第7章　

MaxHalbe’sJUGEND*andWedekind’sFRUHLING’SERWACHEN**aredramaswhichhavedisseminatedradicalthoughtinanaltogetherdifferentdirection。TheytreatofthechildandthedenseignoranceandnarrowPuritanismthatmeettheawakeningofnature。ParticularlythisistrueofFRUHLING’SERWACHEN。Youngboysandgirlssacrificedonthealtaroffalseeducationandofoursickeningmoralitythatprohibitstheenlightenmentofyouthastoquestionssoimperativetothehealthandwell-beingofsociety，——theoriginoflife，anditsfunctions。Itshowshowamother——andatrulygoodmother，atthat——keepsherfourteen-year-olddaughterinabsoluteignoranceastoallmattersofsex，andwhenfinallytheyounggirlfallsavictimtoherownignorance，thesamemotherseesherdaughterkilledbyquackmedicines。Theinscriptiononhergravestatesthatshediedofanaemia，andmoralityissatisfied——

*YOUTH。

**THEAWAKENINGOFSPRING——

ThefatalityofourPuritanichypocrisyinthesemattersisespeciallyilluminedbyWedekindinsofarasourmostpromisingchildrenfallvictimstosexignoranceandtheutterlackofappreciationonthepartoftheteachersofthechild’sawakening。

Wendla，unusuallydevelopedandalertforherage，pleadswithhermothertoexplainthemysteryoflife:

"Ihaveasisterwhohasbeenmarriedfortwoandahalfyears。I

myselfhavebeenmadeanauntforthethirdtime，andIhaven’ttheleastideahowitallcomesabout……Don’tbecross，Mother，dear！WhomintheworldshouldIaskbutyou？Don’tscoldmeforaskingaboutit。Givemeananswer——Howdoesithappen？——YoucannotreallydeceiveyourselfthatI，whoamfourteenyearsold，stillbelieveinthestork。"

Werehermotherherselfnotavictimoffalsenotionsofmorality，anaffectionateandsensibleexplanationmighthavesavedherdaughter。

Buttheconventionalmotherseekstohideher"moral"shameandembarrassmentinthisevasivereply:

"Inordertohaveachild——onemustlove——theman——towhomoneismarried……Onemustlovehim，Wendla，asyouatyouragearestillunabletolove——Nowyouknowit！"

HowmuchWendla"knew"themotherrealizedtoolate。Thepregnantgirlimaginesherselfillwithdropsy。Andwhenhermothercriesindesperation，"Youhaven’tthedropsy，youhaveachild，girl，"theagonizedWendlaexclaimsinbewilderment:"Butit’snotpossible，Mother，Iamnotmarriedyet……Oh，Mother，whydidn’tyoutellmeeverything？"

WithequalstupiditytheboyMorrisisdriventosuicidebecausehefailsinhisschoolexaminations。AndMelchior，theyouthfulfatherofWendla’sunbornchild，issenttotheHouseofCorrection，hisearlysexualawakeningstampinghimadegenerateintheeyesofteachersandparents。

ForyearsthoughtfulmenandwomeninGermanyhadadvocatedthecompellingnecessityofsexenlightenment。MUTTERSCHUTZ，apublicationspeciallydevotedtofrankandintelligentdiscussionofthesexproblem，hasbeencarryingonitsagitationforaconsiderabletime。ButitremainedforthedramaticgeniusofWedekindtoinfluenceradicalthoughttotheextentofforcingtheintroductionofsexphysiologyinmanyschoolsofGermany。

Scandinavia，likeGermany，wasadvancedthroughthedramamuchmorethanthroughanyotherchannel。LongbeforeIbsenappearedonthescene，Bjornson，thegreatessayist，thunderedagainsttheinequalitiesandinjusticeprevalentinthosecountries。Buthiswasavoiceinthewilderness，reachingbutthefew。NotsowithIbsen。

