Shale
a cod or pod; a shell; a husk; as the shale of a bean. In geology, an indurated clay, which often forms beds in the coal measures. It is chiefly composed of silica and alumina, in variable contention that William Shakespeare (q. proportions, but also frequently contains v.) did not write the plays which are attributed to him. The beginning of this controversy dates back to 1848, and since that time there have appeared a comparatively large number of books, articles, and pamphlets on the subject. Most of these, at least as far as they deny Shakespeare's authorship, attempt to prove that the real author of Shakespeare's plays was Francis Bacon (q.v.). The question involved has never been solved, and it is doubtful if it ever will be. There are only two principal points on which the contention, that Shakespeare did not write the plays, is based. Neither one of these points is subject to definite proof. For, while it is claimed that it is most unlikely that a country boy with as moderate an education as we know Shakespeare to have possessed, could have developed the genius and could have displayed the learning which his plays show, it is just as likely that Shakespeare should have succeeded in this as any other English boy. A second point which makes much of the fact that, as compared with Shakespeare's literary importance, we know very little regarding his life, is equally slight evidence. For the truth is that we know more about Shakespeare's life than about the life of any other Elizabethan dramatist, with the possible exception of Ben Jonson, and furthermore what we do know regarding Shakespeare's life indicates more or less clearly that the former country boy from Stratford and the author of the famous plays were one and the same. The positive evidence that Bacon wrote the plays is equally slight. The similarities which are pointed out between Shakespeare's plays and Bacon's works are chiefly phrases of common usage, and they are to be found with equal frequency in the works of many other writers than Bacon. The cryptograms, which are claimed to be secret signatures of Bacon, prove nothing, if considered with a fair amount of reason and logic. For, if they really meant what their supporters claim for them, they could be used with equal facility to prove Bacon's authorship of works which a considerable amount of carbonate of lime and oxide of iron. It is of a gray or grayish-black color, or brownish-red when containing much iron. Its structure is more or less slaty. It is soft, and easily reduced to powder. It is used for making slate pencils. When free from lime and iron, it is reduced to powder, and used for making fire bricks, for which it affords an excellent material.
Shale very often contains a notable quantity of bitumen and is then known as bituminous shale, and from it may be distilled an oil known as shale oil, used for illuminating purposes.