The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-02
ANNA DIoKINsON.s NEwrLAY
The Tragedy OF Anne BoIeyn, the
Wife Whom Henry VIII be-

Correspondence Of the Chicago TrlLunc.l
New York, April 29.-Miss Anna
Dickinson, as you have heard, will make
her first appearance on the dramatic stage
at the Globe Theatre, in Boston, May s,
in the tragedy of "Anne Boleyn." The
occasion will be unique in this, that it is
not only the lndy's debut, but she. has
written her own play. When say that
she has written ii, mean that the entire
tragedy is herS-the conception, the plot,
the situations and every word Of the text.
She has IInd no aid whatever, and no pro-
fcssional playwright has had anything to
do with il.
/ called on Miss Dickinson last evening
at the residence OF friend with whom she
is stopping on Murray Hill. She has
rested this winter from her labor on the
platform, and she shows the effect Of leis.
ure in the recovery Of degree OF health
which she has not enjoyed for years. She
is once more plump, rosy, young, thorough
ly cheerful, exhubcrant and full OF vital.
ity.
You know well enough the story OF her
remarkable career. She has addressed
public audiences for seventeen years, and
Is now thirty-threc. While teaching
school, she was first brought out in n
speech at an Anti,Slavery Convention in
Philadelphia, in 1860, which Mr.. Gnrri-
son heard, and induced her to come to
Boston and speak from Parker's pulpit.
She was then not IS, and, doubling the
wisdom Of so carly an appearance, her
friends strove 10 withdraw her and send
her to school; but she had tasted OF the.
intoxicating hasheesh Of applause, and
had learned her power; moreover It was
not favorable time to wait. Great
questions were pending. She was re.
ceiyed everywhere with enthusiasm, and
for years held her place in the front rank
Of popular speakers. The ordeal was
one which no other young woman III the
world ever passed through.
Miss Dickinson's success US lecturer
resulted from her personal earnestness.
She possessed enthusiasm. She spoke on
current topics, always for a moral pur-
pose, and at critical points in her address
she touched the hearts OF her hearers to
an unusual degree. She could thrill.
There were splendid passages into which
she seemed to throw her whole soul.
Miss Dickinson has for years wished
10 adopt the drama as her profession,
but has been restrained by the objections
Of her Quaker relatives and alectionate
friends. She has doubtless foreseen that
didactic oratory could not long be in do.
mand. People can not afford always to
be exeitnd. Roth appeal and invective
wear out, Al last she found that she had
really nothing more TO say that the peo.
pie wished 10 hear, and with this diScov::
cry she resolved to realize the dream oi
years by going at once on the stage, and
there seeking scope for the dramatic I'M
pulse that still moved her.
This original iivc.act tragedy OF "Anne
Boleyn"is an attempt on Miss DickinsOn's
part to vindicate the integrity and purity
Of the second vile OF Henry the Eighth.
She claims that the true history Of her
life does not Justify the equivOcal name
which the world has generally awarded
her. The dialogue and dramatic movement
Of the play are spirited. It kindlcs aud
deyelopes good deal Of intensity Of feel
ing. The points are made with great di-
reCtness. Although lacking tho concise
ness and rythm OF poetry, the speeches
are remarkably tcrsc, and sometimes al.
most Shakspearcan in condensed energy
and pithincss. The aim OF the play, us |
have suggested, is to rescue Anne Bo!eyn
from the position she has occupied In
tradition, OF being mere flirt and CO.
quctte, with no motive higher than per.
sonal ambition and trickery "a tri-
ler whose girlish vanity was so
tickled with the idea OF being called
Queen that she willingly made herself a
mistress Of the King. Anne Ia here
represented US being true, loving,
faithful woman, the victim Of foul con.
spiracy, unwittingly drawn into the net
and coil OF circumstances, desiring to
marry her true lover, Percy Of Northum-
berland. but overcome by the intrigues
which Wolscy and Cromwell employed to
forward their base designs. 0f course
Anne Is painted as somewhat given to
leyity, and possessed Of Partisan free
dom of manners; but she ia represented as
a brilliant, able, yivacious, virtuous, ailec.
tionate and accomplished woman, who
resisted the opportunities Of the King
for years, and finally fell the victim to
SANDER.
The bascuess of pricstcrait is power.
fully set forth. Among the dramatic
personr arc "Sir Thomas Boleyn,"
aPercy," "WolsCy," "Cranmcr" and
"Ctomwell." In preparing TO explain
the motives and conduct OF woman
whom Miss Dickinson feels has been mis-.
understood and traduced, she hos studied
unremittingly, and has made herself IA.
miliar with the requirements and bust.
ness otthe stage. .N-
Municipal.
FF. a.