EULOGY – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[June 9, 1923, Frankfort Cemetery.  Many people are gathered near a gravesite.]

 

Governor Morrow                  The hunter comes home from the hills. The sailor comes home from the sea.  And on this day, June the ninth, 1923 – five and one-half years after his death in a far off place – the body of Paul Sawyier has come home for the long sleep in the land of his birth.  He rests at last in the encircling arms of the hills, at the bend of the sweeping river that he loved.  Cliffs of Kentucky – your friend,  one who felt your solemn grandeur and your deathless beauty – has come back to you.  Old River! – on whose broad bosom he floated through canyon and palisade;  who knew you best because he loved you most;  and whose genius has preserved on canvas your beauty forever – he will send his tiny craft over your waves no more at daybreak, or twilight’s hour of mystery and rest… but he will sleep the sweeter because he can hear the sound of your waters.

Paul Sawyier – poet, artist, genius, loving son of the hills and woods and streams of Kentucky.  The Commonwealth receives his remains to rest forever in its soil with love and pride.  Another worthy son of Kentucky sleeps here in our own Westminster Abbey – the silent city of the dead overlooking our Capitol. He reproduced scenes of the everyday, all around about us, but the colors came from a palette resting on a loving breast.  And were inspired by the cunning touch of a hand dedicated to bringing to, and giving to, for all, the beauty with which God so richly blessed our state.  Home at last, the soil of the land that he loved most will rest softly upon all that remains of him, who greatly loved… and beautifully wrought… for Kentucky.        Edwin P. Morrow, Governor of Kentucky

Tom Wallace              Paul Sawyier truly was an artist.  As such he belongs to Kentucky.  His fitting resting place is here in Frankfort Cemetery – Kentucky’s Westminster Abbey – here amid the scenes… surpassingly beautiful… that inspired the brush of the painter, and were dear to the heart of the man.”                Tom Wallace, a friend of Paul Sawyier

Tribute #1 (Woman)           The great love of his life was applying to canvas the beautiful things of nature through the softened mystery of impressionist painting. The soft and beautiful colors of his paintings are so peaceful.

Tribute #2 (Woman)      He gave us beloved images of Frankfort, as they are… no longer. Paul Sawyier captured and perpetuated our sylvan waterways and rolling countryside in delicate, yet vivid, colors of similar gentleness and charm.

Tribute #3 (Man)          He does not sleep, but is at peace among his hills and valleys. And he lives at last in that fuller love that he so longed for.  He will never die in the hearts of us who love more the things around us, for seeing them… as he saw them.

 Tribute #4 (Woman)     Painter of Two Villages, he has moved forever from that sweet old village, down below, to this eternal village, here… high on the hill.  Above the river.

[Lights very slowly fade as last half of Mayme’s music softly plays (letter B through end)]

 

(Click on the sheet music below to download pdf.)

 

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APPENDIX A            Cast in Order of First Appearance

Note:  42* of the 61 characters appear once or infrequently and may play multiple roles.

ACT ONE

Prologue

Paul Sawyier

Scene 1

*Martin Rettig

*Jeannie McKee

*Avery Sharp

*Polk Laffoon

*Mary Sheerer

*Dixie Selden

*H.G. Mattern

Nathaniel Sawyier

Ellen Sawyier

*Penelope Hart Anderson Wingate

*Maria Louise Wingate Campbell

Lillian Sawyier

*Henry Wingate Sawyier

Natalie Sawyier

Mary Campbell Sawyier

 

Scene 2

Aunt Mag Averill

Mayme Bull

Aunt Mary Averill

*Emma Morris

 

Scene 6

*Sam Bull

*Frank Bull

 

Scene 7

Judge

Jimmie Gibbons

*Senator

Leo Chenault

Russell McRery

John Selbert

Dan Lindsey

 

Scene 9

*Deputy Sheriff

ACT TWO

Scene 2

*Attorney

Scene 3

*1^st Woman

*2^nd Woman

Rose Stoddard

 

Scene 4

*Bow Terhune

Scene 5

*Banker

*John Wilson Townsend

*J.J. King

*C.F. Brower

*Man (home buyer)

*Woman (home buyer’s wife)

*Other Man (houseboat buyer)

*Joe LeCompte

 

Scene 6

*Edward Jackson

Marie Myer

*Mrs Bull

 

Scene 7

*Mrs Emery

*B.C. Todd

*Mrs Todd

*Edward Buyck

 

Scene 8

Phillip Schaeffer

*Mrs Schaeffer

*Doctor (unnamed)

*Young Man (camping trip)

*Dr Champlin

 

Eulogy

*Governor Morrow

*Tom Wallace

****Four unnamed speakers at

Frankfort Cemetery

 

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APPENDIX B                        RECORDING REQUIREMENTS

RECORDED VOICES

Russell’s Voice:            pages 11, 12, 23 and 30

Emma’s Voice              pages 18-19

Paul’s Voice                 page 77

 

RECORDED MUSIC

            Mayme’s Music    (Love, I Await Thee)  …………Appendix C

Act 1, Scene 3         Page 18: with Emma’s voice

Act 1, Scene 3         Page 19: dancing with Paul

Act 1, Scene 5         Page 26: embracing Paul and talking

            Last Half of Mayme’s Music (letter B through end)

Act 2, Scene 7         Page 77: following Paul’s Voice

Eulogy:                     Page 91: following Tribute #4

 

            Rose’s Music    (Rose, Dear Youth)   …………….            Appendix D

Act 2, Scene 4         Page 61: Paul and Rose waltz and talk

Act 2, Scene 9         Page 84: Paul visiting Rose in Cincinnati