Part One
“The Glorious Morning”
[The Chronicler opens his book and begins to write.In the far distance, a bugler blows “Assembly.”For the first time, the Chronicler lifts his head and looks at the audience.Just a little nearer than the bugle some horns play “Yankee Doodle.”In the darkling tavern faint voices of men take up the chorus.A very little light shines upon the Chronicler’s figure. He rises and lifts his right hand.The Drummers play a long roll.Then the Chronicler speaks.]
[The Chronicler opens his book and begins to write.
In the far distance, a bugler blows “Assembly.”
For the first time, the Chronicler lifts his head and looks at the audience.
Just a little nearer than the bugle some horns play “Yankee Doodle.”
In the darkling tavern faint voices of men take up the chorus.
A very little light shines upon the Chronicler’s figure. He rises and lifts his right hand.
The Drummers play a long roll.
Then the Chronicler speaks.]
The Chronicler
(Directly into the audience.)
In the Book of American Freedom it has been written that the Town of Lexington, in the County of Middlesex, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shall be designated as “The Birthplace of American Liberty.” This, says the book, is a fitting designation because the events which had their scene in Lexington on the glorious morning of the nineteenth of April one hundred and fifty years ago this year did forever mark and set aside the town to be a symbol of liberty to all free nations and all free peoples.
[The Drummers play another roll on their drums and the Chronicler sits.Off stage, to a noble tune which gradually increases in volume, the Chorus sings two verses from Drayton’s “To the Virginian Voyage.”]
[The Drummers play another roll on their drums and the Chronicler sits.
Off stage, to a noble tune which gradually increases in volume, the Chorus sings two verses from Drayton’s “To the Virginian Voyage.”]
The Chorus
You brave, heroic minds,Worthy your country’s name,That honor still pursue;Go and subdue!Whilst loitering hindsLurk here at home with shame.And in regions far,Such heroes bring ye forthAs those from whom we came;And plant our nameUnder that starNot known unto our north.
[As the singing diminishes, the light grows upon the thrones of the two Spokesmen and they begin. They speak eagerly, almost in a monotone, following no rhythm but the inevitable throb of Carlyle’s prose. The bell, too, follows this throb, sounding ever louder and more insistently through their words.]
[As the singing diminishes, the light grows upon the thrones of the two Spokesmen and they begin. They speak eagerly, almost in a monotone, following no rhythm but the inevitable throb of Carlyle’s prose. The bell, too, follows this throb, sounding ever louder and more insistently through their words.]
The First Spokesman
The world is all so changed; so much that seemed vigorous has sunk decrepit, so much that was not is beginning to be!
The Second Spokesman
(Swinging antiphonally into tone and tempo.)
Borne over the Atlantic what sounds are these; muffled-ominous, new in our centuries?
The First Spokesman
Boston Harbor is black with unexpected Tea!
The Second Spokesman
Behold a Pennsylvanian Congress gather!
The First Spokesman
And ere long, on Bunker Hill....
The Second Spokesman
Democracy....
The First Spokesman
Announcing in rifle-volleys, death winged....
The Second Spokesman
Under her Star Banner....
The First Spokesman
To the tune of Yankee-Doodle-Doo....
The Second Spokesman
That she isborn....
The First Spokesman
And whirlwind-like....
The Second Spokesman
Will envelope the whole world!
[The drums roll out. The lights die down on the Spokesmen. In the meanwhile, answering the summons of the bell ringer, the people of Lexington have come out of street and tavern in the twilight and gathered about the Meeting House steps.Jonas Clark has gone to them to stand upon the steps facing them. He is now in his forty-fifth year, a vigorous, lean, eager man with a spirit of gripping and convincing sincerity.At the conclusion of the words of the Spokesmen, all of the villagers are gathered together about their pastor, save one girl. She is distinguished from her sisters of the village, less by her dress (which is commonplace enough) than by a strange and wild loveliness and by a deep absorption in her own thoughts. She is tall and very beautiful and a prophetic intensity possesses her.Led by their pastor, the people about the Meeting House lift their voices in the fifty-ninth Psalm.]
[The drums roll out. The lights die down on the Spokesmen. In the meanwhile, answering the summons of the bell ringer, the people of Lexington have come out of street and tavern in the twilight and gathered about the Meeting House steps.
