Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1906 — Fame of Shakspeare. [ARTICLE]

Fame of Shakspeare.

Two Americans who were traveling in made a devout pilgrimage to Stratford-on-Avon and passed several days wandering about the neighborhood, says Harper’s Weekly. One day they met a countryman, and, pausing, one of the pilgrims said : “My friend, I envy you your life here amid the fields that knew the great poet’s youth. 'What sublime thoughts must come to you as you ti'ead the paths his feet trod!” The rustic simply stared, and the American demanded If he knew of whom he was speaking, receiving a prompt negative. “Why, of Shakespeare, man. You must know of him!” the pilgrim explained, stricken with horror. After some coaxing the man finally admitted that he had heard of Shakespeare, and believed that he had “wrote for summat.” "And have you any idea for what he wrote —was it the Times?” the American inquired with infinite sarcasm. “Oh, it warn’t the Lunnon paper,” the man said. “I know it was summat solemn like. I think it was the bible, belike.”