[Bear in mind that it has been much more impromptu since there is rarely a full cast. However, each character has a history lesson for visitors that is portrayed.]
Mr Lincoln's World Script
(Guide leads group into front door and across the lobby to closed Auditor�s Office door. Stops in front of door and turns to face group. Is frustrated.)
Guide: Well, I�d hope to start with the Auditor�s office but as you can see, it�s closed.
(Guide sees Lotus Niles approaching from direction of Secretary of State�s office with ledger under one arm and other hand with thumb in vest. He�s shaking his head at seeing the group. He looks disgusted, tired, and overworked.)
Guide:
We�re in luck! There�s Lotus Niles, chief clerk for Auditor Campbell. He�ll show us around. (To Niles) Good morning/afternoon Mr. Niles.
Niles:
(Niles is businesslike ands speaks with a precise air.) Another group of visitors (shakes head in dismay). Now Mr/Miss/Mrs. ________________ (addressing and shaking finger at guide), as I�ve tried to explain on previous occasions, $400-a-year salary does not include showing people around.
(Turning to group) Don�t suppose any of you have news of the cholera. We hear it�s raging down river in New Orleans and St Louis. Several cases reported here in Springfield. Mostly among the lower classes though�trashy sort that don�t keep clean, Irish and colored mostly.
(Niles sighs and turns toward the door, opens it and leads group in as he speaks) Guess I might as well show you around as long as you�re here. It�s just that we don�t get many visitors when the legislature�s not in session, and we�re very short-handed.
(Nile goes behind counter and the guide moves group toward State Library door so that Amanda Ball will be able to enter Auditor�s door.)
Niles:
(Begins talking with a pretentious and formal air. Is puffed up.) My name is Lotus Niles, and on behalf of State Auditor Thomas H. Campbell, a loyal Democrat and warm admirer of our next president, Stephen A. Douglas, I welcome you to the state auditor�s office.
It looks a little deserted now, (motions toward office) partly because the legislature�s not in session, but as Auditor Campbell�s chief clerk I am usually responsible for overseeing a staff of between 5 and 10 clerks � young men employed through the benevolent patronage of the glorious Democratic party, to keep financial accounts for the State of Illinois. That�s what the auditor does, keeps the state's financial records. We keep more records and employ more clerks in this office than in any other in the building. Most of our records are kept in the bound volumes that you see stacked about the room. But some records are filed in the file drawers along the wall. (Points to metal drawers).
(Amanda Ball enters through auditor�s office door.)
Ball:
Pardon me, Mr. Niles.
Niles:
(Irked at being interrupted.) Amanda, can�t you see I�m busy?
Ball:
(Pleasantly but insistent.) I surely can, Mr. Niles. My husband, Elder Ball, asked that I pick up a warrant for a sick member of our congregation, James Barnes, who cut some wood for the statehouse. Is it ready?
Niles
(Aside to group) You�ll have to excuse Amanda. She�s the wife of a local colored Baptist preacher who runs a barbershop and bathhouse over just off the square. Near the American House, I�ve always suspected that she doesn�t know her place because she can read and write.
(To Amanda) Let me check the file. (Niles goes to file drawer and pulls a warrant from the file) I believe it�s ready. Yes, here we are. (Handing it to Amanda) Now Amanda, tell James that he can cash the warrant right across the hall in the Treasurer�s office. (Pointing across the hall).
Ball
Much obliged. (Turns to leave. Then asks as an afterthought) Oh, do you know if there�s anyone in the Secretary of State�s office?
Niles:
(Anxious to get back to the group and a little abrupt) Don�t know.
Ball
(Overly polite and with a smile). Good day Mr. Niles.
Niles
That�s one of our jobs here. Making out warrants. A warrant is a document ordering the State Treasurer to pay for some service to the state. If the state owes you money, you come here for your warrant and then go across the hall to get It cashed at the Treasurer�s Office.
But warrants don�t take up most of our time. Our clerks spend most of their time in hand-copying records into these bound volumes. (Lays hand on volumes) The clerk that sits over there (points to ____) keeps the books showing receipts into the state treasury, disbursement s from the state treasury, and running balances. Over there (pointing to _________) sits a young man hired to keep track of our state tax records. As you know the state government is financed entirely by property taxes collected by the county tax collectors, and those books are our accounts with the county collectors. Got to keep a close eye on those fellows! The clerk who sits over there (pointing to) is John B. Weber. He keeps books on the sale of federal and state lands. We get annual reports from the federal district land office, which he copies into the ledgers. I won�t bore you wit the rest to it. That�ll give you some idea of the records kept here.
