Mary P. Hamlin

“ Jay.
Senator Monroe, we entirely lack proof of this.
Hamilton.
Gentlemen—let us try to be frank with one another. You have come here to-day not because you believe me guilty of this accusation, not because you feel any duty to the public, but because you repent the bargain you made with me to vote for my bill. You are afraid of your own party. Your courage has failed you, and you believe this to be a tremendous opportunity to free yourselves from your promise. [Jefferson protests.] That is the true statement of fact, Mr. Jefferson, whatever you may think to the contrary. ”

“ Yes, you're a fighter, but a damned poor sportsman. When your party wants to circulate any damnable insinuations about Alexander Hamilton, they go to Giles of Virginia and he does the dirty work. [Giles turns.] Because you and your gang know that Alexander has the confidence of the people and that he means to make the government assume the states' debts, you are forever trying to trip him up—shouting corruption in the Treasury, dishonesty in the Treasury, and God knows what. ”

“ Angelica, if you'd only been a man—if you'd been my eldest son instead of my eldest daughter, I'd have taken you by the hand and called you a fine fellow [shakes hands with her] , but those are hardly the proper sentiments for a young married woman.
Angelica.
If he were my husband, I'd show him how a woman can forgive.
Schuyler.
But he isn't your husband, and that makes all the difference. Don't be hard on Betsy. It's easy enough for one woman to forgive another woman's husband. ”

“ Giles.
[Winking at Monroe.] Jefferson has never been a fighter, you know, Citizen Tallyrand.
Tallyrand.
[c.] Citizen! Citizen! Citizen! You prate and boast about the rights of man, and sneer at Alexander Hamilton as an aristocrat. Have any of you worked for the Rights of Man as he has? When it was an affair of fighting for your liberty, he fought. At the age of nineteen—twenty years, he had risen to be Colonel and was leading the victorious charge at Yorktown. At the hour when your liberty was assured he lay down his arms and commenced to make a nation of you. ”

“ Angelica.
Well, as I prefer having a husband to myself, it's just as well he isn't. [They both laugh. Angelica sits end of sofa. Betsy resumes her work.] Betsy, it's sheer nonsense, your going on doing all the work in this house as you do.
Betsy.
I like it.
Angelica.
You don't like it, and you know it. A daughter of General Schuyler doing this kind of work—it isn't right.
Betsy.
Well, you know Alexander's salary, don't you? Three thousand dollars a year.
Angelica.
Why don't you let father make you a decent allowance?
Betsy.
Alexander would rather die than take a penny from any one. ”

“ Monroe.
That's no affair of Virginia.
Giles.
No, sir.
Tallyrand.
Why not? Did not the soldiers of Rhode Island help Virginia to her liberty? Each one fought for the common good. Each one should be paid.
Jefferson.
By that, Citizen Tallyrand, I understand you to mean that the government should assume the war debts of all the states.
Tallyrand.
Those debts were the price of your liberty. If you have a government, it should pay the country's debts.
Jefferson.
Citizen Tallyrand, you are simply speaking from Alexander Hamilton's platform. You are an aristocrat. ”

“ They are dangerous for the actor because they make him believe that his part is a great deal better than it really is, and so he is apt to regard his audience as stupid because their intelligence fails to appreciate subtleties that he detected at the reading. In reality it is the author who is to blame; he has let the actors into certain dark secrets connected with their characters, without giving them the ghost of an opportunity, through the dialogue or situation, of conveying these confidences to the audience. ”

“ Schuyler.
Do you wish me to go, Judge?
Jay.
No, General, I very much desire that you should stay. Mr. Hamilton, it is sometimes difficult to determine how far a public man realizes the extent of his influence on the character of others. You are a modest man, but I think you must know that the eyes of the nation are turned toward you as an honorable man who is to steer this country clear of grave dangers. ”

“ Giles is reading some manuscript—possibly a draft of a Bill for Congress.
As curtain rises there is a general hubbub, Reynolds' voice dominant. First Citizen is seated on down stage end of long seat right of table r. A Second Citizen is facing him, seated on a chair, another is on his left further upon seat. Three men are standing in a group up stage r. c. An old man is seated on settle right of fireplace reading "The Federalist." A man is seated on settle left of fireplace. He is playing chess with another who is seated on a chair in front of him. ”

“ My husband is Zackery Whalen, sir. He fought in the war, sir. He's a cripple and can't work. He fought under you, sir. It was that winter at Valley Forge—his feet froze so many times, sir. He's on a pension, but we can't get the money.
Hamilton.
Can't get it from your state?
Woman.
We sometimes get it, but not lately at all—only promises, sir. You see, ours is due from Rhode Island. If it had been Virginia or New Hampshire, it'd been all right, because they are paying their men, but Rhode Island says they can't. ”

“ What are the reasons why the Capital should be in the North?
Schuyler.
Why! All the traditions connected with our struggle for independence cluster about the North.
Hamilton.
[Ticking it off on his fingers.] There's some truth in that.
Schuyler.
It was here in Philadelphia that the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Hamilton.
[Checking on fingers.] So it was.
Schuyler.
It was in New York that Washington took the oath of office. [Hamilton checks.] In New York the government had its beginning. Why, Albany commands the commerce of the four corners of the earth.
Hamilton. ”

“ Mainly men of the better class—not rabble, Melissa, the bar-maid, is serving drinks. Men come and go during act. James Reynolds, a handsome, dissipated ne'er-do-well of about thirty-five, slightly the worse for liquor, but not drunk, is centre of a somewhat jeering crowd at top of table right. Monroe is up left talking to some men. Giles is sitting at right of small table down left centre. ”