HisBRAND，DOLL’SHOUSE，PILLARSOFSOCIETY，GHOSTS，andANENEMYOF

THEPEOPLEhaveconsiderablyunderminedtheoldconceptions，andreplacedthembyamodernandrealviewoflife。OnehasbuttoreadBRANDtorealizethemodernconception，letussay，ofreligion，——religion，asanidealtobeachievedonearth；religionasaprincipleofhumanbrotherhood，ofsolidarity，andkindness。

Ibsen，thesupremehaterofallsocialshams，hastorntheveilofhypocrisyfromtheirfaces。Hisgreatestonslaught，however，isonthefourcardinalpointssupportingtheflimsynetworkofsociety。

First，thelieuponwhichreststhelifeoftoday；second，thefutilityofsacrificeaspreachedbyourmoralcodes；third，pettymaterialconsideration，whichistheonlygodthemajorityworships；

andfourth，thedeadeninginfluenceofprovincialism。ThesefourrecurastheLEITMOTIFinIbsen’splays，butparticularlyinPILLARS

OFSOCIETY，DOLL’SHOUSE，GHOSTS，andANENEMYOFTHEPEOPLE。

PillarsofSociety！Whatatremendousindictmentagainstthesocialstructurethatrestsonrottenanddecayedpillars，——pillarsnicelygildedandapparentlyintact，yetmerelyhidingtheirtruecondition。

Andwhatarethesepillars？

ConsulBernick，attheveryheightofhissocialandfinancialcareer，thebenefactorofhistownandthestrongestpillarofthecommunity，hasreachedthesummitthroughthechanneloflies，deception，andfraud。Hehasrobbedhisbosomfriend，Johann，ofhisgoodname，andhasbetrayedLonaHessel，thewomanheloved，tomarryherstep-sisterforthesakeofhermoney。Hehasenrichedhimselfbyshadytransactions，undercoverof"thecommunity’sgood，"andfinallyevengoestotheextentofendangeringhumanlifebypreparingtheINDIANGIRL，arottenanddangerousvessel，togotosea。

ButthereturnofLonabringshimtherealizationoftheemptinessandmeannessofhisnarrowlife。Heseekstoplacatethewakingconsciencebythehopethathehasclearedthegroundforthebetterlifeofhisson，ofthenewgeneration。Buteventhislasthopesoonfallstotheground，asherealizesthattruthcannotbebuiltonalie。Attheverymomentwhenthewholetownispreparedtocelebratethegreatbenefactorofthecommunitywithbanquetpraise，hehimself，nowgrowntofullspiritualmanhood，confessestotheassembledtownspeople:

"Ihavenorighttothishomage……Myfellow-citizensmustknowmetothecore。Thenleteveryoneexaminehimself，andletusrealizethepredictionthatfromthiseventwebeginanewtime。Theold，withitstinsel，itshypocrisy，itshollowness，itslyingpropriety，anditspitifulcowardice，shallliebehinduslikeamuseum，openforinstruction。"

WithADOLL’SHOUSEIbsenhaspavedthewayforwoman’semancipation。

Noraawakensfromherdoll’sroletotherealizationoftheinjusticedoneherbyherfatherandherhusband，HelmerTorvald。

"WhileIwasathomewithfather，heusedtotellmeallhisopinions，andIheldthesameopinions。IfIhadothersIconcealedthem，becausehewouldnothaveapproved。Heusedtocallmehisdollchild，andplaywithmeasIplayedwithmydolls。ThenIcametoliveinyourhouse。Yousettledeverythingaccordingtoyourtaste，andIgotthesametasteasyou，orIpretendedto。WhenI

lookbackonitnow，Iseemtohavebeenlivinglikeabeggar，fromhandtomouth。Ilivedbyperformingtricksforyou，Torvald，butyouwouldhaveitso。Youandfatherhavedonemeagreatwrong。"

