1704

One 18th century journal, the //Diverting Post//, appears to be a collection of poems as well as brief descriptions of events expressing themes of warfare and battle. For example, in the issue of October 28, 1704 the first entry is titled //Clarinda's Complaint this War Time, or Advice to the Officers, to get Soldiers without Beat of Drum//, and it describes how a young woman named Clarinda is an unfortunate to live in such a time when men struggle to grasp the concept of reason as they wage wars against one another, bringing death,(Diverting Post Issue I). The newspaper endeavors to explore serious ideas such as war through a more feminine perspective which was probably less common during that time. The editors of the paper immediately reveal that their paper is for entertainment purposes and they attempt to win the affections of the fairer sex, saying, "And here I cannot forbear owning my great Obligations to those of the Fair Sex, to whose Inspiring Charms, or Poetick Genius, no small Part of these Compositions is owing; and upon their Account in particular, Care has, and will be taken to make this Collection as inoffensive, as pleasant,"(Diverting Post Issue 1). The desire to secure female acceptance speaks to the attempt to place women on a more level playing field with men as women were often seen as little more than sexual objects during that time. The //Diverting Post// follows its namesake in its recognition of women but it also adheres to the notion of wanting to focus solely on the upper-class individuals in society as shown when the editors write, "The intent of these Papers, was to entertain those only, whose Understanding and Judgement have been refined, by a liberal Education and genteel Conversatiion,"(Diverting Post). By "genteel" the editors more than likely meant those of the upper class as genteel denoted one's status rather than behavior as explained in class(Rosenthal).
 * About the newspaper **

The newspaper clues the reader into the lives of the celebrities of the day, explaining how the Duke of Marlborough(a noted military soldier also known as Churchill) became a prince of the empire(Diverting Post Issue 1) while Dr. Godolphin, a famous provost, was married to a young women, (Diverting post). It's told how the elite such as the Duke of Devonshire and the Earl of Kingston travel to places such as Newmarket. Horse racing is also presented as an important pastime of the era but the newspaper never diverts too far from the theme of battle and warfare as shown when the editors tell how a poem by Josheph Addison will focus primarily on the //Battle of Blenheim//, an important component in the Spanish War of Succession. The newspaper makes sure to mention the recent construction of a playhouse that was conceptualized by John Vanbrugh and funded by those of the nobility, hinting at the importance of the theater. Interactions between the prominent are also mentioned. Queen Anne of England meets with the revered soldier, Churchill and he kisses her hand. Queen Anne, who is referred to as the presence, praises the British soldiers in the //Battle of Blenheim// and a notable member of the the //United Company Trading to the East-Indies//, Alexander Prescot, is sent to Constantinople to win the support of Sophy of Persia. The poems that proceed the description of the real events of he //Battle of Blenheim// further discuss the hardships of war such as the case with the poem, //An old Knight, to a Young Lady//, by Sir F. B. The poem expresses a relationship between a soldier, hardened by war and a young woman, starting with "Madam, your Beauty, I confess, May our young Gallants wound or bless, But cannot warm my frozen Heart, Not capable of Joy or Smart,"(Diverting Post). When the soldier says that his heart is not capable of joy or smart it further illustrates the theme that the barbarity of warfare gradually replaces one's ability to reason as suggested in the earlier poem, //Clarinda's Complaint this War Time, or Advice to the Officers, to get Soldiers without Beat of Drum// in which a //young// women expresses her ideas about living in a time of war. The inclusion of these poems in the //Diverting post// helps to establish a sense that both genders appear to lose something with women's security being threatened while men' humanity comes in danger of being lost.
 * Who was Important?**


