed immortality, were Heminge and the depth of pathos to complain of is worth between £1,000 and £2,000.as the famous Greenock copy of Condell. They were actors. They a book, which constitutes the In 1907 a copy was sold for £3,600, North's Plutarch. If Shakespeare wore friends of Shakespeare's, and fountain head of our knowledge of and is now at Harvard. There had been left to himself it seems had been mentioned in Shakes- Shakespeare's complete achieve were 500 copies of that edition certain that our knowledge of him peare's will. He left them twenty- ment, that the binders ought to in 1623, and so far probably only would be confined to such frag-six shillings and eighthence each to have exercised sufficient care to about 180 have been traced. How-ments of contemporary criticim as buy mourning rings. Heminge had prevent bits of one play from get ever, it is well known that there is a Meres published at the beginning been business manager of the com- ting into another play, or that the great amount of thankfulness for of Shakespeare's career. Meres pany of actors in which Shakes work might have been more Shakespeare among the millions tells us in 1598, that Shakespeare peare worked. He had been thoroughly performed. Don't look who will never even see a First among playwrights, was the most capable business manager. He a gift horse in the mouth-even if Folio. In a great measure this excellent in both kinds (tragedy might have been expected, of all the people who have prejudiced thankfulness is due to the and comedy) for the stage and one men, above even Shakespeare him- the case and declare him no publishers. Shakespeare wrote of the most passionate among tis to self, to have full access to Shakos- thoroughbred, profess to find their plays for his contemporaries and bewail and bemoan the perplexitiespeare's plays, even to the manus evidence in the imperfections of eared nothing for you or me.. It of love." He gives a list of the cript form in which Shakespeare his teeth. Such people have tried to get evidence against the author-was the printers who, perhaps twelve plays so far written by had first handed them over for unwittingly and certainly without Shakespeare and tells us how production, But unfortunately the ship of Shakespeare, in the care- Shakespeare's co-operation, looked following a habit of that age, Globe Theatre was destroyed by. THE Popular, Jazz Band of HL.M. S. lessness of his printers; but the after our interests in his drama. Shakespeare circulated among his fire in 1613. It is thought that

Despatch will play at the printers can laugh at that, because The only works which Shakes fiiends without their efforts, there would peare is known to have taken the "sugred soonets."

manuscript copies of that fire must have destroyed the above Hotel on SATURDAY, the

This quiet real original versions of the plays. 24th November. in this case be no question of au-trouble to print and publish are voice from out the past, testifying Though it is certain that all the DANCING 9.15 PM thorship at all, there being no plays. "Venus and Adonus" and to a poet's fame,would have become versions of all the plays were not

The Reason..

"Lucrice"~iwo narrative poems cause of peculiar exasperation, if in the Globe, The Globe wasn't a To those who are not printers or which pole into insignificance be- the publishers had not done their museum. As things are we find publishers, the printing of certain side his plays. And so we owe bit for Shakespeare and for future that although they were able to plays in a certain year, three cen-our delight to those early publishers generations.

print in their volume many plays turies ago, may appear a poorish who undertook the self imposed

that had not before been printed, reason for celebrations. But al-task of pricting the popular plays

they found that for the reprinting Those of the plays, sixteen out of of some of the others, the best they though it may be an inadequate of their day.. We, who belong to reason for a civic function, it is aan age of rushers into print, Pos- the thirty-seven, that were printed could do was to follow the dispar good reason for inquiring into, or, terity must thank the publishers. during Shakespeare's life, appeared aged Quartos. Among those which euphemistically, refreshing our At first find incredible, and then in books containing a single play new appeared in print for the memories on, certain facts with think it sublime, that Shakespeare each. The books were quarto first time were "The Tempest," reference to the publication of the should never have taken any steps editions; that is to say their pages

'As You Like it," "Twelfth Night,” most important body of dramatic to secure the publication of works were half tile size of Folio pages.