InvainHelmerusestheoldphilistineargumentsofwifelydutyandsocialobligations。Norahasgrownoutofherdoll’sdressintofullstatureofconsciouswomanhood。Sheisdeterminedtothinkandjudgeforherself。Shehasrealizedthat，beforeallelse，sheisahumanbeing，owingthefirstdutytoherself。Sheisundauntedevenbythepossibilityofsocialostracism。Shehasbecomescepticalofthejusticeofthelaw，thewisdomoftheconstituted。Herrebellingsoulrisesinprotestagainsttheexisting。Inherownwords:"I

mustmakeupmymindwhichisright，societyorI。"

Inherchildlikefaithinherhusbandshehadhopedforthegreatmiracle。Butitwasnotthedisappointedhopethatopenedhervisiontothefalsehoodsofmarriage。ItwasratherthesmugcontentmentofHelmerwithasafelie——onethatwouldremainhiddenandnotendangerhissocialstanding。

WhenNoraclosedbehindherthedoorofhergildedcageandwentoutintotheworldanew，regeneratedpersonality，sheopenedthegateoffreedomandtruthforherownsexandtheracetocome。

Morethananyotherplay，GHOSTShasactedlikeabombexplosion，shakingthesocialstructuretoitsveryfoundations。

InDOLL’SHOUSEthejustificationoftheunionbetweenNoraandHelmerrestedatleastonthehusband’sconceptionofintegrityandrigidadherencetooursocialmorality。Indeed，hewastheconventionalidealhusbandanddevotedfather。NotsoinGHOSTS。

Mrs。AlvingmarriedCaptainAlvingonlytofindthathewasaphysicalandmentalwreck，andthatlifewithhimwouldmeanutterdegradationandbefataltopossibleoffspring。Inherdespairsheturnedtoheryouth’scompanion，youngPastorManderswho，asthetruesaviorofsoulsforheaven，mustneedsbeindifferenttoearthlynecessities。Hesentherbacktoshameanddegradation，——toherdutiestohusbandandhome。Indeed，happiness——tohim——wasbuttheunholymanifestationofarebelliousspirit，andawife’sdutywasnottojudge，but"tobearwithhumilitythecrosswhichahigherpowerhadforyourowngoodlaiduponyou。"

Mrs。Alvingborethecrossfortwenty-sixlongyears。Notforthesakeofthehigherpower，butforherlittlesonOswald，whomshelongedtosavefromthepoisonousatmosphereofherhusband’shome。

Itwasalsoforthesakeofthebelovedsonthatshesupportedthelieofhisfather’sgoodness，insuperstitiousaweof"dutyanddecency。"Shelearned，alas！toolate，thatthesacrificeofherentirelifehadbeeninvain，andthathersonOswaldwasvisitedbythesinsofhisfather，thathewasirrevocablydoomed。This，too，shelearned，that"weareallofusghosts。Itisnotonlywhatwehaveinheritedfromourfatherandmotherthatwalksinus。Itisallsortsofdeadideasandlifelessoldbeliefs。Theyhavenovitality，buttheyclingtousallthesameandwecan’tgetridofthem……Andthenweare，oneandall，sopitifullyafraidoflight。WhenyouforcedmeundertheyokeyoucalledDutyandObligation；whenyoupraisedasrightandproperwhatmywholesoulrebelledagainstassomethingloathsome；itwasthenthatIbegantolookintotheseamsofyourdoctrine。Ionlywishedtopickatasingleknot，butwhenIhadgotthatundone，thewholethingravelledout。AndthenIunderstoodthatitwasallmachine-sewn。"

Howcouldasocietymachine-sewn，fathomtheseethingdepthswhenceissuedthegreatmasterpieceofHenrikIbsen？Itcouldnotunderstand，andthereforeitpouredthevialsofabuseandvenomuponitsgreatestbenefactor。ThatIbsenwasnotdauntedhehasprovedbyhisreplyinANENEMYOFTHEPEOPLE。

