The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-08-18

celia LOTUS, Kate Mayhem, Joanna
Roos. Fay BANTER Edward Mcnamara and Lois
Shore revived uncle Toms Cabin, or Life
Among the Lowly" in one of the leading New
York theaters 1t meant that this historic drama
may be starting a new lease of life to add
to the laurels which it has already won.
Chief among those laurels these: II is
play which has had the longest continuous ruL In
all stage history in it have appeared at one time
or another greater number of stage luminaries
than in any other play in American theatrical
history; it has been performed before more
people and has made more money than any play
ever written in modern times and despite the
latter fact one has ever received any royalties
from it nor did Harriet Beecher Stowe. the au-
thor, ever receive q penny of profit from the
dramatization Of her book 1t is the most repre-
sentative American folk drama and 1t bears in
the parlance Of the American stage the most
distinctive name-the "Tom show; 1t has in it
the elements of tragedy, comedy, melodrama
farce, yes, even vaudeville. but It deies classf
cation under any of these heads for it is itself
alone the tom show"
"Uncle Toms Cabin" had a continuous run of
76 years. besides which record the lasting quail
ties of the farfamed "Abie's Irish Rose" pale
into nsignifcance. From 1852 to 1923 there
wasn't season when at some time day night
or in some place in these United States that
the whip of "Simon Legree" wasn't whistling
dCrOSS the UdCh Vi OuCle lOu VI
wasn't fleeing across the ice. pursued by bay
ing pack of "ferce bloodhounds" Then the de-
preston came to give the final blow to those
administered by other factors in the decline of
this classic
In 1890 Boston newspaper reported: "There
is not the road in any section of the
United States or Canada single company play
ing that grand old drama Uncle Toms Cabin.
For the same reason that the minstrel
~10 c0ft ho tDo1yf hnfr CHI
from the road, Tom managers found it necessary
to shut up shop. The talking pictures and the
radio have combined to kill both the minstrel
and the Tom shows. There is not a single book
ing agency in New York City which could furnish
a route for any one-night stand company unless
1t willing to sacrifice Saturday, the best
night of the week. for the showing of Wild West
or talking pictures"
The same statement was probably true in 1881
but In 1882 1t was discovered that In a small
town in the West home talent company
producing the play as a part of its repertory
of stock plays. And this year comes the
revival in New York to prove that "Uncle Toms
Cabin" is deathless even If there not great
stage names in the cast to lend it prestige. With
the apparent return of some measure of pros
perity to this country. IT is not improbable that
"Uncle Toms Cabin" may be off on another con-
tinuous run of 76 years!
First of all bit of history of the play before
taking up other laurels of "Uncle Toms Cabin"
The story of how the book came to be written
Is too familiar to all Americans to need much
retelling here-how Harriet Beecher Stowe, the
daughter of the famous preacher, Rev. Lyman
Beecher. as child was deeply impressed by
her fathers sermons against slavery and by his
daily prayers for poor. oppressed, bleeding At
RIGA, that the time of deverance might come:
how in 1882 she accompanied her father to Gin
cinnati. where he became pastor of the Second
Presbyterian church and president of the Lane
Theological seminary and where he sheltered
many fugitive slaves and assisted them In
escaping to Canada; how while living in
that city. she made many friends among the
planters and Shareholders across the Ohio river
In Kentucky and learning both the kindly and
cruel treatment of their human property resolved
to write book as a protest against the insti-
eution OF slavery how she wrote the book while
living In Brunswick. Maine while overwhelmed
with the domestic cares of a household of six
children, how the story was first published In
the National Era, an Abolitonist organ In Wash
ington, D.. c., In 1852. and how the Abolitionists
seized upon II as powerful piece Of propaganda
for their cause and used It so effectively that 1t
had tremendous effect In intensifying the ha-
treds which brought the Civil war.
For publication In the National Era Mrs Stowe
received the sum Of $500. Then John j. Jewett