Smyrna times., 1877-04-18
Plucky Anna Dickinson.

rostrum was everywhere greeted by large
and intelligent audiences. Her lectures
were noted for chaste and elevated tone
and for the trenchant manner in which
they handle the leading topics of the day
or denounced the faults and follies of the
age. Her friends were numbered by
thousands, and even her opponents admir-
ed the boldness and frankness with which
her honestly entertained opinions were
ever expressed.
After long season of uninterrupted
| popularity and success on the rostrum
Miss Dickinson determined to turn heI
latent histrionic talent in practical direc
ton, and the announcement was made in
the public press that she was engaged in
writing an historical drama; and, most as
tonishing fact of all, that the play, when
finished, would be presented with Miss
Dickinson herself in the leading role.
From this time the sorest trials and dis
| couragements of this plucky and determin.
Ell woman began. Without waiting for the
appearance of the drama the critics of the
New York press, like birds of i'll omen,
| commenced their dismal croakings and
predictions of complete failure, not only of
the new drama, but of the new claimant
for honors of the stage. Such criticisms,
far more effectual than plain, outspoken
opposition, so affected the public mind, that
none but the most loyal friends of Miss
Dickinson expected anything but most
miserable failure on her part.
But Notwithstanding these grave OBJ
stacles, she quietly pursued the even
tenor of her way" and at the appointed
time the play and the player made their
double debut in Boston, and "The Crown of
Ihorns was produced before an audience
OF three thousand of the cultivated and
critical citizens Of that city.
Boston unanimously declared the affair a
complete success but the New York critics.
chagrlned at the failure of their previous
predictions, were united in denouncing the
performance as "atrocious" and "vile," and
declaring that the dCGutante could not act. ."
In spite OF such heartless criticism, and
with persistence alike heroic and COM
mehdable, Miss Dickinson pursued the
dramatic path she had chosen for herself.
ana determined to make her appearance
Ill New York, where the cruel critics had
made wall between her and her old
public As in Boston, her perseverance
was rewarded with success, and before n
Brooklyn audience, few evenings ago, in
response to an enthusiastic call before the
curtain, she addressed u large audience for
an hour, and gave a brief resume of her
appearance on the Boston stage.
In her remarks she paid her respects to
the New York critics, and her utterances
show plainly the heroism with which she
struggled against overwhelming influences.
and attained her success in the face of
bitter opposition from relentless press.
commencing with her appearance in Boston,
she said:
II have the name, believe" she said,
"ot being very strong woman, of caring
very little OF what is said or thought of me.
When L came for the first time before the
Boston public | came with only four re-
hearsals OF an entire new piece in an en-
tlrely new role, and was so worn, SO fretted.
SO utterly miserable, that in the two weeks
preceding had lost over seventeen pounds
IN weight. L had been absolutely without
tood-since | could not swallow then-for
more than seventy-four hours"
Miss Dickinson said that when the
curtain rose upon her play that night she
determined to apply her old test to its re-
ceptlon. The curtain was rung up twice
at the end of the first act, but she did not
permit herself to call that success. But
when the curtain had been rung up after
each of the succeeding acts and fell upon
the last with 700 "standees" still in their
places, and the entire 5000 people with
tears streaming from their eyes rose with
thrilling voices to call her before the cur
tain five successive times with shouts and
outcries, she said this is a success. (Ap-
plause.) Everybody in Boston went homie
believing she was success.
The local papers the next day noticed
the play and player very favorably, and
every one continued to believe they were a
success until the New York papers reached
the city at five o'clock on the following
afternoon. Ihey Were unanimous in speak
ing OF the performance as "atrocous" and
"vile," and declared that the debutante
could not act. Miss Dickinson made a
running commentary of sarcastic wit as
she emphasized the more striking passages
OF each paper, and as an offset declared
that the Western papers almost unanimous.
ly applauded herself and the play, and
that Henry Watterson had declared it to
be the finest historical drama of modern
times.
Miss Dickinson said she expected, when
she reached New York, to find her old
and appreciative lecture audiences, but the
papers had made a wall between her and
her old public. She dilated upon the
difficulties under which the play was pro-
duced here. at was said," she continued.
with evident emotion and a broken voice,
"that fought the papers, that denounced
the critics, that placed myself in atagon.
ism to the papers and to the public. Good
friends" she said pathetically, "what could
this one small, sick, weak, miserable,
crushed, heartbroken woman do in opposi.
tion to the combined papers and the bitter
prejudice they had stirred up against me
IN this place? ! did not fight them. God
knows | didn't want to fight them.
was almost crushed, but struggled on
as | will struggle on, because, having taken
up my work in the life to do, put it not
down until utterly fail"
This passage was declaimed with great
emphasis and ended in what was almost
a sob. The audience broke into cheers
and applause which lasted for at least a
minute.
The temperance revival is making re.
markable progress in Central and Southern
Ohio. Leaders in the movement are gen.
orally followers of Mr.. Murphy, the cold
water apostle of Pittsburg. They go from
one town to another, originating public
meetings and organizing those interested
into bands of active workers. BY this
means an intense interest has been created
in large number of cities and towns.