InthatgreatdramaIbsenperformsthelastfuneralritesoveradecayinganddyingsocialsystem。Outofitsashesrisestheregeneratedindividual，theboldanddaringrebel。Dr。Stockman，anidealist，fullofsocialsympathyandsolidarity，iscalledtohisnativetownasthephysicianofthebaths。Hesoondiscoversthatthelatterarebuiltonaswamp，andthatinsteadoffindingreliefthepatients，whoflocktotheplace，arebeingpoisoned。

Anhonestman，ofstrongconvictions，thedoctorconsidersithisdutytomakehisdiscoveryknown。Buthesoonlearnsthatdividendsandprofitsareconcernedneitherwithhealthnorprinciples。Eventhereformersofthetown，representedinthePEOPLE’SMESSENGER，alwaysreadytoprateoftheirdevotiontothepeople，withdrawtheirsupportfromthe"reckless"idealist，themomenttheylearnthatthedoctor’sdiscoverymaybringthetownintodisrepute，andthusinjuretheirpockets。

ButDoctorStockmancontinuesinthefaithheentertainsforhastownsmen。Theywouldhearhim。Buthere，too，hesoonfindshimselfalone。Hecannotevensecureaplacetoproclaimhisgreattruth。

Andwhenhefinallysucceeds，heisoverwhelmedbyabuseandridiculeastheenemyofthepeople。Thedoctor，soenthusiasticofhistownspeople’sassistancetoeradicatetheevil，issoondriventoasolitaryposition。Theannouncementofhisdiscoverywouldresultinapecuniarylosstothetown，andthatconsiderationinducestheofficials，thegoodcitizens，andsoulreformers，tostiflethevoiceoftruth。Hefindsthemallacompactmajority，unscrupulousenoughtobewillingtobuilduptheprosperityofthetownonaquagmireofliesandfraud。Heisaccusedoftryingtoruinthecommunity。Buttohismind"itdoesnotmatterifalyingcommunityisruined。Itmustbelevelledtotheground。Allmenwholiveuponliesmustbeexterminatedlikevermin。You’llbringittosuchapassthatthewholecountrywilldeservetoperish。"

DoctorStockmanisnotapracticalpolitician。Afreeman，hethinks，mustnotbehavelikeablackguard。"Hemustnotsoactthathewouldspitinhisownface。"Foronlycowardspermit"considerations"ofpretendedgeneralwelfareorofpartytooverridetruthandideals。"Partyprogrammeswringthenecksofallyoung，livingtruths；andconsiderationsofexpediencyturnmoralityandrighteousnessupsidedown，untillifeissimplyhideous。"

TheseplaysofIbsen——THEPILLARSOFSOCIETY，ADOLL’SHOUSE，GHOSTS，andANENEMYOFTHEPEOPLE——constituteadynamicforcewhichisgraduallydissipatingtheghostswalkingthesocialburyinggroundcalledcivilization。Nay，more；Ibsen’sdestructiveeffectsareatthesametimesupremelyconstructive，forhenotmerelyunderminesexistingpillars；indeed，hebuildswithsurestrokesthefoundationofahealthier，idealfuture，basedonthesovereigntyoftheindividualwithinasympatheticsocialenvironment。

Englandwithhergreatpioneersofradicalthought，theintellectualpilgrimslikeGodwin，RobertOwen，Darwin，Spencer，WilliamMorris，andscoresofothers；withherwonderfullarksofliberty——Shelley，Byron，Keats——isanotherexampleoftheinfluenceofdramaticart。

Withincomparativelyafewyears，thedramaticworksofShaw，Pinero，Galsworthy，RannKennedy，havecarriedradicalthoughttotheearsformerlydeafeventoGreatBritain’swondrouspoets。ThusapublicwhichwillremainindifferentreadinganessaybyRobertOwen，onPoverty，orignoreBernardShaw’sSocialistictracts，wasmadetothinkbyMAJORBARBARA，whereinpovertyisdescribedasthegreatestcrimeofChristiancivilization。"Povertymakespeopleweak，slavish，puny；povertycreatesdisease，crime，prostitution；infine，povertyisresponsibleforalltheillsandevilsoftheworld。"

