Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-04-26
Interesting "Reminiscences OF DrattIc-
4 hero.



4 hero.
y tvideliss letter to Boston Journall
Y BnArr1EBono', VT, April IL, 1878.
The first American play produced on
the American stage is claimed. indirectly, by
Brattleboro. It was written by the late Judge
Royal Tyler Gather Of the late General John
S. Tyler of Boston,, who became a citizen Of
the town about the beginning of the present
century, and was closely identified with its
interests and history during long and hon
orable career. Judge Tyler was, however, n
native Of Boston. lie graduated at Harvard
and began the practice Of law at Quincy He
was engaged TO Abby, daughter Of John Ad-
ans, at the time when the latter was trans
ferrod from the Hague TO England as our rep
resentative abroad. His fair berothed re-
ceivcd patonal summons TO England, and af-
ter her arrival there broke the engagement
subsequently marrying her fathers Secretary
of Legation. This circumstance very likely
led the young lawyer to forsako the vicinity
of Boston, where he was surrounded by every
possible advantage Of wealth, position and in
huence, for the then comparative wilderness
of Vermont
A copy of the play in question is before me-
Here is n transcript of the titlepagc:
THE CONTRAST.
COMEDY IN Five ACTS:
WRITTEN BYA
CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES:
Performed with Applause at the Theaters in
New York, PuLADELPmA, and MARYLAND;
and published (uHder an assignment If tie
Copy R,ghD
ny THOMAS WIGNELL.
Prmus ego in patriam
Aonic- deduxi vertice Mufas. Virgil.
(Imitdted.)
First on our shores try Thalia's powers,
And bid the hugding, uscful Maid be ours.
PHuADELPHIA
From the Press Of PmcHABD & HALL in Mar
ket St., Between Second and Front Streets.
NJ. DEC. &c.
The dedication runs as follows
As = JUST ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE LIBERAL
ExEnT1oNs by WHICH THE STAGE HAS
BEEN RESCUED FROM AN IGSoMIN-
IoUs PRosCBPTIoN,
TIE CONTRAST,
BEING THE FIRST ESSAY or AMERICAN GIN
IUs II THE DRAMATIC AMI
Is MosT RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO
The President and MESmERs of the
Dramatic Association.
by
Their Most Obliged
and
Most Grateful Servant
THOMAS WIGNEIL.
Philadelphia,
/ January, 1870.
The second of the three paragraphs of the
advertisement or prelude is interesting. 1t
reads In Justice to the author, however, it
may be proper TO observe, that this comedy
has many claims to public Indulgence, indie
pendent of its intrinsic merits. 1t is the first
essay OF American genius in difficult species
OF composition II was written by one who
never critically studied the rules Of the drama
and, indeed, had seen but n few of the exhi-
billions Of the stage it was undertaken and
finished in the course of three weeks and
the profits Of one nights performance were
appropriated to the benefit of the sufferers by
the fire at BOstOH.'
Many Of the most distinguished public men
of the day are found in the published list of
subscribers to this edition Of the comedy
Among them George Washington, Aaron
Burr. Charles Carroll of Maryland: Roger
Chew, A. J. Dallas Of Philadelphia William
Falkener, Virginia Peter Freneau, Esq.
Charleston Rev. Ralph Higgnbothnin Thos.
Hull, ESD, London II. Knox, ESD. Secre-
tary of War His Excollency Thomas AIifin.
President of the State of Pennsylvania Hon.
Robert Morris, Jonathan Pinckney. Nicholas
q. Rutgers, ESD, Edmund Randolph, AttOr-
ney General, Major General Baron Steuben.
William Smallwood, Esq, late Governor of
Massachusetts Jonathan Trumbull, Esq, of
New York; Prosper Wetmore, etc, etc.
The prologue written by young gentle
man of New York, and spoken by Mr. Wig
nell, is not too long or dull to copy
EIult each patriot heart = this night il shown
piece. which We may fairly call our own;
Where the proud titles Of My Lord Your G race!"
To humble Mr.. and plain Sir give
our Author pictures not from foreign climes
The fashions or the fohes Of the times;
But has conhnd the subject Of his work
To the gay scenes-the circles Of New York.
on native themes his Muse displays her pOw'r;
II ours the faults, the virtues toe ours
why should thoughts to distant countries roam7
whea each REFINEMENT may be found at home?
Who travels now to ape the rich great,
To deck an equipAge and roll in state;
To court the graces, or to dance with ease,
Or by hyTocrisy to strive to please?
Our free-born ancestors such arts deFpised:
Genuine sincerity alone they priEed;
Their minds, with honest emulation hrd,
To solid gOod-not ornAment-Aspired;
Or, II ambition rous'd a holder fame
stern virtue throve, where Incidence was shame.
But modern youths, with initiative sense,
Deem taste IN dress the proof Of excellence;
Aud spurn the meanness Of your homespun arts,
Since homespun habits would obscure their parts;
Whilst all, which aims 81 spendor and parade,
Must come from Europe and b. ready nude
strange. We should thus our native worth dsdain,
And check the progress Of our rising fame
Ye; rHe whilst imitation bears the sway,
Aspires to nobler hights, and points the way.
BE rousd, my frieugis his bold example view
Let yuur own Bards be proud 10 copy gOH
Should rigid critics reprobEte our play,
At least the patriotic heart will say
"Glorioua our fall, since IN Doble
The bold attempt dipHe demands applause"
Still may the wisdom Of the Comic Muse
EIalt your merits or your faults accuse.
But think not, Ills her aim TO be severe;
We are all MORALS, aud as mortAls err.
II cAndor peases, are truly blest
Vice trembles when compelld 10 stand confessed.
Lot not light Censur- on your faults offend,
which aims not to expose them, but amend.
Thus does our Author TO your cAndor trust;
Conscious, the free are generous ~ just.
Two casts of the characters are given: