The Portland daily press., 1868-04-13
Poetry
- -
Miscellany.
"The spirit of sevenIy-six. /"

"The spirit of SevenIy-six"
We took occasion few days since to refer
to a lively little play, bearing the above title,
which has been amusing cur Boston neigh
bors OF late. The play, which was written by
Mrs Daniel S. Curtis for private paror per-
Torrance, has proved so happy hit that it
has been published by Little and Brown
1t is styled prophetic DRAMA" and the
scene is laid in Boston in 1876. II represents
'The Coming Woman" as she will be when
invested with the powers and privileges for
which the malioners of the sex assert that
she is struggling There is good deal OF
humor in its whimsical exaggeration. and it
satirizes some of the extIavagances of our
modern reformers in very pleasant manner
We understand that perm ission has been OBJ
tanned to produce the spirit of Seventy Six"
at SelwyEs theatre in Boston. We would
suggest to the managers of the Portland
Dramatic Club that they could hardly do
better than to introduce "Ihe Coming Wo-
man. to their audience here. We make
few extracts, promising that Victorine is a
girl OF eighteen, CarberTy young gentle
man just returned from a ten years absence
in China, and not ''posted" in the progress
OF the day; Mr.. WiqfaH is a man who stays
at home and tends baby" while Mrs. Wig
fall canvasses for judgeship, and Mss
Wolverine Griffin electioneers for her. We
give scene in which Victorine just returned
from hunting excursion, meets CarberTp
at the railroad station:
VICroRINE (Wearily).-One must be inter-
ested in something, you know-and to tell
you the honest tiath, horse racing and dog
lighting bore me, and I'm not much OF a CLUB |
girl, and no sportswoman-so I've gone iuto |
spiders.
CARBERRy (aside )-There's something
very odd about all this. (Atoud.) When l
was here last, young ladies interested them
selves chiefly in society. Is there no gaiety
IN Boston now? D
VICToRINE.-Parties, you mean? l really
can't tell you; P,e handy been to party
since my Sophomore year. l don't like them.
1t Is SO unpleasant asking gentlemen to dance |
they make such favor of it, and |
the incest ones are engaged ten deep. E. |
And then they always want so much supper! |
Really after I've done helping my partner, |
I'm so tired, that when get home I've hard
ly strength to turn the latch-key So don't |
oltea go. And yet I'm fond |
OF dancing too. Are you?
CARBERRY.-I have no doubt should be
WIN SuCu charming PAL Cner-DuJ i m AFRAID |
have mt much experience. |
VICToRINE.-Oh, does MT your father let |
you dance round dances?
CARBERRY (puzzted).-ilfy father!
VIoToRINE.-h by, that's what so many |
young men say. But think it is only an
excuse, because they are too lazy.
CARBERRY.-Society seems to have chang
ed very much, tor, when 1 lett Boston, the
gentlemen always asked the ladies.
VIcToRINE.-Ob, can you remember as far |
back as that I think it must have been
pleasanter then for the girls-but mamma
and Aunt Wolverine say don't appreciate
the blessings OF emancipation. l don't. l
SHOULD hate to vote and I'd
great deal rather keep quiet, and be asked
to dance, or to ANYTHING
CARBERRY.-Miss Wigfan. SUCH h''p senti-
ments do you honor. A lady is never SO
charming as when adorned with modesty, OF
winch see The emblem in your violet eyes.
N1croRINE.-How pretty! Is that the
way gentlemen used to talk? Do go on.
CARBERRY tdSide) Its not so easy for a
shy man to go on.
VIoruRlNE.-1 don't know anything about
The old ways, Tor mamma says lovers were
80 frivolous, and won't tell me,
and L don't believe Aunt Wolverine ever had
any, so can't get much
oul of her,
CARBERRY. - The novels of that pe
riod give you some idea.
VICToRINE.-But all the old novels were
burnt, you know, by order OF the Ladies or
the Legislature, because they represented
Woman in her degraded state. They saw
there used to be a few at Loring's Library
once, but he only keeps philosophical and |
scientific works now, and Mr.. Putnam's Cook
cry Book.
CARBERRY.-No novels!
no parties! No poetry, perhaps-that would
De good thing. Miss Wigfaii, did YOU never
hear OF Tennyson?
NICroRINE.-O yes, indeed! I have a
beautiful song OF his" Come into the qarden.
George" Iii sing it to you some day. But
now do tell me about Old times-for the train
may be here any moment, and perhaps l shall
never have another chance. ! want TO know
whether gentlemen really cared anything for
ladies then?
Certainly, knew great
many fellows who were over head and ears
in love with pretty girls
VIcroRINE.-In love? There! 1 knew
there ecds such thingl And what did they
do and say?
CARBERRY.-( aside What an embar-
RAISING girl! (atoudl. l dare say you know
from experience, Mss Wigtall.
VIcToRINE.-l-no,i ndeed-I never made
an offer TO anybody. M
CARBERRY.-Yeu! OF course not. What
did you think l meant?
VIcToRINE.-Were you ever in love YOUR
self?
CARRERRY.-Never, neuer assure YOU.
VICToRINE.-Oh, / wish you had been for
then you could have told me all about it. |
But those fellows
you spoke OF, who were "over head and ears
what did they say? only wanted to know
what it sounded like.
Can't you sighf-just once!
CARBERRY tuery mach embarrassea.) -
Really, Miss Wigfall.
VIcToRlNE.-Were they so very awkward?
Come, now-what did they say?
CARCERRY.-Well then they
said they said
A VOICE (without).- Train starting for
Boston-Al! aboard!
VICroRINE and CARBERRY snatch up
guns, bags, ShaacLs, and rush out.
Arrived at Mr.. Wiqfalrs house, Miss Griffin
makes love to Carberry, meeting all his OBJ
jections and concluding as follows:
You want guide, philosopher, and friend:
80 OF course, you would MT marry baby.
Then, as to mere wax-doll beauty, OF course
you don't care FOR that. You want woman
OF majestic presence (drdloiny herself upl
mind - experience - heart-and, above all |
sound political principles, which are the on
ly sure foundation on which to erect the fab
ric of connubial bliss.
Victorine keeps her promise and sings
Tennysons song, as follows:
Come into the garden, George.
Don't sit there all nign It and tlrone. |
Come into the garden, George
am smoking here alone
And the scent Of your meerschaum is waited abroad,
Anu tne scent OF Cabanas blown.
For breeze of evening moves
AMI the planet OF Love doth rise
I'm beginning to Duff the |