Povertyalsonecessitatesdependency，charitableorganizations，institutionsthatthriveofftheverythingtheyaretryingtodestroy。TheSalvationArmy，forinstance，asshowninMAJOR

BARBARA，fightsdrunkenness；yetoneofitsgreatestcontributorsisBadger，awhiskeydistiller，whofurnishesyearlythousandsofpoundstodoawaywiththeverysourceofhiswealth。BernardShaw，therefore，concludesthattheonlyrealbenefactorofsocietyisamanlikeUndershaft，Barbara’sfather，acannonmanufacturer，whosetheoryoflifeisthatpowderisstrongerthanwords。

"Theworstofcrimes，"saysUndershaft，"ispoverty。Alltheothercrimesarevirtuesbesideit；alltheotherdishonorsarechivalryitselfbycomparison。Povertyblightswholecities；spreadshorriblepestilences；strikesdeadtheverysoulofallwhocomewithinsight，sound，orsmellofit。Whatyoucallcrimeisnothing；amurderhere，atheftthere，ablownowandacursethere:whatdotheymatter？Theyareonlytheaccidentsandillnessesoflife；therearenotfiftygenuineprofessionalcriminalsinLondon。Buttherearemillionsofpoorpeople，abjectpeople，dirtypeople，ill-fed，ill-clothedpeople。Theypoisonusmorallyandphysically；theykillthehappinessofsociety；theyforceustodoawaywithourownlibertiesandtoorganizeunnaturalcrueltiesforfeartheyshouldriseagainstusanddragusdownintotheirabyss……Povertyandslaveryhavestoodupforcenturiestoyoursermonsandleadingarticles；theywillnotstanduptomymachineguns。Don’tpreachatthem；don’treasonwiththem。Killthem……Itisthefinaltestofconviction，theonlyleverstrongenoughtooverturnasocialsystem……Vote！Bah！Whenyouvote，youonlychangethenameofthecabinet。Whenyoushoot，youpulldowngovernments，inauguratenewepochs，abolisholdorders，andsetupnew。"

NowonderpeoplecaredlittletoreadMr。Shaw’sSocialistictracts。

Innootherwaybutinthedramacouldhedeliversuchforcible，historictruths。AndthereforeitisonlythroughthedramathatMr。

Shawisarevolutionaryfactorinthedisseminationofradicalideas。

AfterHauptmann’sDIEWEBER，STRIFE，byGalsworthy，isthemostimportantlabordrama。

ThethemeofSTRIFEisastrikewithtwodominantfactors:Anthony，thepresidentofthecompany，rigid，uncompromising，unwillingtomaketheslightestconcession，althoughthemenheldoutformonthsandareinaconditionofsemi-starvation；andDavidRoberts，anuncompromisingrevolutionist，whosedevotiontotheworkingmanandthecauseoffreedomisatwhiteheat。Betweenthemthestrikersarewornandwearywiththeterriblestruggle，andareharassedanddrivenbytheawfulsightofpovertyandwantintheirfamilies。

ThemostmarvellousandbrilliantpieceofworkinSTRIFEisGalsworthy’sportrayalofthemob，itsfickleness，andlackofbackbone。OnemomenttheyapplaudoldThomas，whospeaksofthepowerofGodandreligionandadmonishesthemenagainstrebellion；

thenextinstanttheyarecarriedawaybyawalkingdelegate，whopleadsthecauseoftheunion，——theunionthatalwaysstandsforcompromise，andwhichforsakestheworkingmenwhenevertheydaretostrikeforindependentdemands；againtheyareaglowwiththeearnestness，thespirit，andtheintensityofDavidRoberts——allthesepeoplewillingtogoinwhateverdirectionthewindblows。Itisthecurseoftheworkingclassthattheyalwaysfollowlikesheepledtoslaughter。

