St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-07-11
1.-THE Dream Of Liberty"

c'4H"The' Dream of Liberty"
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This Drama written by Rev. Nelson, Of
the St. Cloud Seminary, and performed by
the young ladies' on the evening Of the
Fourth, was great success: 1t exhibited,
in the author, decided talent for aramat-
i composition, and has many passages Of
6nc original poetry, beside being, inter
spersed with suitable selections from
Whittier and other standard authors,
The plot is first a conversation between
Liberty and Justice in the Old World
upon, the state Of affairs Angels, voices
interrupt them, and suggest in Columbia
they may both find home The speak.
ers arc requested to appear, and half'a -doz,
en- angels walk in, and give glowing &C.
counts of the advantages Of emigration
: There is "A sor1owful leave taking, in
which the .gir's, smotherins their laughter
in their handkerchief, 80 as to make a
capital representation of weeping, The
voyagcrs leave, and the others have talk
over the dangers, depriyations and better
hopes to- which they are gone, Then a
procession crossed the stage to embark -
Then. young lady representing "rThe
Storm Spirit rushes on the stage and over
It, and shrieks, invukipg a storm. A num-
Der Of the emigrauts are then seen on the
stage, and one makes a very energetic ad-
dress about the storm which is on them,
and about the fro which wraps the "mast
and penn on fair" declaring that call, all
is fire." and that they are lost, lost, lost.
Madam Hope steps in aud tells them they
shall be savcd-the rain is comm g, and
the storm is declared over by a young Ia
dy, who talks prettily about it. Scene
closes.
Then procession walks on and forms
circle to represent the debarkatio. One
delives an address on their safe arrival
they all kneel down, and one pronouuces
q prayer SO that the audience, who appear
ed to think their special business was to
applaud, and who afterward applauded, a
burial scene, listened ia perfect. silence,
and were still until the next, scene. In
this, the stage represented grove, two
misses came in, ;inn full evening dress, with
extensive hoops, sauutered about, talked
very modern poetry, gathered flowers, and
were having pleasant time, when they
were taken by surprise at seeing funeral
procession. come in. The pilgrims were
burying a baby. far away from dear old
The audience appeared to
think it we'll done, for they applauded vo-
=, The members sung "Nlount
Vernon" and dispersed.
This whole scene was mistake. =. First,
Who. were the girls in the forest? Not
indians, and they could not be of. the Pill
srims, for in >. that little community all
would have mourned together. The poet
~ and music dates at least one hundred
years after the pilgrims were in their
graves. It was historic and dramatic
So also the coming storm could
have been better represented by:a little
.rtiifcial thunder and lightning behind the
scenes. The "Storm Spirit done up in
god god solid flesh. and talking English with
he best Of US, is SO foreign to the natural
rider Of things that no dramatic talent
''ould make it appear probable. , We make
hc criticism in the best feeling, and be-
iiause there is. SO much to praise that the
flair can bear an honest criticism. The
'4ttemnpt was gigantic for one pressed as the
uthor i with every day duties, and unfa-
n dli'': with stage effect, and the grand
Wonder is that it was not total failure.
II would be perilous undertaking for
be best theatrical company in the United
states, and the best stage appointments it
' 90 furnish r'a to represent principles--ab-
tract 'r'' ideas, such as Justice, Liberty, Pa,
&c., IS flesh and blood charac-
q IT, Shakespeare and other dramatic
!rlterf represent principles By presenting
be iv 't .od .thoaaghtss Of human beings
n y! their influence latl and We think. #
T. Nell Nelson bad followed that idea, h,s
ream would have: been far moro than .
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