Anna Cora Mowatt

“ The Stage—what is it, though beneath thy ban,
But a daguerreotype of life and man?
Arraign poor human nature, if you will,
But let the Drama have her mission still;
Let her, with honest purpose, still reflect
The faults which keeneyed Satire may detect.
For there be men who fear not an hereafter,
Yet tremble at the hell of public laughter!
Friends, from these scoffers we appeal to you!
Condemn the false, but O, applaud the true.
Grant that some wit may grow on native soil
And art's fair fabric rise from woman's toil. ”