Consistencyisthegreatestcrimeofourcommercialage。Nomatterhowintensethespiritorhowimportanttheman，themomenthewillnotallowhimselftobeusedorsellhisprinciples，heisthrownonthedustheap。Suchwasthefateofthepresidentofthecompany，Anthony，andofDavidRoberts。Tobesuretheyrepresentedoppositepoles——polesantagonistictoeachother，polesdividedbyaterriblegapthatcanneverbebridgedover。Yettheysharedacommonfate。

Anthonyistheembodimentofconservatism，ofoldideas，ofironmethods:

"Ihavebeenchairmanofthiscompanythirty-twoyears。Ihavefoughtthemenfourtimes。Ihaveneverbeendefeated。Ithasbeensaidthattimeshavechanged。Iftheyhave，Ihavenotchangedwiththem。Ithasbeensaidthatmastersandmenareequal。Cant。Therecanbeonlyonemasterinahouse。IthasbeensaidthatCapitalandLaborhavethesameinterests。Cant。Theirinterestsareaswideasunderasthepoles。Thereisonlyonewayoftreatingmen——withtheironrod。Mastersaremasters。Menaremen。"

Wemaynotlikethisadherencetoold，reactionarynotions，andyetthereissomethingadmirableinthecourageandconsistencyofthisman，norishehalfasdangeroustotheinterestsoftheoppressed，asoursentimentalandsoftreformerswhorobwithninefingers，andgivelibrarieswiththetenth；whogrindhumanbeingslikeRussellSage，andthenspendmillionsofdollarsinsocialresearchwork；whoturnbeautifulyoungplantsintofadedoldwomen，andthengivethemafewpaltrydollarsorfoundaHomeforWorkingGirls。Anthonyisaworthyfoe；andtofightsuchafoe，onemustlearntomeethiminopenbattle。

DavidRobertshasallthementalandmoralattributesofhisadversary，coupledwiththespiritofrevolt，andthedepthofmodernideas。He，too，isconsistent，andwantsnothingforhisclassshortofcompletevictory。

"Itisnotforthislittlemomentoftimewearefighting，notforourownlittlebodiesandtheirwarmth；itisforallthosewhocomeafter，foralltimes。Oh，men，fortheloveofthemdon’tturnupanotherstoneontheirheads，don’thelptoblackenthesky。Ifwecanshakethatwhite-facedmonsterwiththebloodylipsthathassuckedthelivesoutofourselves，ourwives，andchildren，sincetheworldbegan，ifwehavenottheheartsofmentostandagainstit，breasttobreastandeyetoeye，andforceitbackwardtillitcryformercy，itwillgoonsuckinglife，andweshallstayforeverwhereweare，lessthantheverydogs。"

Itisinevitablethatcompromiseandpettyinterestshouldpassonandleavetwosuchgiantsbehind。Inevitable，untilthemasswillreachthestatureofaDavidRoberts。Willitever？Prophecyisnotthevocationofthedramatist，yetthemorallessonisevident。Onecannothelprealizingthattheworkingmenwillhavetousemethodshithertounfamiliartothem；thattheywillhavetodiscardallthoseelementsintheirmidstthatareforeverreadytoreconciletheirreconcilable，namelyCapitalandLabor。TheywillhavetolearnthatcharacterslikeDavidRobertsaretheveryforcesthathaverevolutionizedtheworldandthuspavedthewayforemancipationoutoftheclutchesofthat"white-facedmonsterwithbloodylips，"

towardsabrighterhorizon，afreerlife，andadeeperrecognitionofhumanvalues。

Nosubjectofequalsocialimporthasreceivedsuchextensiveconsiderationwithinthelastfewyearsasthequestionofprisonandpunishment。