Jonas Clark has gone to them to stand upon the steps facing them. He is now in his forty-fifth year, a vigorous, lean, eager man with a spirit of gripping and convincing sincerity.
At the conclusion of the words of the Spokesmen, all of the villagers are gathered together about their pastor, save one girl. She is distinguished from her sisters of the village, less by her dress (which is commonplace enough) than by a strange and wild loveliness and by a deep absorption in her own thoughts. She is tall and very beautiful and a prophetic intensity possesses her.
Led by their pastor, the people about the Meeting House lift their voices in the fifty-ninth Psalm.]
Parson Clark
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: set me on high from those that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the blood-thirsty men.
The People
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul; the mighty gather themselves together against me: not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord; they run and prepare themselves without my fault.
Parson Clark
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying which they speak.
The People
Yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning, for thou hast been my high tower, and a refuge in the day of my distress.
Parson Clark
Unto thee, O my Strength, will I sing praises, for God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.
[Then the people fall silent and do not move. But the great words that they have spoken together have very deeply stirred this single girl who has stood apart and listened. With the last word of the Psalm, she seems of a sudden to grow taller. A smile like light itself spreads over her face. Light seems to grow out of her. She lifts her two arms in a wild abandonment to exaltation and cries out.]
[Then the people fall silent and do not move. But the great words that they have spoken together have very deeply stirred this single girl who has stood apart and listened. With the last word of the Psalm, she seems of a sudden to grow taller. A smile like light itself spreads over her face. Light seems to grow out of her. She lifts her two arms in a wild abandonment to exaltation and cries out.]
The Girl
Ah!
[The Chronicler looks up in amazement at this sudden shout.The girl takes a few tense steps down toward him and the light about her grows ever in whiteness.]
[The Chronicler looks up in amazement at this sudden shout.
The girl takes a few tense steps down toward him and the light about her grows ever in whiteness.]
The Girl
Write more, write more, you Chronicler!Write how the rootsStir in the ground!Write how the sapStirs in the trees!Write how the thawGives breath of life!And write how GodPeers through the firmamentUpon the continents; for this day is glory!
The Chronicler
Who are you, Girl?
The Girl
Men call me different names. God calls me Freedom!
[Upon this, a gigantic roll of the drums. The girl, Freedom, turns her back slowly upon the audience as Parson Clark begins to address his congregation. She goes up, tensely and superbly, face to face with him.]
[Upon this, a gigantic roll of the drums. The girl, Freedom, turns her back slowly upon the audience as Parson Clark begins to address his congregation. She goes up, tensely and superbly, face to face with him.]
Parson Clark
It has come now to our turn, Americans, to see what we can do. The indignant spirit of self-government which inspired our ancestors is now pronounced by the Lords and Commons of England to be a spirit of rebellion. The colonies hesitate not a moment, but unite and greatly dare to be free. God who sitteth upon the throne of his holiness, the governor among nations, will know our cause and uphold our right to freedom. Let us pray.
[The people kneel. Only the girl, Freedom, stands upright. The Parson prays, the people repeating his prayer with him in unison. She walks rigidly up the slope to the edge of the crowd to the Parson’s side. At the end of the prayer she is standing beside him. This is the prayer:]
[The people kneel. Only the girl, Freedom, stands upright. The Parson prays, the people repeating his prayer with him in unison. She walks rigidly up the slope to the edge of the crowd to the Parson’s side. At the end of the prayer she is standing beside him. This is the prayer:]
Omnes
O Lord, when dangers surround us and oppressors threaten our rights and enemies invade our homes, we, thy people, look to thee, O Lord, for our refuge and, committing our cause to thy wisdom and justice, we do humbly expect, O Lord, that light will arise in darkness, that the power of the oppressor may be broken, that our enemies will not prevail against us, that our God will maintain our right. Amen.
[As Freedom entered the crowd, the light about her seemed to invest it with a very wonderful splendor. During the prayer, however, and at the end, only Freedom and the Parson are visible. Then the light goes entirely, the hymn dies out and the crowd disperses in the darkness.Then the light glows upon the two Spokesmen and they begin to speak again. This time dim music accompanies their words ... spoken once to the House of Commons by Edmund Burke.]
