Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-07
3fliseellnnp.
Dramatic Memories.

/ Il
We find in the New York Ledger in
the article contributed by Horace Gree
ley entitled Recollections of Busy
Life Time" one ON Dramatic Memories,
which commences with "reminiscences Of
his boyhood days and relating to Incl
dents that are some what local, having
transpired in Westhaven and Wells in
Rutland county:
Nj know that the instructive yearning
Of human being for dramatic represent
atoms, and the delight by which these
are witnessed, alike by cit and savage, |
may not be q dictate of Mans innate and
utter dspravity, inspired by the great
author of evil; yet bear unhesitating
testimony to its existence. 1t is very
nearly half century since my father,
lying ON a sick bed and supposed to be
asleep, was intensely amused, as ! after
ward heard him relate, by witnessing the
gambols of his three younger children
all between eight and three years old
who rudely recast into dramatic form
J the nonsensical song of "a frog he
would wooing Co." and enacted it
each personating one Of the animals men
toned therein-for their own mutual
delectation, supposing that no one else
was cognizant of the performance. l
have no reason to suppose that one of
them had ever heard of theatre or a
play prior to that unique effort.
Four or five years later, after we had
migrated to Vermont, what was called
an exhibition" that is play, was set
on foot in our Westhaven school dis
trict, prompted by the master, and l was
allotted part therein. The drama was
lentitled, / think, "The Fall of Bona
lparte," and was intensely saturated with
ldetestation of the great but fallen Corsi-
can, who, believe, was still living,
though in reduced circumstances. l re-
collect that my part was that of either
General or Captain Lescourt; (both were
in the play, and l have forgotten which
was mine only recollect that it was as
full of execration of the destroyer of
French liberty, and the betrayer of the
hopes of the untitled millions, as even
could wish to utter. remember that we
had several resitations, and that the play
nearly spoiled our studies for that winter
but cannot be certain of the consum-
nation. / believe our play was played
badly Of course for the performers die
not average twelve years old, and no
one of them had ever seen drama really
enacted If any one asserts from knowl
edge that that long-expected and intent.
: prepared-for exhibition failed, fo
some reason, to come off, l shall not con
= tradict him, though my impression
? different
= More years passed and 'at length
b while an apprentice at Poultney, an 1" es
L hibition" was advertised to come off on
evening in the church at Wells, six mile
south of us; so party was made up
I attend til being one of that part.
Wells had rather hard reputation
those days (perhaps from the ill-behavi'
of those who went thith er from neighbo
ing towns to carry on;") which fam
/ trust, it has since outgrown. 1t WI
nd late in winter, with deep snow, but thai
bbSS ing so that, to protect us from the bal
10 of ice and snow constantly thrown
us from our horses feet, a long board hi
&C.. been set up on edge across the front
our rude sleigh, or rather sled and tn
= in passing a point of rock which proje'
ed into the narrow road through the ft
est which skirted "Lake St. Austin
!. otherwise Wells Pond), was caught Al
held so as to rake the sled clear of
ES human freight. / received a hurt on i
= shin which remained unhealed for yea
But no one complained, all laughed; a
8. we were soon all on board and in mott
- again, reaching Wells in good time
the exhibition" The church v
crowded with eager and not very crit
-ans auditors the players we're consideral
= older than we of Westhaven were at I
- date of our maiden effort and / presu
a the playing was better mainly becaus
could not easily be worse. There W
several pieces (most of them literally
=. on the bills, and all were duly underdo
vet even their names have escaped !
sort One popularity remains firmly embed'
9art Pi in my memory. There was scene
. one of the plays wherein man snu
hidden amid the thick branches of
= at evergreen tree overheard a plot to c.
NIT robbery and perhaps murder a
Whereupon, he bides his time, and d
1Nn precipitates himself on the robber,
son robbers, in the very act, putting him
ache ache. them, to death or flight, and gallal
sYv rescuing the intended victim. Well,
= is where the laugh comes in The tire
/ substantial pine or hemlock, some e
. inches through and twenty feet hig
lbad haan firmly imnlantad in the n