Hardlyanymagazineofconsequencethathasnotdevoteditscolumnstothediscussionofthisvitaltheme。Anumberofbooksbyablewriters，bothinAmericaandabroad，havediscussedthistopicfromthehistoric，psychologic，andsocialstandpoint，allagreeingthatpresentpenalinstitutionsandourmodeofcopingwithcrimehaveineveryrespectprovedinadequateaswellaswasteful。Onewouldexpectthatsomethingveryradicalshouldresultfromthecumulativeliteraryindictmentofthesocialcrimesperpetratedupontheprisoner。Yetwiththeexceptionofafewminorandcomparativelyinsignificantreformsinsomeofourprisons，absolutelynothinghasbeenaccomplished。ButatlastthisgravesocialwronghasfounddramaticinterpretationinGalworthy’sJUSTICE。

TheplayopensintheofficeofJamesHowandSons，Solicitors。Theseniorclerk，RobertCokeson，discoversthatacheckhehadissuedforninepoundshasbeenforgedtoninety。Byelimination，suspicionfallsuponWilliamFalder，thejuniorofficeclerk。Thelatterisinlovewithamarriedwoman，theabused，ill-treatedwifeofabrutaldrunkard。Pressedbyhisemployer，asevereyetnotunkindlyman，Falderconfessestheforgery，pleadingthedirenecessityofhissweetheart，RuthHoneywill，withwhomhehadplannedtoescapetosaveherfromtheunbearablebrutalityofherhusband。

NotwithstandingtheentreatiesofyoungWalter，whoistouchedbymodernideas，hisfather，amoralandlaw-respectingcitizen，turnsFalderovertothepolice。

Thesecondact，inthecourt-room，showsJusticeintheveryprocessofmanufacture。ThesceneequalsindramaticpowerandpsychologicveritythegreatcourtsceneinRESURRECTION。YoungFalder，anervousandratherweaklyyouthoftwenty-three，standsbeforethebar。Ruth，hismarriedsweetheart，fullofloveanddevotion，burnswithanxietytosavetheyoungmanwhoseaffectionbroughtabouthispresentpredicament。TheyoungmanisdefendedbyLawyerFrome，whosespeechtothejuryisamasterpieceofdeepsocialphilosophywreathedwiththetendrilsofhumanunderstandingandsympathy。HedoesnotattempttodisputethemerefactofFalderhavingalteredthecheck；andthoughhepleadstemporaryaberrationindefenseofhisclient，thatpleaisbaseduponasocialconsciousnessasdeepandall-embracingastherootsofoursocialills——"thebackgroundoflife，thatpalpitatinglifewhichalwaysliesbehindthecommissionofacrime。"HeshowsFaldertohavefacedthealternativeofseeingthebelovedwomanmurderedbyherbrutalhusband，whomshecannotdivorce；oroftakingthelawintohisownhands。Thedefencepleadswiththejurynottoturntheweakyoungmanintoacriminalbycondemninghimtoprison，for"justiceisamachinethat，whensomeonehasgivenitastartingpush，rollsonofitself……Isthisyoungmantobegroundtopiecesunderthismachineforanactwhich，attheworst，wasoneofweakness？Ishetobecomeamemberofthelucklesscrewsthatmanthosedark，ill-starredshipscalledprisons？……Iurgeyou，gentlemen，donotruinthisyoungman。

Forasaresultofthosefourminutes，ruin，utterandirretrievable，stareshimintheface……TherollingofthechariotwheelsofJusticeoverthisboybeganwhenitwasdecidedtoprosecutehim。"

ButthechariotofJusticerollsmercilesslyon，for——asthelearnedJudgesays——"thelawiswhatitis——amajesticedifice，shelteringallofus，eachstoneofwhichrestsonanother。"