If you want a copy of some record, we�ll make one for you by hand at a rate of 15 cents for every 72 words. If it�s to be used as an official record for court or some such thing, we affix it with the official auditor�s seal (pointing to seal). Our clerks get to keep the extra fees for hand copying. Typical clerks� pay is about $400 a year for full-time help and about $2 a day for temporaries, not including copy fees of course.
We expect to add more clerks to this office next year if any of you Democrats might be interested. No Whigs need apply, of course.
If the voters approve the new law making it possible to have banks in Illinois we�ll also be keeping those records. A lot of old-time, hard-shell Democrats around here don�t like banks, but it seems to me they�re necessary so as to have Illinois business financed with Illinois bank notes.
Also we�ll be keeping records of lands selected by Mr. Brayman and his colleagues for the new Illinois Central Railroad. Seems to me I saw Mr. Brayman around. A glorious enterprise indeed! And all thanks to that champion of prosperity, expansion, and union�Senator Stephan A. Douglas.
(Jane McNamara enters from State Library door)
McNamara:
Mr. Niles you surely do enjoy hearing yourself talk. You young clerks should do more cleaning and less talking. Then this place wouldn�t be such a mess. (Looking and motioning around room)
Niles
Jane, you know cleaning the statehouse is man�s work.
McNamara
Indeed I do. But my house certainly looks better than this. Needs a woman�s touch.
Niles
Female clerks! Unthinkable! (Shaking his head)
McNamara
Perhaps. In any case, I�m lookin� for me husband Michael.
Niles
Saw him about half an hour ago. He went off to Mr. Gregg�s office (pointing toward secretary of state�s office). Say, if you�re headed that way, why not take this crowd with you. Unless there�s a question about the office (pauses for questions). Well, Jane they�re all yours.
McNamara:
Good day Mr. Niles. Step right this way. (Moves group into State Library)
This is the State Library. It�s surely a grand room with all the books and papers scattered about. Almost makes me wish I could read.
Only members of the legislature or state officers are allowed to borrow books to take home. They do that by signing the register over there (pointing to the register). Sometimes they sign books out for friends here in town. There�s a Whig lawyer, name of Lincoln, whose office is across the square. His friends sign books out for him. Don�t have much use for Whigs myself. Democrats have been too good to the Irish. That�s how me husband Michael got his job as porter here in the statehouse. Michael�s job as porter puts him in charge of maintaining the whole building. He sees the stoves get stacked, wood gets cut, fires get lit, and privies downstairs in the basement get cleaned.
Michael works for secretary of state Gregg. I�ll show you his office if you�ll follow me, unless, of course there�s a question about this room.
(Group follows Jane into the Secretary of State�s office).
McNamara:
(Looking around) Not a clerk in sight, nor me husband Michael either.
(Amanda Ball enters from hall.)
McNamara
Good day Amanda.
Ball
Mrs. McNamara (nods head toward McNamara and looks about room) Is there nobody here?
McNamara
Just Me self and these peculiarly dressed visitors.
Ball
I was hoping that someone could tell me whether Secretary Gregg had approved Elder Ball�s request to use Representative�s Hall upstairs for a colonization meeting.
McNamara
Couldn�t say. Colonization, what�s that?
Ball
Well, Elder Ball is hoping to persuade the state legislature to help finance the transportation of free Negroes from Illinois to the colony of Liberia in Africa.
McNamara
Seems like that�d be a good place for free Negroes. Power troublemakers in Illinois and less competition for jobs and the like with us Irish.
Ball
We wouldn�t be leaving for your benefit �but for ours.
(Turns to audience and makes delivers other following aside) Life is no bed of roses for people of color in the so-called free state of Illinois with its black code. We can�t vote or testify in court cases involving whites. Jobs, even menial ones, are hard to get, and most white Illinoisans regard us with contempt and fear. Why, the last constitutional convention held upstairs 4 years ago in this very building voted ordering the legislature to pass a law prohibiting free blacks from coming into Illinois.
Nobody here wants to talk about our condition. Both political parties in Illinois have agreed to abide by Senator Douglas� so-called �Compromise of 1850�, with its odious fugitive slave provision. I hear tell that some free blacks have even been kidnapped from Illinois and sold south into slavery. And Mrs. McNamara here thinks Senator Douglas is some kind of hero. Hero my foot! But the Whigs aren�t any better.
(Mason Brayman enters from hall while Ball is talking, and interrupts discussion.)
