New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-01
THE.4uERIC4N DRAMA.

Joaquin littcr IN Inc CtncInnnh commercial Gdscfe
Keeping in view the iron kcs set up for the i'm
notation of pirates heads, venture TO note some
reflections about he coming play.
The carpenter VINO now possesses the stage with
his scenic effects is not the enemy of the playwright
as so many say; he Is our auxiliary and he scenic
painter is our brother We need, and must have.
them both when the great play is written. Let us
only do work well hey do theirs. and the
public is ours.
As for this " great American play some one of us
will write it, and write 1t soon. And 1t will not
only be the great play of America bur the
great play of he age. The world. + r on yOnder
in the middle of America, beyond where the stormy
sea of tradition from Europe roll over MS, | link
we have The new, strong and sufficient motive 10
The heroes of Homer shook heir shields an re-
cited the deeds OF their fathers an" grandfatheTs,
even back to the gods Al Greek ira yedy is IL the
strain. st. Paul found the Greeks great takers.
Civilization, in ITS march west around the wor d
has been faithful 10 the Greek drama. Words!
words! words! But ont yonder in the Far
West this Is all changed. The American
pure and simple does not talk. lie acts.
And This grand, silent massive American IS
10 be the central figure for the American, The en-
tircly new PLAY. Whether this dignity of soul IS
born of the sub lmitv about him, the ete,nal peaks
below, DO not lay. Blu | do say that TINS grand
unsDeaking. acting man exists new man. a
silent man III NOISY wOr d.
And should say he l. peculiarly the growth
Of the land For who ever Indian whom
wrong or pain. or pity coutd move 10 words or
tears What man has ever heard an lndal BABY
to talk alter he lett us III the Far West lie used
hut two words iu all the ern Drama OF he
seizure Of VlcksbuIg, UnrondItional surrender!
admit that along the ,laniic bank there seems
a noisy brood aboard, TOO. and III Congress, lot
the old Bible fool, known by his mnltltudc of
words,r is alike i'll al land. And the fool has his
uses even IL the drama But his sIlent man. with
his silent woman nj MS side ths man OF action and
not of words. from u ddo America, as the central
figure, is 10 mark and distinguish me ncW-WoIlu
i We had a glimpse of my silent man in Joe
Jefferson; only for moment, however, Tor
drunken KnickcrbOcker rs very remote IT III the
hero | have IN mlnd. Hut surrey Jefferson has met
and ob,eryei my silent man III the iarihest West
DaVy Crockett however il more than one sens" dis
covers his character almost entirely. Yet this may
be accounted tor by the fact that Mayo. the
most sludOus of men, spent his yonth on t~e
Pacific. where he he must nave mel ana under-
ST God this silent man OF deeds. There is H'tle
scene at the well; the ola mot her comes draw
wafer. Davy dtOrs evcrytbn 10, tenderly takes the
bucket dra VS. fills If, bears II away or MS mother
without letting the tra trembling oil hanC touch
IT, ana hands il through the door a'trr her. i 90
not remember ihat one word rs spoken here. But |
do know that more tears hay been shed over mat
one silent ana really msi -nifcant scene han would
iii that bucket. Oh, the tenDer manhood that Is
III it!
ont like a star to me- Is found IN 9 My Partner"
Gentle Old Joe Saunders Is gong to divide the god
and 20 away for there Is bitter trouble lie des up
tne cold from the hear and pOuTs 1T out on tie
table where his silent par ner sits with bowed face
He divides the gold with MS hnie. Is mat about
right cartncr + -, .to ,ui ,ooI,,rr
away. And then Joe, and all tine time without II
vyori elug spoken, pushes over more gold 10
,crtner's mean. Seeing mat IL is not observed he
cauf,ously slips over another mug Ell. Il en ne
1ucKs ont at st the largest ot his Lite heap, ano
nnseeu adds il to hi, successful riVals fortune
Wnat 4 pIOfanIty void would be ar such tlme!
Al West Point you read on II Iltie monument
that a norton OF our ar.ny, beng amOusned III one
nj orr Indian wars, every man stnOd HIS Br"uho,
fiphfInp till only three survived. when heip came
Grand Immortal. but wat moved me ana
seems most truly America Is the facl as tolu me
b,- q survivor. that not one word OF coinnlid was
,,11vrn AFTER the ii Il order. Every oncer ST.
,cutIv drew his sword, became common soldier
an,t 90 fonGht on 20 the end 1nere WAS no need OF
command only The low p aver Of the dying; tnc
messa pe 10 the loved at home; ana ali day te
deadly tight went on. That Is America, ina' is
American character emp led OF the froth OF fourth
of JuIy and foreign taltIOn. Ana tuat Is the germ
of the great American play. -. - - -
var a on cl ossed over the Sicrrds into the new
mines If Nevada then part o. California. | FOUND
ON old friend standing AT tine mouth OF MS NINE
Shouting out his commands In Ill noSvliaOles down
fhe shaft New cities CLEANED oeiow; mnes
onened above; progress tnundeIed thrOugh tne
land "What are You dong neie 7 clleu. ne
fnok in the horizon under his nat; Dit Oh inc
and of his cigar looked at tue new cllles % =
low the tremendous mining engines all aDoi,, the
tunnrls pierre ng The mountains allow, put diu no.
snesk . WHY, what Oh eartn aie you az doiiS
bere IN NevadaY again shouted. ORD DuIld-
in,,w And hat was ali that tals silent man. now
limited (, ates senator, answered. III wa enough.
H.. made That word then and tn re. / thlnk. lie
coined il as from his new silver.