16. Royall Tyler (1757-1826), a Vermont jurist, was our first successful playwright. He wrote many dramas, the most popular of which was The Contrast, an extract from which is given below. THE FIRST AMERICAN COMEDY REGULARLY PRODUCED (THE CONTRAST, A COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS: WRITTEN BY A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES-PERFORMED IN 1787, AT THE THEATRE IN JOHN STREET, NEW YORK—1790.) (From The Advertisement) In justice to the Author it may be proper to observe that this Comedy has many claims to the public indulgence, independent of its intrinsic merits: It is the first essay of American genius in a difficult species of composition; it was written by one who never critically studied the rules of the drama, and, indeed, had seen but few of the exhibitions of the stage; it was undertaken and finished in the course of three weeks; and the profits of one night's performance were appropriated to the benefit of the sufferers by the fire at Boston. Prologue, In Rebuke Of The Prevailing Anglomania Exult each patriot heart!—this night is shown But has confined the subject of his work To the gay scenes the circles of New York. On native themes his Muse displays her powers; If ours the faults, the virtues too are ours. Why should our thoughts to distant countries roam, Who travels now to ape the rich or great, Genuine sincerity alone they prized; Stern virtue throve, where indolence was shame. Glorious our fall, since in a noble cause; Vice trembles, when compelled to stand confessed. IV. A Literary Anomaly 17. Phillis Wheatley Peters, a negro girl brought from Africa at the age of eight, became a slave in a Boston family. She was very precocious, learned easily, and began early to write verses imitating the English poets of the eighteenth century. A volume of her poems was published in 1773. They show little creative talent but ready imitative ability. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM, EARL OF Hail, happy day, when, smiling like the morn, No more, America, in mournful strain, Of wrongs, and grievance unredressed complain; Should you, my lord, while you peruse my song, Was snatched from Afric's fancied happy seat: BIBLIOGRAPHY I. FOR FURTHER ILLUSTRATION Orations and State Papers Brewer, D. J.: The World's Best Orations. Bryan, W. J.: The World's Famous Orations. (Vol. VIII.) Cairns, W. B.: Selections from Early American Writers. 16071800. Carpenter, G. R.: American Prose. Depew, C. M.: The Library of Oratory. (Vol. III.) Duyckinck, E. A. and G. L.: Cyclopædia of American Liter ature. Moore, F.: American Eloquence. Stedman and Hutchinson: Library of American Literature. (Vols. II, III, IV.) Songs and Ballads Long, A. W.: American Poems. 1776-1900. Matthews, B.: Poems of American Patriotism. Moore, F.: Songs and Ballads of the American Revolution. Stedman and Hutchinson: Library of American Literature. (Vol. III.) Stevenson, Burton E.: Poems of American History. Other Literary Records Carpenter, G. R.: American Prose. Duyckinck, E. A. and G. L.: Cyclopædia of American Literature. Stedman, E. C.: An American Anthology. Stedman and Hutchinson: Library of American Literature. (Vols. III and IV.) II. FOR THE PERIOD Churchill, Winston: Richard Carvel. Cooper, J. F.: The Spy. The Pilot. Emerson, R. W.: Concord Hymn. Ford, Paul Leicester: Janice Meredith. |