 * Life imitating Art**

The newspaper then returns to the real world, describing how the Duke of Marlborough is ready to invade France but has gone to Berlin in order to receive quotas from the King of Prussia while another notable individual, the Marshall Tallard, a respected French soldier, has elected to remain in Breda until the Duke's return (Diverting Post). The theater is again referenced as the authors explain how //The Corinthian Queen// will be shown for the fifth time at the //Theatre Royal,// suggesting how the importance of plays didn't seem to drop despite multiple showings. The newspaper even provides the entire prologue of the play spoken by Mr. Booth as well as a few other short poems including //The Mad-Man's Entertainment// in which the idea of sin is discussed, //Upon a Giant's Angling//, a unique fantasy poem as well as //The Hasty Courtship// in which a young man expresses his affections for a young girl. Between the 18 and 24 of November the //Diverting Post// presents another group of poems. One interesting poem in particular is //The Fable of the Rat and the Mouse// in which a rat talks to a mouse about stealing food from the Cat's master. The diction, plundering, is significant because it connotes an important theme during the era which was the conquering of smaller nations by larger ones as the smaller ones were often plundered of their resources which appears to be an important motive for wars. When it reads "But we ought to be careful at this time of Day, That the People we wrong, put no Snares in our way,"(Diverting Post), this suggests a recognition that it may not be the best moral decision to take advantage of weaker nations as hinted when in words "we wrong". A powerful connection between the the events on the actual battlefield and the literary representations occurs in the //Epigram to the Duke of Marlborough// in which the author makes reference to Homer's Achilles as he fights in the great Trojan war perhaps as an inspirational piece to encourage the duke and his men to fight with as much determination as the Greek heroes had against the French (Diverting Post). Another piece which betrays the events of the era is a speech given by Mr. Bettertan which is designed to be spoken before Henry the VIII. In the speech Mr. Bettertan seems to ask for the sympathy of the King towards men like himself, employing him to use reason to govern rather than brutality(Diverting Post). Overall, the Diverting Post emphasized the Battle of Belheim and the prominent figures involved with it, the impact that battle had on the literary community as well as several references to the theatre.




 * About the Stage**

//The London Stage// presents a detailed portrayal of the theatre in 1704. In that year the playhouses were trying to decide what would be the best hours for them to open. Usually, they opened around 5:30 but sometimes the theatre commenced closer to 6:00 (The London Stage 75). Their fees were as unstable as their timings as sometimes the prices were as low as 41., and 21., but they could jump to as much as 51. (The London Stage 75). The two major competing performance companies were the //Daily Courant// and the //Diverting Post// (The London Stage 75). In September of 1704, some plays that were performed included //The Jovial Crew//, //The Squire of Alsatia,// //Tunbridge Walks//, //Titus Andronicus//, //Secret Love//, //Don John//, and //The Unhappy Favorite//. We also see //A Jovial Crew// be played again during October of that same year along with such plays as //The Metamorphosis,// //The Feighn'd Innocence//, and //The Empress of Morocco//. Romance becomes a major theme in plays during this month in performances such as Aphra Behn's //The Rover// as well as //The London Cuckholds// but the theme of imperialism is explored in plays such as Behn's Oronooko which also played during that year. It is noted how several plays such as //The Committee//, //Hamlet, Prince of Denmark//, and //A Plot Discover'd// have accompanied with them the note, "At the desire of several persons of quality",(The London Stage 79), which displays the influence that the certain people had over what was performed. In November they have plays with titles such as //The Albion Queen// and //The True and Ancient History of King Lear and His Three Daughters// which imply a theme of monarchism that is sprinkled throughout the theatre. Despite many plays being repeated sometimes as often as once per month some plays only appear to be performed due to the request of a person of quality as in the case with //King Henry the Fourth// and //The Rehearsal.//




