Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-10-14
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
Her Criticisms Upon the Theatrical Re-
productions OF .sUneIe Toms Cabin"

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
Her Criticisms Upon the Theatrical Re-
productions OF .sUncIe Toms Cabin"
Not long ago visited Hartford and
was received at pretty brick house, all
gables and angles, painted Quaker
gray while green clinging vines, over
porch and bay windows, added to this
picturesque home. A garden surrounds
the house, embracing yelvety lawns and
bright flower-beds. just around the
corner lives Mr.. Samuel Clemens or
Mark Twain, while the adjoining estate
is that of Charles Dudley Warner
This was before Mrs. Stoves recent
bereavement in the loss of her husband.
We sat in her coy, old-fashioned parlor,
where the books and pictures are all
souvenirs of sweet memories. The Pro-
lessor was upstairs asleep, so she knew
he did not need her. Near her in the
pretty parlor sat her twin daughters.
Miss Eliza and Miss Harriet, clever, in
teresting ladies. The conversation fell
upon 'Uncle Toms Cabin" and, as |
was DESTROYS of hearing her speak of it,
/ at last said: Every body has read
the book. do not think ever met a
person who could read at all who was
not familiar with it"
Perhaps you think so, said Mrs.
Stowe, '.but / know of some who have
never read it.
"Who?" | asked, surprised at her
quaint, positive way of speaking.
''Who? Why, the actors who play
in the dramatized version. am sure
they never have, or they would have
gained some knowledge of the book and
characters. Look" she continued, sat
the way they depict Simon Legree, for
instance
"Let me see," said, .'they make him
coarse and brutal, with a red flannel
shirt, wide leather belt, into which is
stuck knife or pistol, black beard,
and black hair"
yes said Mrs. Stowe, ''that is
exactly how they do make him look
took up volume of Uncle TOMS
and, turning to the description of Simon
Legree, read the following: HE was
short, broad, and muscular, round
bullet head, covered with stiff, wiry,
sunburned hair; he had light gray eyes,
with shaggy. sand-colored eyebrows,
like his hair; his face and hands were
freckled. He wore brown pantaloons
of thin, light-colored material, the worse
for wear and dust and checked shirt,
wide open at the neck" Further on in
the book it speaks of his sandy hair and
long linen coat and wide Panama hat.
YES" said Mrs Stowe, II dressed
him like Southerner and made him
blonde. had certain similar man
in my mind as l wrote of him, but the
actors all dress him like Western
border man, with sombrero, red shirt,
and high boots, and make him of dark
complexion"
So we went through several of the
characters. "St Clair" she said, 81
drew rs the happy, ight-hearted, cult
ured Southern gentleman, with all the
elegant ease and Incidence of his class,
clothed in the extreme of fashion, but
in Southern fashion. SO different from
our Northern style of dress, particularly
so at the period the book represents.
''Did you have some one in your mind
when you wrote of St. Clair?" said l.
Yes" she answered. Il know just
such an elegant, casy-golng man. |
wish l could sec him upon the stage,
| just rs remember him, but ST. Clair
now is dressed like every man you
meet.
Then she went on at length to discuss
! the inaccuracies of the productions:
why they have Haley and Tom Loker
hobnobbing with Legree; they are miles
apart in the book. They seldom nova
days introduce, am told, the incident
/ like best in the book
what is thal?" | asked.
''Eva's fall overheard from the Mis-
sissippi steamboat and her rescue by
Uncle Tom"
And did you never see it well played,
Mrs. Stowe?n | asked.
Yes; in fact | never saw the play
through but once. That was years ago.
| was induced, not long ago, to attend
q performance of the book, but after re-
naming short time and seeing the
many inaccuracies, | did not care to
remain through the evening"
Then she told me of visit she and
her husband made to Boston, where
they saw the play of Uncle Toms Cab
in" as it was originally produced at the
Boston Museum. As write l have be-
fore me the old playful. which certain
| ly IS full of interest. Uncle Toms
Cabin" was first produced on any stage
Monday evening, Nov. Is, 1852. 1t
was dramatized by Mr.. H. j. Conway,
a gentleman of Boston. 1t ran for 10Y
performances-in those days remark
ably long time. 1t was received with
the greatest enthusiasm, and from time
TO time in the history of the Boston
Museum it has reappeared, always with
success. The version given at the
museum is entirely different from others,
and is the only one Endorsed by Mrs.
| Stowe.
There was panorama of the Missis-
sippi River. While the steamboat had
a rocking motion, steam came out of
the huge smokestacks and everything
was as realistic Us possible.
1t is not likely that Mrs. Stowe will
ever attend the theatre again. The re-
cent death of her husband, to whom she
was greatly attached, is great sorrow.
She is now Is years of age, but when in
the mood talks as brightly as in her
youth. She is short and slender, and
quite as good a walker and as active as
many young girl.
She said in further referring to her
witnessing the play of Uncle Toms
Cabin, +" that they we're both rare visitors
to the theatre and enjoyed the acting
and scenery to the fullest extent. the
Professor fairly clapping his hands with
| JOY as he saw anything particularly
forceful. 'They all live" he said, turn
ing to his wife, 'just as you made
them. !" Then they enjoyed the COM
ments of the audience between the acts.
''One could not help but feel pleased"
said Mrs. Stowe. 81 hope was not too
proud. Those were very happy days, full
of life, and hope, and pleasure, as well as
work. boston Globe
| - . g
Lightning Holes.