Brayman
Your condition, madam (with a bow to Amanda Ball) is of little concern one way or other to a man of Senator Douglas� broad vision. Expansion, westward expansion (motioning at map) and prosperity. Those are he Senator�s goals.
Ball
(to visitors) He means white expansion and white prosperity. This is Mason Brayman, recently appointed attorney for the soon-to-be Illinois Central Railroad. He thinks he�s big stuff. It�s his big chance to make a fortune. (Turns to Brayman) Excuse me Mr. Brayman, I must be on my way (exits)
Brayman
(To McNamara) I�m looking to obtain a certified copy of the railroad bill. Is there no clerk on duty?
McNamara
Not that I can see. So long as you�re here, though, why not give these visitors a tour of the Secretary of State�s office. You�ve done enough business here to know what it�s about, and I�ve got to be off looking for Michael. (She exits to the State Library)
Brayman
(Turns to visitors and starts talking) Well, the secretary of state keeps state records other than financial accounts, which as you may know are kept by the auditor.
The Secretary of State keeps such records as election returns, state censuses, and laws passed by the legislature. There�s a trap door in the floor over there behind the railing that leads to the vault in the basement where records are kept. The Secretary of State also serves as state school superintendent, keeper of the Great Seal of Illinois, and state seal of weights and measures. There�s a chest over there containing the official and exact measures of a yard, pound, liquid gallon and half bushel. Finally, the Secretary of State provides for the printing and distribution of laws. journals and records of the various branches of state government. The Secretary of State is also the constitutional officer responsible for taking care of this building, which is why Jane McNamara�s husband, Michael the porter, works for him.
I need to use the Law Library across the hall. (Points in that direction) You�re welcome to come along.
(Brayman leads group out of Secretary of State�s office and into Supreme Court.)
This is the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois. As you can see there are three judges. They�re each elected for 9-year terms, and of course all are good Democrats. There�s Samuel Treat, John D. Caton, and Lyman Trumbull. ____ is chief justice and sits in the center there under the fancy canopy. They made this room look a lot fancier and more formal than those offices across the hall. Wanted to give it an air of authority and justice, I think.
Each of our judges is elected by the voters in a different section of the state or �grand division� as the Constitution of 1848 calls it. The court meets once a year in each of the three �grand divisions.� Yearly court sessions are held in Ottawa, Mt Vernon, and here in Springfield.
We�re about to remove this column in front of the judge�s bench. (points to the column) They didn�t really design this room with a mind to having the judge�s bench on the east wall like that. Before the Constitution of 1848 was written, there were 9 justices on the court, and they occupied a bench along the south wall. When the court was reduced to three justices, the room was likewise rearranged, putting the column smack in front of the bench. Well, we�re about to try different ways of removing it without letting the ceiling fall down.
Lincoln�s a decent fellow. Had a couple of cases with him myself. Sort of at politics though. He�s a Whig. Served one term in Congress and is now pretty much confining himself to the practice of law from his office over the southeast corner of the square. You might stop in and visit if you�ve got some time later. I think he�s just lying low waiting for another chance. 1851 isn�t a good year for Whigs in Illinois. Course I�m a Democrat. My wife Mary and I rented Lincoln�s home for awhile a few years back, that�s how I know him so well.
Seems like court practice is changing a lot. When I first moved to town in 1842, there wasn�t too much business; most of it concerned rural problems. Land disputes and the like. And all the lawyers knew one another. Now business seems to be picking up the stat�s growing and getting more complicated. Someday they may even have to put a time limit on the long-winded lawyers who appear here. I�ve heard �em go on half a day or more. Yes sir we�re entering prosperous times, and the railroads are going to make it more so. That�s likely to change the practice of law. More cases on transportation, manufacturing, banking and the like.
I almost forgot why I cam over here. There�s a book I�m looin� for in the Supreme Court Law Library. (points in that direction) You�re welcome to come along.
(Motioning around him.) This is the finest Law Library in the State of Illinois and perhaps even the entire West. It�s mostly for the use of the Supreme Court justices, their clerks, and attorneys preparing cases. Actually though, it sort of doubles as a law library and office for the clerk of the supreme court, who sits over there (pointing to desk).
During winter Supreme Court sessions, this room is filled with attorneys and law clerks researching cases, preparing briefs, and the like. Sometimes they work late into the night. Everyone works �till they�re too tired then they turn to games (points to the checker board) or story-telling, one of the favorite pastimes for lawyers and judges in this part of the country.
