A LITERARY MECCA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 3

A LITERARY MECCA.

HARVARD HOUSE AT STRATFORD. COUP BY MISS MARIE CORELLL. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, October 8. Tlio British colonial in England who has a literary heart is often disappointed in his impressions of the Shakespeare town. The übiquitous evidences of the desire to trade on the associations of the place are sufiiciently repugnant, but the greatest disappointment arises from the insistent insinuation that Stratford-on-Avon belongs to the transatlantic branch of the English-speaking race, and not to

the Anglo Saxons as a whole. There is probably no place in Europe which is better recognised as tho Mecca of the American tourist than Stratford. No American with any pretensions to literary

interest would dream of leaving England without visiting it. They seem to possess tho place, and undoubtedly during the season outnumber all other nationalities put together. This week the association has been strengthened by the opening of an insti-

tution in Stratford which is intended to bo something of a homo for visiting Americans, it fell out curiously. A year or two ago Miss Marie Corclli, whose home is in Stratford, was a guest on the yacht of Sir Thomas Lipton at Cowcs. Discussing Stratford one evening with another guest, Mr Edward Morris, of Chicago, she remarked that it would be a fine tiling if someone would establish a place there for Americans, " which would be a home to tliem." Mr Morris, who is a man of not many words, did r.ot- seem at the moment to

give any special heed to the remark, but the next, morning ho called to Miss Corelli across a companion-way, " You go ahead with that Stratford plan. Buy a suitable house, and charge it to me." She cried, "Do you mean it?" and he answered, "Yes; go ahead with the plan and carry it out as you think best."

The novelist was delighted. By a happy intuition she thought at once of an old house in High .street, which w.i-s occupied in historic days by the ancestors of the American Harvard family. The double association was exactly what she wanted. Harvard House, a threestoried Elizabethan structure, was eroded in 1596. A few years later—April 8, 1605—Katlierine Rogers, the daughter <f an alderman of Stratford, was married to Robert Harvard, and from there tliev started out for Soulhwarlt, where lie was a prosperous trader. Their son, John Harvard, founder of the greatest of American universities, was born in November, 1607. It is believed that Shakespeare was a friend of Katlierine Rogers. If so, lie would of course know Harvard Hoiree.

Until a. few years ago the house was used as an auctioneer's office. Then it fell into disrepair. All the fine old carving had been plastered over, and various alterations had been made with a viewto using it for business purpoe.es. It was offered for sale, but the price offered (£950) did not reach the reserve, and it was withdrawn. Miss Corelli knew this, and she made a. much better offer on behalf of Mr Morris.

Miss Cotelli had a free hand in the restoration of the building, and it has been done iv.,tii, admirablo taste. The house lias a richly-carved front, topped by a massive gable, and now looks very much as it must. hava in Shakespeare's day. Aow it becore-es a resting-placo for the American pilgrims in Stratford. As Mi* s Coielli remarked ao the opening ceremony, " Stratford-on-Avon has lone been tho literary Mecca of the American j people, but they have not been able to call any portion of it their very own until this moment. This quaint little house, rendered so historic by its association with John Harvard, has seemed to me the very place for them to inherit." She expressed the belief, too, that Shakespeare and Robert Harvard were friend. Not only was the poet a neighbour o< Katharine Rogers in Stratford, but he was also a neighbour o! Harvard, in Sontlnvark, where his Globe Theatre' was situr.ted. The American Ambassador. Mr Whitelaw Reid, remarked "On the same day on which Harvard is gaining a new president. it has gained not merely one new tie with England, .but two. The one, of course, is this fine old Elizabethan survival. The second tie is also notable and more recent. Harvard gained to-day a president, Dr Lowell, who has done some sncli rcrvice to England as the accomplished British Ambassador in Washington has done for America. The outcome

of such teaching as Dr Lovell's and John Harvard's must be a realisation that, whether we wish it or not, in the larger sense our two conntrks cannot escape their constant and racial relation as one family still, and cannot escape the inspiring fact that ir. their common devotion to tho historic ideals and aspirations of their race lies the best hope for civilisation and the peace of mankind."

At the subsequent lunclicon Miss Ada Crowley sang "The star-spangled banner." •