12 September 1853

  "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is still running at the National theatre, and to-night enters upon its seventieth performance. It is also being played in Philadelphia. Last year it was played one hundred nights in Boston. It is stated that Mr. Purdy has realized six thousand dollars by this piece. The author received the sum of twenty-five dollars for the manuscript. We make this statement by authority. The author of the version played in Boston, and from which the manager realized ten thousand dollars, received fifty dollars. The run of "Uncle Tom" at the National is mainly owing to the superiority of Mr. Aiken's version, as the piece has been played there before and the novelty was over. The manager of the National did not buy the piece, but it was purchased by a Mr. Howard, who desired to introduce his daughter as Eva. He was engaged, with his daughter, and the piece was brought forward. The play made a hit, very much to the surprise of those persons who only used it as a medium to display the talent of a wonderful child. We have stated these facts that the public may see why we have no American plays. A gentleman (who is a clever actor and author,) dramatizes a novel—he makes an effective play, (with a strong [illegible] underplot,) in eight acts, occupying three hours in the representation, and received twenty-five dollars for his labor. Why, we would not do the manual labor of writing the manuscript for that sum, to say nothing of the wear and tear of brains. These are facts which cannot be denied, though we have no doubt such a thing will be attempted. The fact that Mr. Aiken got twenty-five dollars for the piece, and that the person he sold it to has received several thousands by it, and will probably realize much more, cannot be justified by any such announcement as that the "author was connected with my family," &c. "Uncle Tom" will be run all this month at the National. Mr. Prine, the new leading actor, grows nightly in the favor of the audience.

26 September 1853

  At the National the friends of "Uncle Tom" crowd the theatre nightly, to mingle their tears of those with little Eva, and the fine old colored gentleman is as resigned and pious as ever. The question is settled at last as to the author's remuneration. Mr. Aiken informs us that he received forty dollars in the first instance, and since the great run of the piece he has been presented with a splendid gold watch.