These lawyers here are some of the best story-tellers in Illinois. That�s how they pass the time out on circuit. Everyone knows everyone else, and when we get together in Springfield, it�s something to see. That Whig lawyer I mentioned before�Lincoln�he�s one of the best story-tellers there is.
Times are changing though. We�re about to build a railroad called the Illinois Central. It�ll be the longest railroad in the world and run the length of the state. There�s a map of the proposed route over there on the wall. (motions to map)
Railroads will change the way everybody does business in Illinois. We lawyers won�t have to come to Springfield and stay for weeks at a time for legislative or court sessions any more. That�s kind of sad in a way. I don�t think everyone�s going to know everyone else like we do now. Instead of staying in Springfield for weeks at a time, they�ll probably come and go on the train. I think the long nights of story-telling here in the library are almost over.
There�s a good side to the Illinois Central though. It�s a good chance to make a lot of money. As you may know, I�m one of the attorneys for the railroad, and next month I�m off to begin locating land for the right-of-way and depots. Since I�ve got inside information on where the right-of-way will be, I hope to do a little speculating in land on my own. Everyone around the statehouse is doing it. Here tell Govenor French and Auditor Campbell have been buying up land in a big way.
There�s prosperous times coming. And we have Senator Douglas to thank for it all.
Now if you�ll pardon me, I must look for that book (begins looking about).
Bloomer Girl Script
Guide:
If you�ll gather over here please. We�re about to enter Representative�s Hall. It was there in June of 1858 that Lincoln delivered his famous �House Divided� speech to begin his campaign against Stephen Douglas for the US Senate. Of course, that�s seven years in the future for everyone we�ve met. They�re living in 1851, when the Democrats led by Douglas were in firm control of this building and Lincoln had yet to gain a national reputation.
The self-important looking gentleman you see over there (Pointing to Reynolds) is John Reynolds, an old-time professional politician who has held numerous offices in his long career. He�s been governor, a justice on the state supreme court, a state legislator, and a congressman. He�s quite a character, but I don�t know what he�s doing in Springfield. (Calling to Reynolds) John! John! Have you a moment to meet some voters?
J. Reynolds:
(Stops looking impatient. He sees group and a broad smile comes across his face as he walks briskly forward holding out his hand he shakes hands and greets everyone effusively)
Good day! Good day~ Greetings my noble friends. (Arms wide gesturing toward entire group). What a splendid company of gallant citizens�citizens obviously filled with character, intelligence and virtue�doubtless made ever-more steadfast in their commitment to democratic principles by this noble edifice (sweeping gesture to the building) with its stately appointments. (He eyes visitors as though to see how his speech is going over)
I am humble John Reynolds. (Bows) You�ve undoubtedly heard that I�m intending to stand for t the legislature next election, and if you�re from the Belleville district, I�d thank you for your kind patronage. Please permit me to show you more of this temple of democracy. The Hall of Representatives is right this way.
(Reynolds turns to lead group toward Representative�s Hall and runs into Mary Davis, who has been wandering about the second-floor rotunda since he began talking to the group. She was attracted by his speech and came to listen. He nearly falls over her turning toward the Hall of Representatives.)
Pardon me, madam! Didn�t notice you sneaking up on me like that. (Looking her up and down, astonished by the bloomer costume.) Where, madam is the rest of your dress?
Mary Davis:
I beg your pardon. You sir are impertinent!
Reynolds:
And you madam are indecent! (Aside to group) She�s probably from Chicago. The whole town�s a hotbed of wild-eyed fanatics � abolitionists, advocates of women�s rights, and a hoard of immigrants.
Davis
(With a triumphant air) Actually, I�m from Galesburg. And you sir sound like you�re from southern Illinois. This outfit is the latest fashion from the east (turns around to display her costume to visitors). It�s called a Boomer or a dress �a la Turk.� The Turk part is because of the pantaloons (pointing).
Reynolds:
Looks like men�s trousers to me. You know, God never intended for women to wear pants. Social order depends upon maintaining a clear distinction between male and female. Woman is best suited for the home, not for the public world of business and politics (gestures about him). Blurring those distinctions is sacrilege, a revolutionary act. (Shaking his finger in her face.) The Bible says in Deuteronomy��The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto man, neither shall a man put on a woman�s garment; for all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord the God.
Davis
(Disgusted and intent upon getting away.) Whatever you say... In any case, I�m a journalist come here to cover the horticultural exhibition to be held in Representatives� Hall. Can you point me in that direction?
Reynolds: Well, if you must, come with us.
(Reynolds leads group into Representative Hall, where Mary Brayman and Sara Reynolds are standing in aisle talking to one another and pointing around the room.)
