Shakespeare's Christmas gift to Queen Bess in the year 1596 . Shakefpeare^ sChriftmas Gift to Queen Befs I. At the Mermaid. T HF, numberlefs diamond-fhapedwindow panes of the MermaidTavern are twinkling like fo many Jiarsin the chill Tiecember air of London. Itis the laji meeting of the Mermaid Club 14 Shakefpeares Chriftmas for the year I^gd, and not a member isabfent. As they drop in by twos andthrees and gather in groups about the room,it is plain that expe Elation is on call each other by their Chrijiiannames and pledge healths. Some are young,handfome, fajiidious in person an
Shakespeare's Christmas gift to Queen Bess in the year 1596 . Shakefpeare^ sChriftmas Gift to Queen Befs I. At the Mermaid. T HF, numberlefs diamond-fhapedwindow panes of the MermaidTavern are twinkling like fo many Jiarsin the chill Tiecember air of London. Itis the laji meeting of the Mermaid Club 14 Shakefpeares Chriftmas for the year I^gd, and not a member isabfent. As they drop in by twos andthrees and gather in groups about the room,it is plain that expe Elation is on call each other by their Chrijiiannames and pledge healths. Some are young,handfome, fajiidious in person and drefs;others are bohemian in cojiume, fpeech, andaBion; all wear knee breeches, and nearlyall have pointed beards. He of the harfh fighting face, of the fine eye and coarfe lip [and. Copyright, iSgQ. by A. W. Elsoii &r O,, Boston. The River Avon at Sfratford I kiwii. a bank wJiere t/ic -wild thyme blows,Wliere oxlips and tlie noddint; Tiotet groivs. Gift to Queen Befs IS and the Jhaggy hair, whom they call Ben,although one of the youngeji is yet plainlyone of the leaders both for wit and forwifdom. That grave and handfome gentlemanwhofe lordly bearing and princely drefsmark his high rank, is another has written charming poems, hasfought gallantly on many fields, has voyagedwidely on many feas, has founded coloniesin difiant America, is a favourite of the [Queen l6 Shakefpeares Chriftmas ^een. But in this Mermaid Club hischief glory is that he is its founder andleader, the one whofe magnetifm and per-fonal charm has fummoned and cementedin friendjhip all thefe varied elements. At laji the all-important matter of theyearly Chrijimas play at court has beenfettled; the Majier of the Revels has chofenfrom the rich Jiores of his manufcriptsThe Midsummer
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectshakespearewilliam15
