SHAKSPEARE'S HOUSE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1983, 6 May 1885, Page 2

SHAKSPEARE'S HOUSE.

There is an idea prevailing that the three antique lao'ies who have the house and museum in charge are the last living descendants of the great poet's famifyi This is fiction unfortunately, but iLthe old ladies have not in point of fajftny blood relationship to the Shakspeare family, they are thoroughly saturated with the conviction that the little house in Stratford-en-Avon is with the events ' that have made it famous the most-im-portant and imposing spot on the faio of the earth; and that it is, in facif-tljj} axis -rOund which-everything elsewhere revolves. They also believe firmly in the greatness of their own position as guardians of these world revered relics, and joking aside, it is one of,great trust, and probably could not be confided to fnore zealous hands. - :The;grcatest care is taken that' no accident should occur, • Gentlemen are not permitted to bring a cigaT over.the threshold ; a match is never 5 lighted in the house, nor any kind of light 'or fire introduced. The building is closed at,dusk to prevent the necessity of the former, and is heated by steam, which is conveyed through pipes from half a block away. The houses on - either-, side of Shakspeare's ■ birthplace ! were torn down a 1 few years since to prevent ■ danger from fire. During the tourists' season hundreds of people malAihia pilgrimage, and hundreds and tholltnds of times probably the three little old ladies in their prim black silk gowns, with 'dress caps' ornamenting their scanty locks, repeat the explanatory remarks to group after;-group', of visitors^:begining with " Be kind enough to place umbrellas and: walking-sticks upon this,' the old table of the pqet's; father, next-turn your attention to this, the living room of the family, unchanged in any respect since ■ the childhood of the great author. After the father of the poet died this room was rented for a butcher's shop, .'which accounts for the defacing of the floor; Jook, also, at the, chimney with the, comer seats; here William Shakspeare, $ a lad, doubtless iittlo dreaming, of..® great future before -him, often sat on a winter's eve after, his. return from school. Visitors are permitted,to sit a moment in the chimney seat,'—this in tones at once solemn and patronising. 'Wo next have tho second or best room in tho houao, and. off it our pout's bedroom, but* poor place, ladies and gentleman,-tPPielter the king of intellects.' And so from room to r00m,.-while our party is in tho so-called poet s bedroom, I hear the second old lady, who is ovidonfcly just beginning the toui'with a, company, chatteringthe unchanging refrain word for word as our old ladydidat that point, and as wedescend the narrow staircase, aftor seeing the long ' upper room whil) has the autograph of Sjr William S<jo|£ cut iyith a djambpd upon tho window . third of the weii'd sisterJ'ju6t as she iij saying,' i>ut a poor'pln'de^lad les and gentlemen to shelter the kiifg of intellects? The Shakespeare is like two houses, now that is a ;pjrtitiijii waif cutting It —issotiy through the centre from garret tp cellar or ground floor, which was put tjjere ' s}®2 •!§s• aipd rented part 1 of tlie house ,-ag ■ aii inn. This is now called the wlierein are fife yarjous ' Shakspeare, hjs fatnily, > fefjntefr esting objects perfeming of hi? time, notably the form or desk from the village school the poet attended, and vouched for by the best authorities about Stratford as authentic. Ever} 1 smallest object is religiously guarded as 'something sacred, and in noticing this care and solicitude one cannot but bless the happy chance which awakened the sleepy old villagers to a realisation of the treasure's ,4ktheir midst, even thoug): njiaiW was brought about b^lln ! eirffet^rlfilng v 'vanflaj of a countryman 1 of 1 fliirs/Vrfho 'hail' the assurance to propose buying "the,',:SliaWpeare house aSi'it stands r Mendirig'fo bring it iiV sections tb there t'o attagh it to <®te , -.Oorrespondeiiji fihjc^

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