“ Yes, I know your idea of liberty! Down with aristocrats! Down with everybody—who is in your way!
Giles.
I'll tell you one thing, Citizen Tallyrand, and I'll tell it to you now. There are some damned aristocrats in this country that'll get the same treatment your king got if they don't go careful.
Tallyrand.
Who helped you win your freedom? The king of France.
Giles.
Well, we ain't goin' t' have any kings in this country.
Tallyrand.
Who desires to be king?
Giles.
[Fiercely.] George Washington does.
Monroe.
And Alexander Hamilton wants to be Prime Minister! Wants to be? ”

“ Angelica.
[Stopping her c.] Betsy, take off that hat and stand by him. Are you going to leave that man?
Betsy.
Yes.
Angelica.
Good. He doesn't need you. He never needed you less. If you can't appreciate his courage and bravery, you are no fit mate for him. God knows there are few enough men who are willing to sacrifice everything for the truth. If you're going, go. Go and join those men in there who are all waiting to take a peck at him. ”

“ In writing a play dealing with a great historical figure it is necessary to select an incident that brings out boldly the predominant characteristics of the hero. Having decided upon the incident, it is advisable not to befog it by the introduction of other important episodes however much they may redound to the credit of the central figure, or however much you may be tempted to use them. ”

“ That's why I say goodbye. [Takes hand.] Sail home as fast as a fair wind will carry you. Your genius is universal, but your morals are indigenous to Paris. Godspeed!
[They go up. Hamilton opens room door. Zekiel opens street door. Tallyrand.
[Turning at room door. Hamilton is on his left.] Au 'voir, dear friend. When I am in France and I think of America one big figure will come before my eyes—Alexander Hamilton! The man who makes the fortune of a nation in order to get a living for his family. ”

“ The stage directions are designed and intended for the guidance of the actors and not for the entertainment of the reader. There is a growing tendency amongst writers of plays to introduce long and humorous stage directions that are often very entertaining in the library but very dangerous and misleading for the stage. They are misleading to a producer because they frequently make a scene appear to be very sparkling, while it is in reality exceedingly dull—the sparkle being confined exclusively to the stage-directions. ”

“ The man he has been speaking to, down r., rises and is joined by the man who has been sitting on the other side of the table, r.; they take arms and stroll out up l., chatting as they go. One of the Quakers goes into the street l. and the other comes to c. and watches the men who are playing chess; he afterwards sits in the upper corner of settle l. of fireplace. Reynolds strolls up and takes down a pipe from mantel. He chats a moment with a soldier who is sitting l. of table r. The man who was reading the paper goes off r., leaving the paper on settle. Giles. ”

“ But at least I must still have the courage of my political opinions. Since early morning I have been working to clarify this document. It is the Bill of the Government Assumption of States' Debts without which this country has no honor. It will now be ignominiously defeated, but it is my conviction that the sense of justice of my opponents will one day compel its adoption, and so, Mr. Jefferson, I deliver it into your hands, sir, for safe keeping.
[Hands document. Jefferson.
[Without taking document.] Alexander Hamilton, you have mistaken our mission. ”

“ SCENE.—Living-room in the house of Alexander Hamilton, 79 South Third Street, Philadelphia. Evening of the same day. It is a large room in a brick house of the period. Wall-paper dull gray, white wainscoting. Doors solid mahogany, white frames, with cut-glass handles. Woodwork of windows and fireplace handsomely carved and painted white. Room suggests dignity and comfort rather than elegance. The furniture is Chippendale. Portraits of General and Mrs. Schuyler on the wall at back. Up stage right there is a door leading to a hall and street door which can be seen by audience. ”

“ Schuyler.
The thing that hits him hardest is their everlasting hooting about the army. George Washington loves his army as he would have loved an only child.
Hamilton.
He has beggared himself in an attempt to meet the country's promise to pay. It's the old story. The greater the achievement of the man, the more violent his detractors. [Enter Zekiel, l., with tray containing chicken, bread and butter, jug of milk, glass, bottle of wine, wine-glass, napkin and white cloth on tray.] Now they are shouting "Dictator" and accusing him of trying to make himself king. And they know it's a lie. ”

“ Now, Zekiel, catch these curtains when I drop them.
Zekiel.
I certainly do wish you'd let me come up them steps 'stead ob you, Mis' Betsy.
Betsy.
Why, you dear old darky, you stay where you're safe.
Zekiel.
Yo've come all cross de ocean an' yo' still alive. Don' want nothin' to happen to yo' no sooner'n yo' get on tere firm. When yo' come home las' night, I cut'ny was glad to see yo'—an' Mis' Angelica, too—and Mars' Ham'ton has been jimipin' about lak a schoolboy evah since. ”

“ Their admiration for your courage has overwhelmed their knowledge of your indiscretion. You need have no fear for your Bill now, Colonel Hamilton; your action will swing the whole country. I trust I know how to appreciate courage and how to acknowledge defeat. ”

“ You are so good, Hamilton, and I love you for it, but I see the boy leap into your eyes when I say little spree.
[He puts hands on Hamilton's shoulders. Exit Zekiel up r. at back. Hamilton.
[Laughing and moving away to r.] Do you? By Jove, I believe I deserve it!
Tallyrand.
We are all of us human—except General Washington.
Hamilton.
[Protesting.] Tallyrand!
Tallyrand.
A little spree will do you good.
[Going quickly back of sofa and getting hat and gloves. Hamilton.
[Crossing to table c. and picks up Betsy's letter.] No, I think not. I think I'll stay at home. ”