Page:1909. Is Shakespeare Dead? From My Autobiography.djvu/144

IS SHAKESPEARE DEAD? of the year 2209. Disbelief in him cannot come swiftly, disbelief in a healthy and deeply—loved tar baby has never been known to disintegrate swiftly, it is a very slow process. It took several thousand years to convince our fine race—including every splendid intellect in it—that there is no such thing as a witch; it has taken several thousand years to convince that same fine race-including every splendid intellect in it-that there is no such person as Satan; it has taken several centuries to remove perdition from the Protestant Church's program of postmortem entertainments; it has taken a weary long time to persuade American Presbyterians to give up infant damnation and try to bear it the best they can; and it looks as if their Scotch brethren will still be burning babies in the everlasting fires when Shakespeare comes down from his perch. 130