Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1918 — AS IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME [ARTICLE]

AS IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME

Old Tudor Architecture of Town of Stratford-on-Avon Haa Been Wonderfully Restored. I Americans, who in prewar days, delighted in visiting “Shakespeare’s country,” would find many changes there now. Quietly and unostentatiously through the unwearying efforts of Marie Corelli, the novelist, and a few who support her artistic tastes, these last three and a half years have disclosed the ancient mysteries-of Stratford. Old houses, with plastered walls, which were eyesores to the visitors and residents alike, have been stripped of their outward ugliness, to reveal the quaint picturesque Tudor architecture of Shakespeare’s time. Wherever It-has been possible the early appearance of the buildings has been restored, and the effect has been a transformation and the restoration of the place as Shakespeare knew It. The ancient “Sword of State” which hangs In Shakespeare’s birthplace was removed from its scabbard in August, 1014, as an official notice that England was at war and the people say tradition forbids them to sheathe the old sword, carried by Shakespeare’s father when he was high bailiff in 1568-9, until England is again at peace. Once at least, since war was declared, Shakespeare’s old home has given.expression to Its feeling of gratitude to Americans for the tributes they have been privileged to pay to it from time to time. That was when the United States entered the war. President Wilson’s memorable message to the congress was proclaimed aloud. Many of the townfolk had almost despaired of the momentous event, and it appears there were only two American flags in Stratford at the time. One was a great banner owned by Miss Marie Corelli and the other waving from the house of John Harvard’s njother. Both were promptly hurled out Into, the breeze of the “garden spot of England,” and thus America had again come Into the hearts of Shakespeare’s people.