Barbara Frietchie

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Barbara Frietchie (1899), a play by Clyde Fitch. [Criterion Theatre, 83 perf.] Almost all the citizens of Frederick are Confederate sympathizers, so they condemn their neighbor, young Barbara Frietchie (Julia Marlowe), for accepting the attentions of a Yankee, Capt. Trumbull (J. H. Gilmour). Many had hoped she would marry the boy next door, Jack Negly (Arnold Daly), but Barbara dismisses him as a coward who won't fight for either side. Her brother Arthur (Lionel Adams), who has been wounded at Gettysburg, returns home and asks Barbara to hide him in the house from Yankee search parties. Trumbull pretends not to see Arthur, and when a search party arrives he sends them away. Though Barbara is loyal to the Confederacy, she loves Trumbull enough to accept his offer of marriage, but the wedding is interrupted by the arrival of Confederate troops. When a Southern sharpshooter attempts to shoot Trumbull, Barbara shoots the Southerner's gun from his hand, then offers him refuge in her house, where Trumbull is also brought in wounded. Negly learns Trumbull is there and would betray him, but Barbara dissuades him. “You have broken my heart,” he sobs, to which Barbara replies, “Forgive me—by not breaking mine.” For all her ministrations, Trumbull dies just as the victorious Confederates march through town. All the houses display Confederate flags except the Frietchies'; Barbara stands on the porch defiantly brandishing the stars and stripes. Negly goes to shoot her, but Stonewall Jackson, passing by, admires her bravery and orders that anyone molesting her be shot in turn. Nevertheless, Negly does shoot Barbara, and his own father, Col. Negly (W. J. Le Moyne), orders Jackson's command carried out. In his History of the American Drama, Quinn has noted, “Fitch was vigorously criticized for falsification of history, and rather feebly defended himself on the grounds that Barbara Frietchie was ninety‐six years old and bedridden when Stonewall Jackson went through Fredericksburg . . . [But] while false to fact and legend, it is true to the spirit of the time, from the social if not from the military point of view.” It was also true to the theatrical spirit of the time, which wanted more romance than realism in its war plays. The Charles Frohman–produced drama was revived successfully several times and was made into the popular operetta MY MARYLAND (1926) with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly. Evelyn Herbert was Barbara and the Shubert production, after a record‐breaking forty‐week tryout in Philadelphia, played at the Jolson Theatre for 312 performances. Notable songs: Silver Moon; Won't You Marry Me?; Your Land and My Land.