[As Freedom entered the crowd, the light about her seemed to invest it with a very wonderful splendor. During the prayer, however, and at the end, only Freedom and the Parson are visible. Then the light goes entirely, the hymn dies out and the crowd disperses in the darkness.
Then the light glows upon the two Spokesmen and they begin to speak again. This time dim music accompanies their words ... spoken once to the House of Commons by Edmund Burke.]
The First Spokesman
A government against which a claim of freedom is tantamount to high treason is a government to which submission is equivalent to slavery.
The Second Spokesman
The people of the colonies are the descendants of Englishmen and therefore love liberty according to English ideas and on English principles.
The First Spokesman
Men may be as sorely touched and as deeply grieved in their privileges as in their purses; men may lose little in property by the act which takes away all their freedom.
The Second Spokesman
To prove that Americans ought not to be free we are obliged to depreciate the value of freedom itself.
The First Spokesman
“An Englishman is the unfittest person on earth to argue another Englishman into slavery.”
The Second Spokesman
“A great empire and little minds go ill together.”
The First Spokesman
“We stand where we have an immense view of what is and what is past.”
The Second Spokesman
“Clouds, indeed, and darkness rest upon the future.”
[The music ends in another roll of drums. The Chronicler rises.]
[The music ends in another roll of drums. The Chronicler rises.]
The Chronicler
The alarm is toward. The night of watching commences.
[He sits again. The Belfry tolls midnight. Through the darkness a voice is heard calling the roll of the Lexington Company. It is Sergeant William Munroe.]
[He sits again. The Belfry tolls midnight. Through the darkness a voice is heard calling the roll of the Lexington Company. It is Sergeant William Munroe.]
Munroe
(Each man answering “Here!” as his name is pronounced.)
Isaac Blodgett ... Ebenezer Bowman ... Francis Bowman ... John Bridge ... Joseph Bridge ... James Brown ... John Brown ... Solomon Brown ... John Buckman ... Eli Burdoo ...
[The light of very early morning shows the Company drawn up diagonally across the scene in attitudes of attention. Captain John Parker stands in thought a little apart. Parson Clark looks down upon the people from the Meeting House. The men and women of the town hover on the outskirts of the scene.The kettledrums drown the Sergeant’s voice. Music bursts forth, a crashing theme which can be divided by the demands of the subsequent dialogue and by rolling of the kettledrums.The greatest possible amount of light blazes upon the Meeting House door. Thence, like a comet, Freedom comes. She is robed now in a cloak of flame and a scarlet cap of liberty crowns her. Perhaps the drums continue, perhaps the theme of triumph modulates softly beneath her shouted words.]
[The light of very early morning shows the Company drawn up diagonally across the scene in attitudes of attention. Captain John Parker stands in thought a little apart. Parson Clark looks down upon the people from the Meeting House. The men and women of the town hover on the outskirts of the scene.
The kettledrums drown the Sergeant’s voice. Music bursts forth, a crashing theme which can be divided by the demands of the subsequent dialogue and by rolling of the kettledrums.
The greatest possible amount of light blazes upon the Meeting House door. Thence, like a comet, Freedom comes. She is robed now in a cloak of flame and a scarlet cap of liberty crowns her. Perhaps the drums continue, perhaps the theme of triumph modulates softly beneath her shouted words.]
Freedom
Huzza!
The Minute Men
(Statues, all.)
Huzza!
Freedom
Answer, Mankind!
A Vast Shout Out of the Depths of the Hills
Huzza!
Freedom
Soldiers of Liberty,Make your arms strong!Make your hearts stout!Make your souls great!
The Minute Men
(As before.)
Huzza!
The Shout from the Hills
(As before.)
Huzza!
Freedom
Soldiers of Liberty,I am your dream,I am your cause,I am your destiny!
The Minute Men
(As before.)
Huzza!
The Shout from the Hills
(As before.)
Huzza!
Freedom
Breathe with my breath!Strike with my sword!Bleed with my blood!Be life!Be love!Be sacrifice!Be death!
The Minute Men
(As before.)
Huzza!
The Shout from the Hills
(As before.)
Huzza!
Freedom
I bid you stand!I bid you strike!I bid you die!Take me!Believe me!Obey me!Adore me!I am come to lead you,Soldiers of Liberty!I am come to lead you forever.
