mongering; it is simply to secure for posterity what we could give--
an exact representation of the great poet as he lived and died.
Surely this is justifiable, at least it is allowable, in the absence
of any authentic portrait. Surely such a duty might be most
reverently done. I doubt after all if it will be; but I am very
strongly in favour of the trial, and if no remains were found, no
harm would be done, the 'curse' to the contrary notwithstanding.
People who have pet projects about portraits would not like to have
all their neat and logical arguments knocked on the head, but where
SHOULD we ALL be if no Shakspeare at all were found, but only a
bundle of musty old MSS. in Lord Bacon's 'fine Roman hand'? After
all, I am rather nervous about the result of such an exhumation.
But, seriously, I see no reason why it should not be made. A legal
friend here long ago suggested (humorously, not professionally of
course) that the 'curse' might be escaped by employing a woman
('cursed be HE') and women would compete for the honor!"

4.--Anonymous Article in The Birmingham Daily Mail, of August 23,
1876, headed "Shakspeare's Carte de Visite." This is strongly
adverse to Mr. Norris's proposals. The writer inclines to believe
that the "friend residing near Stratford" was "a fiction of the Mrs.
Harris type," or "possibly a modest way of evading the praise which
would be the meed of the brilliant genius who originated the
project": both very random guesses, and, as it turns out, wide of
the mark. The article ends thus: "If Moses had been raised in
Massachussetts he would have been wanted to take a camera or some
business-cards up Sinai." For our part, if we shall be so fortunate
as to find Shakespeare alive in his grave, we shall of course raise
him, and invite him to cooperate in the business of photographing
his own shining face. But we are not so sanguine as to expect that