Telegram-herald., 1889-04-17

D< y bethsr we
may look forward In tho near
fnturs 70 seeing our stage sup
piled With is plays entirely. or nearly 20,
a. The hands OF American dranAtists- /
think that % day more hopeful view OF
the subject may be takea t1an during any
time within the history q tue Republic
Aad that the time IS not so very far distant
when Ne may hold our own as proudly
among the nations II the Old World As re
CARDS cur school of dramatic writing -
We DO today regarding our native school
OF Action.
IL Is little more than a century ago
since what Is probably the first perform
ance OF a play by All American author took
place IN this country. This was the Con
trast, by Royal Tyler " hlch was produced
AZ the old John street Theatre in New
York City. April idth iTs6. by Hallam and
Henry Hallam. need hardly say. was
one o, the first OF American actor mana
gers and a score OF years later was able 10
attend a performance az what Was then
called the New Theatre. but which is per
haps better known 10 - A. the old Park
Theatre and Is plsc. Of fond recollec-
tions 10 many who are yet in the flesh.
Tyler's play MAS mere local sketch which
concerned itself with a visit 10 the city OF
AcOuntry pumpkin, the undOubted AN
cestor OF many Yankee dialect part"
not excepting that portrayed today with
80 much success by Mr.. Denmsn Thomp-
son Royal Tyler. | may say. WAS encour-
aged by the success OF his first piece TO
write another which tbs publls seemed TO
nnd equally amusing and which. under
the title OF May Day" held the stage for
q comparatively long season and was,
vita its predecessor, subsequently pub
lished IN book form. The budding author
however, pursued mis- dramatic studies no
further, but gave his attention entirely 70
the practice OF law, and perhaps did not
regret the step, sor he was as compare
lively young man elected Chief Justice OF
the State OF Vermont and died in his sew
sntietn year hi ghly respected bY the legal
profession As the author OF many weishty
volumes Of professional lore.
Dufing the irst half Of the present CEN
tury the native production was but lin
tied and consisted chiefly OF ephemeral
pieces such a. concerned the nselves
chiefly with local subjects or ques ions OF
the hour. The great Forrest, however,
made a brave and determined attempt 20
foster the growth OF worthy and legiti-
mate dramatic writing among American
authors during this period and
it was in 1899 that he pro
duced "MstsmOra. one OF the first Amer
lean plays thar saiuJd a national reputa-
tion aud has after fashion lasted unto
our own day Forrest was only twenty
three aud bad not yet attained tho sum
nit OF his fame when he appeared in this
dlstinctively American piece. which was
written FOR him by John y. Stone. IL
.H..1 g.
nearly forty years or 80 il remained IN his
repertory. Two years later be produced
The Gladiator. i" written for him by DR..
Robert VI Bird. OF Philadelphia. and later
still "Aylmere." by Judge Robert T. Con
rad. also OF Philadelphia. in which as
JACK CGde, lie was entirely successful
These three pieces formed
considerable part. aside from
Shakespesren characters. of his
reQsrtory. aud they are by no means
unkuown even 20 play -goers OF this gen.r-
alton. II must be admitted. however that
their popularity. such az it Was. subse-
auent 70 FORESTS decease. owed not lit
tie - the .lsmor thrown around he lead
Ing parts BY tas great sctor.
Th- celebrated com petition instituted b.
Forrest will BE- renl-fn bered He offered
prize of 81 90 for the best American play,
she award 20 bs made by competent
Judges George n Boxers tragedy.
"Caiaynos. was adiudged worthy OF the
prize by TIA committee. hut Forrest. for
one reason or smother. neves saw ~ TO put
it npoa the stage Mr. Boxer. luckily.
shiRk. for the native drama. did not stop
here. however. but gave 20 the world in
succession such poetic well .. inher-
.ntlv dramatic works a. Anna Bolevn"
and Guyman." while later on ia gave IA
Francesca IA RiminI' which bad the
honor myself 70 put upon the stag WITH
a. worthy setting as could encompass.
This affords ne an opportunity. in tax
ms advantage Of wsich I tru-t I shall act
Dc deerued erotisticsl. Of relating mY own
sxnericnces with American drsn4EtiSt. 1
nay frankly say az the outset thst
th-v hsv- been. - far "a an personally
concerned. entirely and stsolutsiy salts
factory Very earlv in ny stage csrs-r
came 10 the couclusion that - I was instlT
proud of h~iax a. American. and be ei-r-d
very thoroug 1is In the efficiency ~ Amer
lean sectors. a.. n the opportunity should
.wer - given me. should 10 my tesr to
heieve equally IN th- capacity of Ameri-
-an drsmstists Thus have always ient
r.sdv ear - those of ny own country
1n~a -ho have brought their works 20 me-
Tor uY 5srusal Thus it has happened
that many ~ my most popular productions
have been ~ American p.avs Among
them I nav mention Tcrfck Love. by
NJ " - Howeiis b-siie Mr. Boxers
"Frsuc-Scs d. Riminf." 80 ~hica I hsvs
fr-f r-fsrr-t. ard Pe1trsxon. y Ms.
William Young
eur-I ar rot exceptional n ny sr-
rerienre. and n IN ny poor way I hsvs
gained crrsif snd i1tii-nt.i E 2 saras recun-
iaVY reward. hy 'uru' ng f-st Tor material
- ~ a-v1 friIew tizeas Aefare Eo'az Gus
tnsa tae a. ~ar. snt h7r~srs of Enross.
,fhs-S rrsT o. az a.. i~d-et others hsvs
dove tkewise. if nu<f - ecrae In = "a
hevever. though { say % - ID. .spirit 81
So : rrticstlcr. that l. a. nsrsEer -
-el. az scfcr have done a. Ass isv ~ n1
pc~er - --~f oiIr rrs~e1r tbss@ 3 a. !
her. spared nrtfiar. y SCENERY or crs
tnrse. sri have h~ruzhr to r'T s.t as tss
sister arts az attendant 90 rr c~l. II
seor- + ts f-sz-.i 'ar. hsv- srtus'I fak-n
- rurch t~rsit Ie tc r,surr a roer.rs. 6rsrre
- if ! lad 1een maua -sr who v3s anr
tins foVta oue Of raoss peculiarly kyhri3