Richard Penn Smith

Name: Representative American Plays
Author: Richard Penn Smith

Representative American Plays (1922)

Summary

“Representative American Plays”, published in 1922, is a work by Richard Penn Smith. It explores elements such as Plattsburg, sneezer and the Chestnut Street Theatre.

Quotes from Representative American Plays (Richard Penn Smith)

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Major McCrea. A melancholy one. You remember my little Elinor—she was but a little flaxen headed girl when you knew her—She grew up as beautiful as her mother—She was the pride of my heart—the comfort of my age—at least, I thought so, but what is blinder than parental love!—O! who would be a father, and in his dotage fondly nourish a viper in his bosom until it gains sufficient strength to sting him to the soul! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ I would not as much as take a pinch o' sneezer with such a knave, and that's more economical.
Major McCrea. Why, brother, you will not be such a churl as to refuse?
Andre. Brother again! and what the de'il man made you my brother? You are none of my father's begetting unless indeed over the left shoulder, and such it would not be beseeming in me to acknowledge in my good mother's presence.
Major McCrea. Your folly will anger me.
Andre. My folly! Hoot awa! I take myself to be as wise a man as ever stood upon your shanks.
Major McCrea. Go brother, go into the house; you know not what you say. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Look on me, villain, you know me now, and look here upon the victim of your treachery,—I received you beneath my humble roof in full confidence, my hospitality was extended towards you, and like the serpent that had been warmed into life you spread dismay into my little family.—You stung me to the heart, but the hour of retribution has come. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ What's that you say, Landlord?
Landlord. I am thinking that if you ever march into Plattsburg it will be under a flag of a different color than that you display at present.
1st Soldier. Ha! Ha! why, you don't suppose that experienced soldiers are to be beaten by a handful of ragged militia, do you?
Landlord. Yes, I do, and they will be switched like tarnation too. Take my word for it, corporal, you'll have your red jackets drubbed off of your backs, and if you are so fortunate as to return alive, I calculate you'll cut a more sorry figure than the ragged militia you jeer at. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Andre. An affair of interest, but as he is not here I will even open my budget to you. Some scouts of the enemy have appeared in the neighborhood of my mill, and as I am afraid they may set fire to my property, and in one hour consume the rakings and scrapings of many toilsome years, of a painstaking man, I would just ask the general to be so obliging as to send a company or two to protect me and mine from the fire and sword of the invader. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ A little sleep will do you good.
Andre. I dinna want to sleep. By my troth, a pretty piece of work. Here comes a thief that I never before set my eyes upon, who calls himself my brother, steals the betrothed of my heart from me, seduces my mother, wears my clothes and uses my mill, and then I am told to go to sleep for it will do me good. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Stanley, Elinor, soldiers and prisoners.)
Major McCrea. My countrymen, another wreath has been added to the chaplet of American glory. A never dying wreath. Two brilliant victories at the same moment have been achieved. The invader has been driven back, with great loss, and their leader has tied in consternation and dismay. The hostile fleet is ours; they attacked our little armament confident of success, but behold the valiant Macdonough now bringing the crestfallen enemy in triumph into the harbor of Plattsburg.—
(The fleet appears. Music.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Major McCrea. (To Mrs. M.) Do you remain here and give me timely notice when danger approaches.
(Exit with Lucy into the mill.)
Mrs. Mack. What an astonishing adventure. I am thankful that an opportunity has occurred for me to evince my gratitude to him who protected the widow and her son for years. What, so soon returned?
(Enter Lucy.)
Lucy. I have given him the cloathes, ma'am, but I did not stay to help him on with them because he is a man.
Mrs. Mack. You are a prudent girl. A young woman ought not to expose herself. Ah! the soldiers here already. We are lost.— (Goes to mill.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Major McCrea. At length I have eluded their pursuit. Good woman, do you inhabit this mill?
Mrs. Mack. Yes, sir.
Major McCrea. Are you alone?
Mrs. Mack. For the present. My son Andre has gone to the village.
Major McCrea. I am pursued and my fate is inevitable unless you afford me an asylum and conceal me from my enemies.
Mrs. Mack. It is impossible. We every instant expect a guard to take possession of the mill and they will certainly discover you.
Major McCrea. You are from Scotland and several years ago lived in Vermont upon the estate of Major McCrea. Is it not so? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Boat near the mill. Distant cannon.
(Enter Mrs. Macklegraith and Lucy from mill.)
Mrs. Mack. Hark! Lucy, a skirmish is taking place and at no great distance from us. This war is a dreadful thing; it destroys everything like peace and comfort. And my poor son Andre, what can prevent his return? I fear some ill has befallen him.—
