The Swan That Slept: A Play

By Robert Manns

After the American Revolution, Scottish immigrant James Swan entered the businesses of real estate and shipping. Becoming friends with many of the luminaries of the times, his businesses expanded to France, where he was accused of a two million franc debt owed to the government of Napoleon, perhaps in taxes, which he refused. Swan, although he could easily afford the payment, refused to pay "on principle" and was committed to debtor prison. He spent the next twenty-two years of his life incarcerated, until released at age seventy-six.

Swan's imprisonment and its term is a matter of record, as is his use of apartments nearby for lavish parties given for his friends, but at which he was absent. His defiance was certainly notable. But what were the components of his "principle?" And were they worth such severe observance?

"The Swan That Slept is a thoroughly compelling play it is the perennial stuff of human courage and human weakness."
-Baron Wormser, Poet Laureate, State of Maine

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 31, 2005
• ISBN: 9780595796823

Robert Manns

Robert Manns was born in Detroit; spent six years in New York, where he received his first productions; and later moved to Florida and eventually Atlanta. He wrote his first play when he was 19, his first poem when he was 21. He has taught dramaturgy at Emory University in Atlanta and, while director of Callanwolde Art Institure in that city, initiated the poetry readings still held today. Even before serving as field representative for the National Audubon Society, wildlife and the environment had solidly manifested themselves in his writing.

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Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Robert Manns

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Contents

Preface

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

Preface

With the paucity of material available on James Swan, it is impossible to tell anywhere close to a comprehensive story of the man. Referring to the necessarily sketchy chapter three of Picton Press’s History of Swans Island, Maine, we learn that the young Scot migrated to Maine at the age of eleven and at a slightly older age participated at Boston in the American revolution, was wounded, promoted to officer and received ample funding from an older Scot to enter the businesses of real estate and shipping. Becoming friends of Henry Knox, Lafayette and other luminaries of the time, including Washington, his businesses expanded to France.

There he was accused of a two million franc debt owed to the government of Napoleon, perhaps in taxes, which he refused. The French dictator had just sold the Louisiana Territory to the colonies but perhaps needed still more money for his Peninsula Campaign in Spain and Portugal. Swan, although he could easily afford the payment, refused to pay on principle and was committed to debtor prison. There he spent the next twenty-two years of his life until released at age seventy-six when Louis Philippe ended the abuse of debtor prisons. He died, it is rumored, in the arms of his friend, Lafayette.

His imprisonment and its term is a matter of record, as is his use of apartments nearby for lavish parties given for his friends, but at which he was absent. His defiance was certainly notable. But what were the components of his principle? And were they worth such severe observance?

The author

The Swan That Slept is a thoroughly compelling play. Manns makes us feel how the wages of principle can add up to the cost of lives. The history he cogently and beautifully etches in his measured lines is as relevant as today’s headline. The drama of James Swan is not only cautionary; it is the perennial stuff of human courage and human weakness.

Baron Wormser

Poet Laureate, State of Maine

Time: The early nineteenth century, during the reign of Napoleon.

Place: St. Pélagie debtor’s prison, Paris, France.

ACT ONE

A late eighteenth century French jail cell dimly and grotesquely lighted until, after awhile, lights come up on the following, surprising, furnishings: A bed of heavy wood stock suggesting opulence with an oil reading lamp nearby, a chest of drawers of the same and matching wood stock, books piled on top, a lounge chair, a table attended by wood chairs as though fitted for cards or games, two empty beer bottles somewhere.