[A tremendous huzza and the music blares forth and there is darkness again save for the lights in the houses, and upon the Chronicler. The music subsides to hesitant themes and into a lyric eloquence of dawn and cool breezes and the early light which presently steals across the tree tops. The Chronicler rises.]
[A tremendous huzza and the music blares forth and there is darkness again save for the lights in the houses, and upon the Chronicler. The music subsides to hesitant themes and into a lyric eloquence of dawn and cool breezes and the early light which presently steals across the tree tops. The Chronicler rises.]
The Chronicler
You will see now, in one incalculable and everlasting instant, the nativity of a nation. The night of watching passes and the day dawns that is glory.
[He sits. The light spreads over the scene and shows the people and the Company. Freedom has vanished.Captain Parker arouses himself at once.]
[He sits. The light spreads over the scene and shows the people and the Company. Freedom has vanished.
Captain Parker arouses himself at once.]
Parker
Those of you who are equipped, stand fast. Those of you who lack equipment, go into the Meeting House and supply yourselves. Then come back to your places.
[There is some business of inspecting equipments. Each man looks into his powder horn and some of them try the triggers of their muskets.The light increases a little. The music becomes more excited.]
[There is some business of inspecting equipments. Each man looks into his powder horn and some of them try the triggers of their muskets.
The light increases a little. The music becomes more excited.]
Parker
William Diamond, let me hear your drum. Jonathan Harrington, where is your fife?
[Drum and fife break loose.]
[Drum and fife break loose.]
A Minute Man
This is folly and we so few!
Parker
Folly or sense, I will shoot the first man who runs.
Munroe
Fall in!
[The Company comes to attention in absolute silence. The line extends almost across the stage. The backs of the Minute Men cut the scene diagonally. Parker stands down stage at the lower or right end of the line. Parker and the Parson are always visible to the audience. A silence is broken only by drum taps; and by the footfalls (off stage) of marching men.Clark lifts his hands to heaven a moment in silent prayer.]
[The Company comes to attention in absolute silence. The line extends almost across the stage. The backs of the Minute Men cut the scene diagonally. Parker stands down stage at the lower or right end of the line. Parker and the Parson are always visible to the audience. A silence is broken only by drum taps; and by the footfalls (off stage) of marching men.
Clark lifts his hands to heaven a moment in silent prayer.]
Parker
(To the Minute Men in a voice of thunder.)
Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless you’re fired upon. But if they mean to have a war, let it begin here!
[The rising sun blazes upon the British redcoats as they appear on both sides of the Meeting House. First the scarlet figure of Major Pitcairn, riding his horse, then the British column, four abreast, with the lieutenant of each platoon marching in his place.Pitcairn sees the unwavering line of Minute Men and pulls his horse up sharp.]
[The rising sun blazes upon the British redcoats as they appear on both sides of the Meeting House. First the scarlet figure of Major Pitcairn, riding his horse, then the British column, four abreast, with the lieutenant of each platoon marching in his place.
Pitcairn sees the unwavering line of Minute Men and pulls his horse up sharp.]
Pitcairn
Halt!
[The Britishers halt, the order being repeated down the column. For an instant there is no motion of any kind. No sound except an occasional throb of a kettledrum, defying rhythm now as the shots will do in a moment.Pitcairn comes a few steps forward. He looks at the colonists. He laughs bitterly.]
[The Britishers halt, the order being repeated down the column. For an instant there is no motion of any kind. No sound except an occasional throb of a kettledrum, defying rhythm now as the shots will do in a moment.
Pitcairn comes a few steps forward. He looks at the colonists. He laughs bitterly.]
Pitcairn
Throw down your arms, you damned rebels!
[No one moves.]
[No one moves.]
D’ye hear me?
[Slowly Parker turns and looks upon his little, feeble line of men. Then he looks again at the Britishers. Then we see him realize the futility of his attempt.Very reluctantly the line of Minute Men sways and loosens. It does not quite break. Its manœuver is rather that of retiring. Then a few draw angrily back and a few more stand defiantly. Jonas Parker throws his hat at his feet.]
[Slowly Parker turns and looks upon his little, feeble line of men. Then he looks again at the Britishers. Then we see him realize the futility of his attempt.
Very reluctantly the line of Minute Men sways and loosens. It does not quite break. Its manœuver is rather that of retiring. Then a few draw angrily back and a few more stand defiantly. Jonas Parker throws his hat at his feet.]