Lucy. No danger of that, ma'am; Mr. Macklegraith is too wise and prudent.
Mrs. Mack. He would go to Plattsburg in spite of all I could say. He had better have staid at home to protect us.—See, Lucy, a soldier approaches in haste.
(Enter Major McCrea.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ The published plays of Penn Smith, The Eighth of January, (1829) , The Disowned, (1830) , The Deformed, (1830) , Quite Correct, (1835) , Is She a Brigand, (1835) , and The Daughter, (1836) , all printed in Philadelphia, are hard to obtain. The following plays are in manuscript form in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia: The Pelican, A Wife at a Venture, The Sentinels, William Penn, The Triumph at Plattsburg, The Bombardment of Algiers, The Solitary or the Man of Mystery, Shakespeare in Love, and The Last Man. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ No injury is intended; I have merely come to station a sentinel at this place. Have you any men in your family?
Mrs. Mack. My son Andre, sir.
Capt. Stanley. Where is he?
Mrs. Mack. He is—
Lucy. In the mill, sir.
Capt. Stanley. I would speak to him.— (Goes to mill.)
Mrs. Mack. Do not put yourself to the trouble sir: I will go in search of him.
Capt. Stanley. No; I wish to satisfy myself that he is alone in the mill. My friends, follow me.
Mrs. Mack. Heavens! what shall we do!
Lucy. He is lost.
(As soldiers are about to go into mill. Enter from mill Major McCrea in a miller's dress.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Andre. Let Andre alone for that, he kens bravely how to conduct himself in a beseeming manner in all company. But where is General Macomb; I have come here in person to speak to the general himself.
Corporal. You speak to the general; you?
Andre. Yes, Andre Maeklegraith the miller would speak to General Macomb. What's wonderful in all that? We live in a free land, man, and it would be strange indeed if the voice of the lowly could not reach the ears of those above them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ The Triumph at Plattsburg is the best of the national plays of Smith. He has avoided actual historical characters, and the conflict is kept in the background, while McCrea's danger keeps the element of suspense alive. It was first played at the Chestnut Street Theatre, January 8, 1830, with a strong cast, and was repeated. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ A street in Plattsburg.
(Enter Elinor followed by Mrs. Drench.)
Mrs. Drench. Why do you leave us? and whither are you going, Miss Elinor?
Elinor. I have already told you, to the enemy's camp, to seek a husband who, I fear has deserted me. Six weeks have elapsed since I heard from him—My foreboding heart tells me that a fearful destiny awaits me,—O! Stanley, I did not merit this cruel treatment at your hands.
Mrs. D. Let him go for a good for nothing fellow as he is.
Elinor. Alas, you did not know him or you would not speak thus harshly. He appeared to me to be the very soul of honor.—
Mrs. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Landlord. Cuter than you think for. You seem not to reflect that the enemy you despise are fighting for their homes, and remember 't is the nature of a man to fight despert fierce when a foe's at his threshold. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Capt. Stanley. It is dangerous to let him run at large—I wonder you have the courage to trust him so near you.
Andre. The fault's on his side, it is he that's near me.
Major McCrea. My friend, my brother, I beg of you to go in for a moment with your mother.
Andre. And leave the lassie alone in your clutches! Andre may be confounded, but he is nae sic a fool as that.
Capt. Stanley. Get in, comrade, or do you require the help of my foot to assist you?
Andre. No, I can walk on my own shanks well enow.—
Capt. Stanley. Charge.— (The platoon charge bayonet and advance toward Andre.) ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Then address alone can save me. (Aside.)
Capt. Stanley. Be not concerned; the females of your family shall be respected.
Major McCrea. I doubt it not; you do not wage war with women. Well I am glad of the measure, it will protect my mill from depredators.—Captain, my mother is a fine fresh looking old lady for sixty five, is she not?
Mrs. Mack. The captain can see plain enough, son, that you don't know my age. I am not sixty-five.
Lucy. She must be that full out if she intends to pass for the mother of the major.—{Aside.)
Major McCrea. I think, mother, you would take off a few years. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Charity is an ungrateful guest, for it is sure to rob the man who entertains it.Take a pinch o' sneezer. A large pinch man, you ['] r [e] hearty welcome.
(Boat pushes off.)
Sentinel. Death! He has escaped. Hold on, or I'll fire.
Andre. Fire at a lassie? Shame, where's your manhood.—{Fires.—Andre strikes the gun up. Enter soldiers, Mrs. Mack. and Lucy. Boat disappears. Curtain drops.)
END OF ACT FIRST. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Richard Penn Smith, Representative American Plays (1922)

“ Stay and you will have practice plenty before sunset. Huzza!—Look there !—The Confiance has struck.
(Enter Andre.)
Andre. The Saranac runs blood. The days of Culloden and Falkirk have come upon us. At the bridge the fight was fearful, and our men played the part of Samson among the Philistines and slew their thousands. Take a pinch o' sneezer, and tell me where will I find General Macomb. ”

Richard Penn Smith

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