Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-01
DRAMATIC WRIT
ING AT U. V. M
Under President Observation-Disclosures,
OrntfOna and Poe ms in Greek.

Orntfons and Poems in Greek.
To the Editor OF tho Free Press:
It is not exactly correct to claim. as
tho Vermont Cynic did few days ago,
tina. the L. V. NJ. waited until 1909 for its
first dramatic production written by an
undergraduate. Though It is a fact that
no play has been written here within the
memory Of any man now living.
The first president evidently encouraged
dramatic writing; at any rate he heartily
approved of :hc public presentation OF
original plays. At the third commence
inent. 1905, :hree "Engllsh Dialogues
were presented, one with four speakers
and Greek dialogue to boot. with three
speakers.
At the fourth commencement 1867, there
were not only orations in Greek and
Latin, hut Ave English dialogues. one IF
them with nine characters. These wero
probably Of no great length. rs they were
all given In one afternoon. But they were
the entering wedge to what came soon
after.
At the next commencement four English
dialogues We're presented. on, Ti:h seven.
and two with ten dramatis p.rsonao And
Greek dialogue took the place Of the
Greek Grafton. Zimri f. Allen. son Of the
founder Of the university. was ono Of the
nterlocutors. and Jacob Collamer 1910,
afterwards Judge. member Of Congress,
postmaster general and SENATOR appear
ed in each Of three dialogues IN the course
Of the afternoon.
In 1909. an English drama IN two acts.
entitled THE British In Philadelphia" or
THE Battle OF the Kegs" was staged
by the Junior class In the afternoon ho-
fore commencement. Norman Williams
OF the class Of 1910 was the author and
ono OF the actors. There were seven
characters In all. i've British officers and
two Americans This play may still be
among the trea sures ~ the Williams fam
lily in Woodstock. The usual orations in
Greek and Latin We're spoken the next
day.
In 1911. Joseph Williamson Of the class
Of 1872 latcr president Of the Senate IN
Maine) wrote n drama on "Duellng." IN
which Lucas Hubbcll professor Of Greek
and Latin in 1879 A. a Parker for
many years the oldest college graduate
In the United StatesD J. williamson. and
five others played their parts. Nehemiah
Dodge, then a Junior who did not receive
his degree TIL ISIS, recited a Creek poem.
The next year A. A Parker was the
playwright: his theme "Pedantry;" the
number Of characters eight Parker also
pronounced q Greek Grafton or Comets
the san afternoon.
In November of this wear the sophomores
gave an exhibition one afternoon. consist
in part OF dialogue on "Qusckery"
written by Royal Tyler This brought
nj, Oh no e.
Fisk founder and first president Of Wes-
leyar University taking the part Of a
shoemaker; Royal Tyler was his appren-
tice. Tyler was n son OF the chief justice
Of the State. What he might have done
can never be known. a. he died n his
senior year. CThc fathers place In the
history OF American literature is secure,
ms he not only produced the first novel
written In New Englanr out the first
American play ever put on the boards In
this country. He was also tho first author
to employ the Yankee dialect In the
eveningof the same daya few members OF
the two upper classes also gave an exhi-
billion. Ira Bellows. 1919. supplied the
drama OF the show The play was en-
titled "Physiognomy," and required eight
actors. Bellows later became member
or the New York Senate and a hrigadier-
general. Neither sophomores nor seniors
failed 10 present Greek Grafton.
In July. 1913, In tho afternoon before
commencement was enacted "A Tragedy
in three acts" on THE Fall Of Helvetic
Liberty" written by Thaddeus Stevens,
One may guess that this was composed
In blank verse as Daniel Gould wrote an
"Epilogue" for H. which was spoken by
Wilbur Fisk The characters were Bon
aparte and two other French generals
eight Swiss generals. and old soldier n
hoy. and fop,-fourteen In all. II the
name Of Thaddeus Stevens should not he
familiar. look IN any enclopaedia for an
account OF the old anti slavery war
horse"
II the war of ls12-l5 had not compelled
the suspension of instruction IN the u.
V. NJ. Thaddeus Stevens would not have
been obliged to finish his course At Dart
mouth, nor Wilbur Fisk at Brown. We