 * About the Play**

The play which I read was Richard Brome's //A Jovial Crew// whichopened in 1704 but was published in 1652. The play provides us with Oldrent, an older man with two daughters named Rachel and Meriel. Oldrent is seemingly successful as he possesses a vast amount of property and is well off. However, Oldrent doesn't seem as satisfied with his life due to the belief that his daughters might become beggars. This is prophesied by a soothsayer named Patrico. Ironically, one of Oldrent's workers, Springlove, use to be a beggar and Oldrent seems worried that Springlove might revert back to his begging ways. Despite working for Oldrent, Springlove maintains a shameless attitude about begging for money when winter ends. Strangely, although being surrounded by the wealth of their father, Rachel and Meriel feel a longing to become beggars and so they leave their father to join Springlove, taking their suitors, Vincent and Hilliard. The theme of members of the upper class willingly going to the lower class is further played out as it's explained that Amie is disguising herself because she doesn't want to marry Talboy. Amie's uncle, Justice Clack, has sent his son, Oliver, to capture Amie and her would-be-lover, Martin. Later, it's revealed that Oldrent's ancestor had basically seized Patrico's ancestor's land through a performance by the captured beggars. However, Oldrent, gives Patrico back the land of his ancestor and can finally rejoice because his daughters have decided not to remain as beggars. A strong connection can be drawn between Brome's play and the content in the //Diverting Post//. For example, class is an important concept in both //A Jovial Crew// and the //Diverting Post// and it's revealed when one notices how the main authors of the //Diverting Post// mention how their content is only suitable for members of the genteel or people who've experienced a liberal education. Oldrent looks down upon the beggars as being less worthy of admiration than people with working jobs. The newspaper presents the idea that it is one's genteel class that makes them a worthy reader and contributor to their paper whereas Brome's play suggests that the desire of Rachel and Meriel to want to be a beggars is more of a result of Oldrent's family's past misdeeds being corrected by fate. Brome seems to be arguing that remaining as part of the elite class is the right thing to do and a desire to want to be something other than that class(beggars) is a sign that something is wrong. Once Oldrent corrects the misdeeds of his ancestors by giving Patrico his land back, his daughters suddenly no longer wish to be beggars. Brome's play also implies the belief that class also denotes morality if Oldrent's family as a whole is taken into account because although Oldrent's family prospers, his daughter's desire to be beggars can be interpreted as a unworthiness to be part of the upperclass due to their family's misdeeds. It seemed that Brome was suggesting that neither of Oldrent's daughters nor Oldrent deserved their prosperity or their upperclass rank until they rectified the sins of their forefathers. Oldrent was wealthy but he still suffered as a result of his ancestors immoral actions because he was horrified of his daughters becoming beggars. Brome's //A Jovial Crew// touches lightly on the feminine perspective as it seems to take the side of Aime who is on the run from being forced into marriage. Even though Aime leaves her home with Martin she ends up with Springlove, hinting at the autonomy and free will that Brome grants to his female characters. Brome's uses Aime to display how women aren't simply objects subjected to men's desire but they also should have the right to choose who they love. Even though Brome doesn't specifically voice any "obligations to those of the fair sex"(Diverting Post), his play like the //Diverting Post// shows respect to women at a time in which this normally wasn't the case. Unlike many of the plays we've read, the rake persona was not present. Brome's play ends on a typical happy note with Oldrent's family paying their debts, Patrico getting back the land which was stolen from his family, and Oldrent being released from the fear of worrying about his beggars daughters. The //Diverting Post// also makes several references to literature. The newspaper actually asks for submissions several times from contributors regarding poems and other short narratives and even provides a prologue spoken by Mr. Bettertan that is part of a speech to be given to King Henry the VIII. Poems that are themed mostly on battles and warfare are sprinkled throughout the newspaper alongside the chronicling of the //Battle of Blenheim.// **Works Cited** Brome, Richard. //A Jovial Crew, or, The Merry Beggars a comedy as it is acted at the Theatre Royal//. London.: Printed for Joseph Hindmarsh, 1684. Print. Schneider, Ben Ross. "Season of 1704-1705." //Index to The London stage, 1660-1800//. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1979.B Print. "Arts & Entertainment." //17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers//. Diverting Post, 28 Oct. 1704. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.   "War of Spanish Succession." Encyclopedia Brittanica. Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc., 2014 Web. 21 April. 2014. "Anne." "Encyclopedia Brittanica. Encyclopedia Brittanica. Inc., 2014 Web. 21 April. "John Churchill, 1st duke of Marlborough." Encyclopedia Brittanica. Encyclopedia Brittanica. Inc., 2014 Web. 21 April.