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قراءة كتاب A Man of the People: A Drama of Abraham Lincoln
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A MAN
OF THE PEOPLE
A DRAMA OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY
THOMAS DIXON
AUTHOR OF "THE BIRTH OF A NATION," "THE CLANSMAN,"
"THE LEOPARD'S SPOTS," ETC.
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK LONDON
MCMXX
COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY
THOMAS DIXON
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO
WILLIAM HARRIS, JR.
WHOSE COURAGE AND HIGH IDEALS AS A
PRODUCER GAVE TO THE AMERICAN
STAGE THE EPOCH-MAKING PLAY
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
HISTORICAL NOTE
While the popular conception of Lincoln as the Liberator of the Slave is true historically, there is a deeper view of his life and character. He was the savior, if not the real creator, of the American Union of free Democratic States. His proclamation of emancipation was purely an incident of war. The first policy of his administration was to save the Union. To this fact we owe a united Nation to-day. It is this truth of history which I try to make a living reality in my play.
The scenes relating to the issues of our National life have been drawn from authentic records. The plot of the action is based on the letter of Colonel John Nicolay to Major Hay, dated August 25, 1864, in which the following opening paragraph is found:
"Hell is to pay. The New York politicians have got a stampede on that is about to swamp everything. Raymond and the National Committee are here to-day. R. thinks a Commission to Richmond is about the only salt to save us; while the President sees and says it would be utter ruination. The matter is now undergoing consultation. Weak-kneed damned fools are in the movement for a new candidate to supplant the President. Everything is darkness, doubt, and discouragement."
No liberty has been taken with an essential detail of history in the development of the action except to slightly shift the dates of two incidents for dramatic unity. In neither case does the change of date affect the validity of the scene as used.
Thomas Dixon
DIVISION INTO ACTS
Prologue: The Lincoln cabin in the woods of Indiana, 1820.
Act I: In the President's room, the morning of August 23, 1864.
Act II: The same, that evening.
Act III: Scene 1. Jefferson Davis' room three days later, in Richmond. Morning.
Scene 2. Same as Acts I and II.
Epilogue—Victory. The Platform of the second Inauguration, March 4, 1865, before the Capitol at Washington.
A MAN OF THE PEOPLE
PROLOGUE
PERSONS OF THE PROLOGUE
| Abe | A Boy of Ten. |
| Sarah | His Sister. |
| Tom Lincoln | His Father. |
| Nancy | His Mother. |
| The Doctor | An Old-fashioned Pioneer. |
PROLOGUE
Set Scene: The rough-hewn log cabin of Tom Lincoln is seen in the center surrounded by the forest wilderness of Southern Indiana, 1820.
The cabin door is cut in level with the ground. There is no shutter to the door and no window to the cabin.
Right and Left of the door opening are rude benches of split logs. On the walls are stretched a coon and a small bear, squirrel and muskrat skins. In the foreground on the right is seen an old-fashioned wash pot set on three stones. Near the wash pot is fixed in the ground a pole, on the top of which are hung six gourds cut for martin swallows to nest in. Beside it are a rude bench and two wash tubs. On the left is a crude settee made of a split log with legs set in augur holes and a rough back made of saplings. An old-fashioned doctor's saddle-bags hang across the back of the settee. The trees are walnut, beech and oak—undergrowth of dogwood, sumac and wild grapevines. These vines, festooned over the cabin, give a sinister impression. A creek winds down through the hills behind the cabin.
At Rise: Sarah is seen softly tiptoeing toward the cabin door. She pauses, listens and slowly peeps inside. She listens again and then slips away and calls.
Sarah
Abe! Abe!
[Sarah goes back to the door and peeps in and runs to the gate.]
Abe——! Ma's awake now!
[She returns to the door, peeps in again and runs once more to the gate.]
Abe——! He's feelin' her pulse! Come on in—don't stay out there in the woods....
[Abe enters slowly.]
Abe
What does he say?
Sarah
He ain't said nothin' yet.
Abe
He's a dumb doctor, anyhow. I couldn't get him to say a word comin', last night.
Sarah
Well, he's here now, and there's his saddle-bags full of medicine. You've been ridin' all night—you look terrible tired! Go to bed and sleep a little——
Abe
I can't—while Ma's so sick—I'm afraid to go to sleep——
Sarah
Why——?
Abe
You know why—Sarah——
Sarah
Ah, she ain't goin' to die now. She's talkin' to the doctor—lie down just a little while and get to sleep before the sun comes up or ye can't sleep——
[Pleading.]
—come on——
Abe
No—I'm scared—the plague's killin' folks every day—and nobody knows what to do for 'em——
[The Doctor and Tom enter from the cabin and come down slowly—the Doctor seems to be debating his course of action.]
[Eagerly to Doctor.]
You can do somethin' for her, Doctor?
Doctor
[Hesitates.]
Yes—Get me a clean towel and a bowl——
Abe
Run, Sarah—quick——
Sarah
[Running to cabin.]
Yes—I'll get 'em——
[The Doctor opens his saddle-bags, takes out his lancet and examines its keen point.]
Tom
What are ye goin' ter do with that knife?
Doctor
Bleed her, of course—it's the only thing to do——
[Starts toward cabin.]
Abe
[To his father.]