DRAMAS THAT HAVE STIRRED NATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 59, 3 April 1909, Page 4

DRAMAS THAT HAVE STIRRED NATIONS.

'•An Kiiglishinan's Home." the play which neem* destined to "wake tip Kug* land*' in regard to it* duty to defend itself from foreign yggres>ion, hail its counterpart many years ago in ' Ihe Battle <>t Dorking." Published originally in .story form, it was soon dramatist, and created a great stir, besides giving an immense impetus to the volunteer movement of that day and generation. The only relic which remains of this awakening is to he found on the top of ltox. Hill, near Dorking. H consists of a fort, still unfinished, which was commenced as a consequence of the play. IDKA rSKI) TSY ZOLA. Th ( , points of similarity, too. between the two productions were many. In it ; as in Major Du Manner's clever piece, the foreign invader* made quick work of our brave, but inept, citizen soldiers; while non-uniformed combatants were given -hort shrift, in accordance with the stern, but perfectly legitimate, usages of war. liy the way. this incident ot the military execution of a householder for davi.ig to defend his own home was also u>ed by Zola in ''La Debacle/' another story, which, dramatised, stirred Trance to it* profoundest depth, PLAY THAT ABOLISHED SLAYKIiY. In the I'nitod States of America, again. "I'uclc Tom'* Cabin."' the play founded on Mr*. Beecher Slowed famous novel, was directly responsible for the tremendous upheaval of public opinion which brought about the Civil "Way and the abolition of slavery, dust primto the outbreak of hostilities it was estimated that over eight hundred separate companies wer,. acting the drama throughout the towns and villages'of the northern, non-slavchohling States, a record never even remotely approached. before or -once, in matters theatrical. As a result, ihe 'horror- of slav:-vy as then practi-ed in the South were brought vividly home to the people <>f tiie North, ho that, when President Lincoln called tor volunteer* to them, four hundred thousand men flew to arms.