Woonsocket High School - Quiver Yearbook (Woonsocket, RI)

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THE QUIVER 9 THE WOMEN MOST INFLUENTIAL IN SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE There were three women who exerted a great influence over W.lliam Shakespeare. The first was his mother, Mary Arden, whose influence upon the later, as well as the earlier, days of Shakespeare's life was unbounded. The second was Anne Hathaway, whom Shake-peare married when he was but eighteen years old. The third is said to l ave been Mary Fitton, whom he met during his sojourn in London, and whose personality is reflected in many of his works, particularly in his sonnets. Mary Arden was of a slightly higher class than the elder Shakespeare, and when she married him, she brought a fortune sufficient to keep them comfortably during the remainder of their lives. By means o' her money, she was able to send Shakespeare to the grammar school of Stratford-on-Avon, where he received his education. It was also his mother who, in frequent walks about the beautiful country surrounding his home, opened the eyes of the future poet to the beauties of nature, which were afterwards so feelingly and fittingly described in his works. The influence .of Anne Hathaway, afterwards Anne Shakespeare, was perhaps the least of the three. She was his wife and the mother of his children, but we find nowhere in his works the evidence of her influence. In place of this, we find scores of allusions to another and more fervid love, the object of which was probably the beautiful Mary Fitton, who was maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth, and whom, it is thought, Shakespeare met when he went to London. This Mary Fitton was one of the foremost ladies of her time, and was renowned for her beauty. The poet met her, perhaps, when he was summoned to read his works before the great Queen Elizabeth. The thoughts which she inspired in him were embodied in some of his meet beautiful lines. She was probably “The whitely wanton with a velvet brow” of “Love’s Labor Lostand we find references to her. such as “dark lady,” “dark as night,” “false to the bonds of love,” scattered throughout his plays and poems. Even in “Antony and Cleopatra,” the character of Cleopatra, some critics think, has borrowed much from Mary Fitton. Ardent as Shakespeare’s love was, it enkindled no answering passion in the beautiful maid of honor, for she married the Earl of Pembroke, who had been Shakespeare’s confidant, and against whom we find some bitter lines, as

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8 THE QUIVER foreman if that was the correct way, and he told me that it was the correct way to break the machine. I told Bill about this, but he passed it off as a mere incident, and proceeded to tell me his plans for building a folding canoe. I know many enthusiastic talkers, but Bill is king of them all. HENRY C. CARD, JR., ’18. CAUGHT IN AN ELEVATOR When I entered the elevator, I noticed that it was well filled, as it was the noon hour. It went downward as usual until just between the second and third floors, where it stopped. “Oh, my goodness! What’s the matter? Is something broken? Tell me quickly,” exclaimed a middle-aged woman. “I never saw such carelessness in my life! Elevators should be kept in a good condition,” said another woman. “Sir, stop this dilly-dallying. Fix this elevator at once. I left meat in the oven. I must get this next car.” “We'll all smother or starve if this car isn’t lifted. It is 12:15 and I want my lunch,” said a stout man. “Oh! I’m going to faint, I know. I’ll sue this firm. My nerves are shattered!” wailed a hysterical young woman. “Dry up!” said a burly man. “Stop yelling in my ear!” “Oh, what fun!” giggled one schoolgirl to another. “Isn’t it perfectly thrilling? Won’t the other girls be jealous? Do you suppose our names will be in the paper? Maybe they’ll take our pictures. Oh, dear, I wish I’d worn my velvet hat. It’s much more becoming. You know------” “You girls would better be praying to the good Lord to get us out of this predicament safely than talking nonsense,” said one prudish woman. “Say, you numskull, haven’t you fixed that machinery yet? Friends, just think of this specimen living on while men like Tom Shevlin die.” said a dapper young man, anxious to impress the schoolgirls. “Boo-hoo!' Boo-hoo!” cried a small, pretty woman. “Those 49c. waists will all be picked over.” “It’s going! He’s fixed it! Hurrah!” Yes, we were moving slowly. Although we had been delayed but about fifteen minutes, I shall never forget it. It certainly was an experience. MADELEINE E. BAXTER, ’18.

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10 THE QUIVER “Thou friend of an ill fashion Thou common friend that’s without faith or love—’’ Nevertheless, he was for twelve years a slave to Mary Fitton, for we find such evidence as this of his continued love for her: “Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love, Which alters when it alteration finds.” Such were the women who influenced Shakespeare’s life most strongly. He was bound to one by a filial bond, to the next by a legal tie, and to the last by the strongest tie that his heart could devise. He loved and served them all, and without them his works could not have reached their high standard of excellence. LILLIAN STARR, ’16. TO A BROOK Oh, little, bubbling, singing brook, How happy you seem to be, While winding your way to the river, Which leads to the deep, blue sea! Sometimes you go through meadows, Where the grass on your banks is green, Where the flowers are brightly blooming, Still wet with the dewdrops’ sheen. Sometimes you go through forests, Cooling the heated earth With your clear and sparkling water, While you dream of the land of your birth. Onward your shining waters rush, Till at last with scarcely a quiver, . Still merrily singing and dancing, You give yourself up to the river. % VERA NORDENSTIERNA, '18.