But I have inspected all the four:
I have also seen Mr. Page's life-size bronze bust, and wish I had
never seen it, or even a photograph of it, for it destroyed for me a
pleasant dream.
But whatever be the value of Mr. Page's conclusion, or of his Bust,
I have no doubt that the value of his book lies in those accurate
"Dimensions of Shakespeare's Mask," which he took during his six
days of free access to the Grand Ducal Museum. The measurements are
on pp. 51-55 of his book, and may eventually be of the greatest
possible use, if the time should ever arrive when Shakespeare's
skull will be subjected to similar measurement. For myself, I am
disposed to believe that no mistaken sense of duty on the part of
the Stratford authorities will long be able to prevent that
examination, if the skull be still in existence.
A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE EXHUMATION QUESTION AS AFFECTING SHAKESPEARE'S
BONES.
1.--Hawthorne, Nathaniel, in "Recollections of a Gifted Woman," in
Our Old Home (reprinted from the Atlantic Monthly, January, 1863),
records Miss Delia Bacon's project for exploring Shakespeare's
grave, and the failure of her attempt through the irresolution
occasioned by her fear of disappointment.
2.--Norris, J. Parker, in the New York American Bibliopolist, of
April, 1876, vol. viii, p. 38, in the section entitled "Shakspearian
Gossip" [reprinted in the Philadelphia Press, August 4, 1876],
seriously proposes the exhumation of Shakespeare's remains, and
asks, "Is it not worth making an effort to secure 'the counterfeit
presentment' of him who wrote 'for all time'? If we could even get
a photograph of Shakspeare's skull it would be a great thing, and
would help us to make a better portrait of him than we now possess.
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