The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-09
EAST LYME. MISSOURI.
The Town Named after n Vote In Which
"Uncle Toms Cabin" Was beaten.

The reminiscent man in the box party
that was watching a performance of Uncle
Toms Cabin" told this story:
Quite a contest grew out of the pre-
sentation Of this play and that tear starter
East Lynne in the Missouri town where |
was a prominent citizen.
This play came along first and did a
one night stand in the court house. There
was no theatre building in the town. a
murder trial was on at the county seat,
but the Judge considerably adjourned
proceedings early one afternoon in order
to give the stage manager an opportunity
of fixing M a platform,
"The manager was the Simon Legree of
the cast. To most of the audience the
| play was new. The Court itself saw it for
the first time that night.
The next day. and in fact for many
days thereafter, the play and the murder
trial constituted the main topics in the
county seat. A few months had passed
when another company-it was called a
troupe, il ] get it straight in my mind
struck the town with the great emotional
drama East Lynne
That was entirely new to the people
who attended plays. I doubt If the book
ndh tNNI D'th tdlh vi ~ ~ IL lllllt VIGIL
the play was billed. Plays were few and
far ap art out there.
The manager had to stand a cross
examination by the County Court before
permission was granted to put on the piece.
The presiding Justice Of the bench of three
7 was particular to rave il understood that
no dancing was to be done and that no
niger was to be in the piece. He had OBJ
$1,000 - 49, AIT-aF- T-...u l.as., -.
account Of the prominence given to the
oolored population.
THE play hit the town and by partic-
ular request of the real society the piece
was repeated. | reckon there was more
weeping over that piece than had ever
been seen in any church in the town.
A short time after the teary drama had
departed a land company in the county
seat was locating and laying out town
sites along a branch railroad that was just
being completed in the county. One Of the
sites came up for naming,
"The company was divided. Some
wanted TO call the new town Uncle Toms
Cabin. others wanted IL called East Lynne.
= The debate for choice was animated. The
sheriff 81 the county, who was eN oficio
president Of the Ian company, suggested
; that the question be submitted 20 the people
Of the township in which the town site
was laid out.
Il believe there was q debate about IL
in one Of the schooll.ouses in which the
forensic ability OF the county was drawn
upon. The old proslnvery element or a
remnant Of IL in the township was in the
~ascendency, and that Of course was strenu-
ously opposed TO perpetuating the work Of
an abolitionist, as Mrs. stowe was called
in that settlement The election was held
and East Lynne won out, and there the
/ town was built, and IL In on the maps Of
Missouri to-day and Is a thriving village.
80 far as ] know II Is the only East Lynne
in the United States, and | am sure il Is
the only town in the Union whose name
was given IL in the manner ] nave men,
toned. Come 20 think Of Il, Uncle Toms
Cabin would AVE been a queer name for
q town. But It was seriously conSIdered.s -