Jonas Parker
Here I stand, so help me God!
[An angry murmur of resentment rises from the Minute Men. Parker is spellbound. Pitcairn turns to his first platoon lieutenant.]
[An angry murmur of resentment rises from the Minute Men. Parker is spellbound. Pitcairn turns to his first platoon lieutenant.]
Pitcairn
Surround and disarm these rebels.
[The lieutenant gives the proper commands to bring the first British platoon down stage and into line. The second, under command of its own lieutenant, follows and the British Company stands, so, drawn up in company front facing the retreating Minute Men.]
[The lieutenant gives the proper commands to bring the first British platoon down stage and into line. The second, under command of its own lieutenant, follows and the British Company stands, so, drawn up in company front facing the retreating Minute Men.]
The First Lieutenant
Damn ’em, Major, we’ll get at ’em....
[He gives the order by which the first platoon should deploy as skirmishers for the business of disarming the colonists. The platoon breaks with another cheer, but before its men have taken two steps, one of the Minute Men, a figure lost in the shadow and the crowd, has fired his musket at Major Pitcairn.The British stop in amazement.Immediately John and Ebenezer Munroe lift their muskets.]
[He gives the order by which the first platoon should deploy as skirmishers for the business of disarming the colonists. The platoon breaks with another cheer, but before its men have taken two steps, one of the Minute Men, a figure lost in the shadow and the crowd, has fired his musket at Major Pitcairn.
The British stop in amazement.
Immediately John and Ebenezer Munroe lift their muskets.]
John Munroe
I’ll give ’em the guts of my gun!
[They fire almost together, wounding the Major’s horse.Seeing the Major’s horse plunge, the first lieutenant cries:]
[They fire almost together, wounding the Major’s horse.
Seeing the Major’s horse plunge, the first lieutenant cries:]
The First Lieutenant
The Major’s hit.... Fire, damn you, fire!
[The first platoon fires—too high, it would seem, for no Minute Men fall. But the Minute Menfire back, Lieutenant Tidd, Ebenezer Locke, Nathan Munroe, Jonas Parker and Benjamin Sampson.Parker stands frozen.Pitcairn tries to control his horse.]
[The first platoon fires—too high, it would seem, for no Minute Men fall. But the Minute Menfire back, Lieutenant Tidd, Ebenezer Locke, Nathan Munroe, Jonas Parker and Benjamin Sampson.
Parker stands frozen.
Pitcairn tries to control his horse.]
The Second Lieutenant
Fire, by God, fire!
[The second platoon fires.Then everything happens at once. The music crashes out a theme which terminates in a high tremolo. Pitcairn is seen to signal cease firing with his sword. The Minute Men break, all but Jonathan Parker who has been wounded by the volley of the second platoon and sinks to his knees trying to reload his gun. Jonathan Harrington, wounded, runs down stage left where his wife is cowering in the corner and there dies in her arms. Two of the Minute Men overpower Parker and drag him off. Robert Munroe, wounded, falls and dies beside the horse sheds. Solomon Brown, firing from the Buckman Tavern, is silenced by a volley fired toward the tavern and continues shooting from the trees. The three escape fighting from the Meeting House. The British clear the Common, bayonetting Jonas Parker as they go.Then it is over.]
[The second platoon fires.
Then everything happens at once. The music crashes out a theme which terminates in a high tremolo. Pitcairn is seen to signal cease firing with his sword. The Minute Men break, all but Jonathan Parker who has been wounded by the volley of the second platoon and sinks to his knees trying to reload his gun. Jonathan Harrington, wounded, runs down stage left where his wife is cowering in the corner and there dies in her arms. Two of the Minute Men overpower Parker and drag him off. Robert Munroe, wounded, falls and dies beside the horse sheds. Solomon Brown, firing from the Buckman Tavern, is silenced by a volley fired toward the tavern and continues shooting from the trees. The three escape fighting from the Meeting House. The British clear the Common, bayonetting Jonas Parker as they go.
Then it is over.]
Pitcairn
We shall have further to go than Concord before this morning’s work is finished. Fall in!
[The music strikes into a dissonant march as the Britishers fall in.Pitcairn rides up the Concord Road. The lieutenants lead the platoon after him. The march comes to its end as the last Britisher disappears.The scene is left to a dying away of the march in the minor resolution and to Parson Clark and the seven dead.Parson Clark comes two or three paces forward.]
