British poet’s birthday bash

To the editor:
    Cods-wallop! A small dispute in the world of Shakespeare. Part of the work that is done here in his birth town is to find pictures and information about who he was as a person.     The term I used at the beginning of this note was used in an interview between two scholars about the authenticity of a new painting that is believed to have been painted while Shakespeare was still alive. It must be remembered that 445 years ago they did not have instant cameras. Nothing like a genuine kerfluffle to make a family birthday celebration! Cods-wallop might be considered a mild expletive and was used by one scholar upset that the other believes that the painting of Shakespeare, just recently found, was bogus. The new-found painting is to be found at the Birthplace Trust and has been labeled authentic.
    The argument did little to dampen the celebrations. The sun was out and thousands filled the streets. Lots of costumes, marches and bands paraded through the streets. Each group had a bouquet of flowers and those were placed at Shakespeare’s grave. Not quite like the parades back home with flatbeds and bunting. There were your usual speeches and lots of fluff and bluster with the bands and marchers passing through the crowd. What more could one ask for with the warm spring sun, lots of flowers, flags and a gentle breeze.
    At 445 years I strongly suspect that Mr. Shakespeare enjoyed the spectacle.