A touring tragedian tells Seattle's schoolgirls to put down 'Trilby' and read Shakespeare

Frederick Warde, the tragedian, lectured at the Seattle theater yesterday afternoon on "Shakespeare and His Works," for the benefit of the high school library. The theater was crowded from floor to ceiling with an audience representing the schools and social life of the city. It was eminently ladies' day, but there were a number of men present whose presence was concealed to a great extent by the maze of pretty suits, hats, bonnets and puffed sleeves.

Mr. Warde was at his best, and for one hour and forty-five minutes held his hearers spellbound. It was really a magnificent effort, well calculated to instil correct ideas of the relation of the great author's works to religion, education and temperance. More still, the great actor, in his thoroughly original manner, enlivened the talk by sparkling bits of humor that brought forth applause and caused many hearty laughs to resound through the theater. After telling his hearers how to read Shakespeare, and impressing on their minds the essential point that the pupil need not be afraid of the great master, he told them of the incalculable advantage in life given by a knowledge of his plays, and concluded in these words:

"Young ladies, put 'Trilby' aside for a little time and read Shakespeare."

As Mr. Warde spoke his last words he was greeted with prolonged applause, in the midst of which he was presented with a magnificent basket of flowers from the high school pupils.

The music yesterday was furnished by a Riverview orchestra, consisting of Ronald Armitage, leader; Max Elsberg, Aubrey Levy, Eugene Levy, John Wilhelm and James Kelly.

That evening the company played "Julius Caesar" before a large audience in which were many university students. As a testimonial of their appreciation the students during the first act sent up to Mr. Warde a beautiful bouquet of Marechal Niel roses, from which trailed the well-known purple and gold colors of the university. Mr. Warde acknowledged the compliment in a sparkling but brief speech, and further showed his appreciation by wearing the ribbons in a graceful knot on the left shoulder. The quarrel scene was perhaps the most effective ever witnessed in this city.