[The music strikes into a dissonant march as the Britishers fall in.
Pitcairn rides up the Concord Road. The lieutenants lead the platoon after him. The march comes to its end as the last Britisher disappears.The scene is left to a dying away of the march in the minor resolution and to Parson Clark and the seven dead.
Parson Clark comes two or three paces forward.]
Clark
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mispeh and Shen, where the battle was fought, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying: ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us!’”
[In frightened little groups, the people come back and gather about their dead.]
[In frightened little groups, the people come back and gather about their dead.]
Lexington has been allotted by providence to meet the first blow, to offer the first sacrifice. Thus far hath the Lord helped us.
[Parker comes forward quickly, but Clark stops him, lifting his hands to the heavens and crying out:]
[Parker comes forward quickly, but Clark stops him, lifting his hands to the heavens and crying out:]
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory!”
[Parker bows his head.]
[Parker bows his head.]
As to what is still before us, we do not anxiously inquire nor proudly prophesy. Our cause is just.
Parker
They must come back from Concord.
Clark
That is true. Carry the dead into God’s house. Blessed be the name of the Lord!
[He has shouted this last. The people begin to pick up the dead and to carry them toward the Meeting House whither Parker and Clark walk together. The music strikes into a march, as solemn and grand as any march can be and the Chorus sings:]
[He has shouted this last. The people begin to pick up the dead and to carry them toward the Meeting House whither Parker and Clark walk together. The music strikes into a march, as solemn and grand as any march can be and the Chorus sings:]
The Chorus
O Lord, who wert our free-born fathers’ Guide,Judge us for our unalterable intent;Govern us, God, with Thy still government,Telling our fathers how their sons have died.
[Before the singing is done, all of the people have vanished within the Meeting House. When the stage is emptied, the Chronicler rises.]
[Before the singing is done, all of the people have vanished within the Meeting House. When the stage is emptied, the Chronicler rises.]
The Chronicler
The instant is delivered into time.
[He sits and Minute Men come up the Bedford Road. They are armed. They cross the stage in groups of three to twelve and go out by the Concord Road. The music quickens once more. The light is the most brilliant of full afternoon.People come out of the houses and the paths and peer excitedly up the Concord Road. Scattered shots begin to be audible from that direction. The knots of people point in triumphant excitement up the road. Suddenly they withdraw, scattering in excited confusion. Shouts and shots sound nearer and closer together. Then the British, routed and retreating from Concord, surge through the Common and out behind the Meeting House and there are shots, too, from there. The huzzas of the colonists all but drown the shouts and musketry. About the Meeting House a cloud rises that may be dust but is presently seen to be steam. The stage darkens. Only the wild music and the shoutings continue and, in the midst of the steam curtain, Freedom, more gorgeous than ever, shouts louder than the rest, her arms madly lifted to heaven. The steam is many colored, then it dies to the single figure. Then it is darkness and the music falls with it. Then the steam is gone and the Meeting House with it and the Buckman Tavern and all other evidences of Lexington Common are gone and in their place is a new scene altogether.]
[He sits and Minute Men come up the Bedford Road. They are armed. They cross the stage in groups of three to twelve and go out by the Concord Road. The music quickens once more. The light is the most brilliant of full afternoon.
People come out of the houses and the paths and peer excitedly up the Concord Road. Scattered shots begin to be audible from that direction. The knots of people point in triumphant excitement up the road. Suddenly they withdraw, scattering in excited confusion. Shouts and shots sound nearer and closer together. Then the British, routed and retreating from Concord, surge through the Common and out behind the Meeting House and there are shots, too, from there. The huzzas of the colonists all but drown the shouts and musketry. About the Meeting House a cloud rises that may be dust but is presently seen to be steam. The stage darkens. Only the wild music and the shoutings continue and, in the midst of the steam curtain, Freedom, more gorgeous than ever, shouts louder than the rest, her arms madly lifted to heaven. The steam is many colored, then it dies to the single figure. Then it is darkness and the music falls with it. Then the steam is gone and the Meeting House with it and the Buckman Tavern and all other evidences of Lexington Common are gone and in their place is a new scene altogether.]