Julius Caesar," "Macbeth" literature in the world. Utter that have made him hiertal. In this form single plays were sold Antony And Cleopatra.”· ignorance of the subject is wide- What a fine carelessness! Did at about sixpence a copy. Don't

(Continued on puge 8.). spread and regrettable. At times it he, say "I've written these plays jump to the conclusion that you pay can be as great as a handicap as and being paid for them; let the too much to-day, for single-play. confused ideas of what happened manager who has brought them do coples of Shaw or Galsworthy. at the last meeting of the what he likes with them." What The purchasing power of money at. Legislative Council. To some, a gesture! The good seed grows that time is reckoned to have been during the present year, an no matter how carelessly it is almost six times what it is now, inkling of the matter has been, scattered It paid an actor to Much mystery attaches to those almost as useful' ás notions of write plays for the theatre, but, as Quartos: all the more so, because Caledonians are in the month of those were days of low circulation, there are discrepancies between November. Certainly it is easier only a printer could make money successive editions of the same to get up than Relativity. Shake-out of putting plays into book form play fo Quarto, and between the It paid the Quarto, and the Folio Version of speare on the publication of for, the reader.

Plays.

his plays would be much easier to printer Brovided he hadn't some of the playe. That is fater- meet than the author of Back to to pay the author for copy.esting matter for the textual critic. Methuselah on evolution. Yet it is Consequently it would appear But for the ordinary reader the in a notorious fact that, even if we that the first editions of Shake- terest lies in asking where did happen to be regular readers of spearo pera pirated editions, the printers get their copy? It is Shakespeare's plays, or through Shakespeare's interest in his plays pretty certain that they did not get much teaching of one or two, seems to have ended when be their copy from any manuscript happen to be pretty ready quoters, band secured their production in of Shakespeare's. It is also certain we are still quite incapable of the theatre. It is conceivable that that Shakespeare, never corrected taking the slightest interest in a he was obliged to have, no a proof. Sometimes they got discussion of their; authorship, further Interest. In 1608 the their copy by sending reporters unless we know something about shareholders of the Whitefriars to the theatre to take down the the circumstances of their publics Theatre imposed a fine of £40 for words sald by the actors as play proceeded. Some tion. It is rather weakening to; feiture of their places, on disloyal the hear your favourite books handied actors who yielding to publishers' times actors were beguiled into the about In the attribution of author bribes caused plays to be put into inspiring atmosphere of a tavern ship between Shakespears and print. The theatres feared that the and could there be induced to re Bacon and others, and not even be printing of plays would lead to loss peat their lifes, while the printers able to take an interent, far less of custom shakespeare was pro-Clerk-took them down from side, in the same. It is not very bably reconciled to this by reslin- tion. These must have been rather convincing, hardly ever self-con- ing that & play is a co-operative laborious methods, calling for much prifter vincing, to pay Never mind the effort of author, producer and allting. Occasionally authorship; read the plays; enjoy players. Perhaps ha thought that might have be fuck to meet some them as literature it doesn't matter a play as reading matter, id such a bonym the know who who ste them." Ore-fects that poor thing? compared to a play on procure for him & complete their we ought at least to be able to the stage, that is unworthy of copy. But even a theätfer understand the grounds of the Flutarest. Perhaps he thought it was might not be puro Shal dispute about the restes better to be a loyal actor with his We know that the prod

HONGKONG WOMEN'S

GUILD. Fand MINISTERING....

CHILDREN'S LEAGUE

GRAND FETE

and SALE OF WORK in aid of local Charitis and other Children's Funds.

To be held in the grounds of

COVER

UBE.

LUCKY WELL-STAR SHOOT- ING-BELL SHOOTING. Children's Stalls of Xmas Toys, Dolls, Balls, etc, Sweets and Con- footianery of every description. invited. All Children welcomed,

Ladisa and Gentlemen cordially

Hongkong, 22nd November, 1923.

DANCING.

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