Reynolds:
(Addressing group in somewhat formal tones.) The sate legislature meets during the winter every two years and one branch of the legislature for General Assembly as it�s know in Illinois convenes here in Representatives Hall.
There are presently, in this year of our Lord 1851, 75 members in the House of Representatives�46 Democrats, 28 Whigs, and 1 Free Soil. Too many Whigs to suit my fancy.
The painting over the speaker�s rostrum depicts the founder of our country, George Washington. The painting is a copy of one in the national House of Representatives in Washington. It is here as a symbol of the republican principles for which the gallant Washington fought. Principles by the way, for which the Democratic Party and Stephen A. Douglas still stand.
One of those women over there is my wife Sarah. Let me introduce you.
(Reynolds leads group to center aisle, where Mary Brayman and Sarah Reynolds are still talking.)
Reynolds:
(To group with a gallant flourish of the hand towards Sara Reynolds and Mary Brayman) This unworthy citizen is honored to present two of the loveliest and gentle creatures ever to adorn polite society, Mary Brayman (Mary curtsies) and Sara Reynolds (Sarah curtsies). (To Sarah and Mary) These folks are guests in the statehouse and (remembering Mary Davis), oh yes, this strangely attired lass claims to be a journalist from Galesburg come to inquire after your horticultural exhibit, Mary.
(To the group) Friends, I am off to call on Governor French, a true Democrat and an old acquaintance. But I leave you in gentler hands than mine (motions toward Mary and Sarah...bows to group. And exits thorough south door of Representatives Hall)
Sarah Reynolds:
(To Mary Davis) Did I hear John right? You are a journalist?
Davis:
Yes indeed. Columns of my travel narratives, romantic musings, and practical opinions have appeared in numerous popular respectable journals.
Sarah Reynolds
Strikes me as a bit unseemly for a woman to leave her own sphere in home and family to offer her opinions and musings in the public press. John, bless his electioneering little heart, can�t get enough of politics and public life. But it all seems a little sordid to me.
Davis:
My husband, unlike yours, is no longer living. And writing is one of the few occupations open to a woman of my limited means. Besides, it�s not like I�ve been advocating anything really revolutionary�like giving women the vote.
Sarah Reynolds:
Thank the good Lord for that! But what about your (she stammers trying to remember the name �bloomers�) �ah � your---
Davis
Bloomers? (Motioning to her outfit) This outfit�s the latest thing out east. Besides, it�s practical. No more dragging long skirts trough the streets of your muddy little town---
Mary Brayman:
Muddy little town! Springfield enjoys an unequalled reputation for hospitality, culture, and �
Davis:
(Interrupting) Mud! The place is muddy and it even stinks. There are hogs all over, and merchants around the square feel free to dump their refuse where they please, even in the streets. And there it rots!
Mary Brayman:
(Insulted) Well! (Turning in an aside to the group) I�m sure you�ll agree that a contentious woman (gesturing toward Mary Davis) is shocking perverse, a violation of God�s law. (Turning back toward Mary Davis)
Mary Brayman:
Springfield�s respectable women, Mrs. Davis, are directing their efforts at influencing society in a manner more appropriate to the gentle purity with which nature has endowed the female character. We intend not to force our way into political life or onto the floor of halls like this while e the legislature is in session. At such times, we assume our appropriate place in the ladies� galleries above (pointing to galleries).
But when the legislature�s not in session, we use this building and its rooms to influence society in a more gentle way, a mission well-suited to the female character. Civic improvement is our mission. As the organ over there (points to organ) reminds us, churches services are held in this hall. There are also dances, lectures, and community gatherings like our forthcoming horticultural exhibit.
At that exhibit, the ladies of Springfield will adorn the hall with beautiful cut flowers and sweet blooming plants. In all of these endeavors, Springfield women hope to exert an influence over society appropriate to their natures. As the gentler and purer sex, we feel an obligation to create a public environment that will call forth true virtue and quite by the baser male passions that seem to rule public life today.
Sara Reynolds:
A fine speech for one unaccustomed to public life. And a noble mission. But I�m not so sure your appropriate sphere isn�t home with your children. Now if you�ll excuse me, I must be off before Jon gets himself into too much trouble. (Smiles at tour group. Curtsies and exits in direction of governor�s office).
Mary Brayman:
And I must find Mason. (To tour group) I do hope your visit with us is enjoyable.
Davis:
(Interrupting) Despite the mud! (Mary Brayman exits with Mary Davis trailing along trying to talk to her)