Falderissentencedtothreeyears’penalservitude。

Inprison，theyoung，inexperiencedconvictsoonfindshimselfthevictimoftheterrible"system。"TheauthoritiesadmitthatyoungFalderismentallyandphysically"inbadshape，"butnothingcanbedoneinthematter:manyothersareinasimilarposition，and"thequartersareinadequate。"

Thethirdsceneofthethirdactisheart-grippinginitssilentforce。Thewholesceneisapantomime，takingplaceinFalder’sprisoncell。

"Infast-fallingdaylight，Falder，inhisstockings，isseenstandingmotionless，withhisheadinclinedtowardsthedoor，listening。Hemovesalittleclosertothedoor，hisstockingedfeetmakingnonoise。Hestopsatthedoor。Heistryingharderandhardertohearsomething，anylittlethingthatisgoingonoutside。Hespringssuddenlyupright——asifatasound——andremainsperfectlymotionless。

Then，withaheavysigh，hemovestohiswork，andstandslookingatit，withhisheaddown；hedoesastitchortwo，havingtheairofamansolostinsadnessthateachstitchis，asitwere，acomingtolife。Then，turningabruptly，hebeginspacinghiscell，movinghishead，likeananimalpacingitscage。Hestopsagainatthedoor，listens，and，placingthepalmsofhishandsagainstitwithhisfingersspreadout，leanshisforeheadagainsttheiron。Turningfromit，presently，hemovesslowlybacktowardsthewindow，holdinghishead，asifhefeltthatitweregoingtoburst，andstopsunderthewindow。Butsincehecannotseeoutofitheleavesofflooking，and，pickingupthelidofoneofthetins，peersintoit，asiftryingtomakeacompanionofhisownface。Ithasgrownverynearlydark。Suddenlythelidfallsoutofhishandwithaclatter——theonlysoundthathasbrokenthesilence——andhestandsstaringintentlyatthewallwherethestuffoftheshirtishangingratherwhiteinthedarkness——heseemstobeseeingsomebodyorsomethingthere。Thereisasharptapandclick；thecelllightbehindtheglassscreenhasbeenturnedup。Thecellisbrightlylighted。

Falderisseengaspingforbreath。

Asoundfromfaraway，asofdistant，dullbeatingonthickmetal，issuddenlyaudible。Faldershrinksback，notabletobearthissuddenclamor。Butthesoundgrows，asthoughsomegreattumbrilwererollingtowardsthecell。Andgraduallyitseemstohypnotizehim。

Hebeginscreepinginchbyinchnearertothedoor。Thebangingsound，travelingfromcelltocell，drawscloserandcloser；Falder’shandsareseenmovingasifhisspirithadalreadyjoinedinthisbeating，andthesoundswellstillitseemstohaveenteredtheverycell。Hesuddenlyraiseshisclenchedfists。Pantingviolently，heflingshimselfathisdoor，andbeatsonit。"

FinallyFalderleavestheprison，abrokenticket-of-leaveman，thestampoftheconvictuponhisbrow，theironofmiseryinhissoul。

ThankstoRuth’spleading，thefirmofJamesHowandSoniswillingtotakeFalderbackintheiremploy，onconditionthathegiveupRuth。ItisthenthatFalderlearnstheawfulnewsthatthewomanheloveshadbeendrivenbythemercilesseconomicMolochtosellherself。She"triedmakingskirts……cheapthings……Inevermademorethantenshillingsaweek，buyingmyowncotton，andworkingallday。Ihardlyevergottobedtillpasttwelve……

Andthen……myemployerhappened——he’shappenedeversince。"Atthisterriblepsychologicmomentthepoliceappeartodraghimbacktoprisonforfailingtoreporthimselfasticket-of-leaveman。

Completelyoverwhelmedbytheinexorabilityofhisenvironment，youngFalderseeksandfindspeace，greaterthanhumanjustice，bythrowinghimselfdowntodeath，asthedetectivesaretakinghimbacktoprison。

Itwouldbeimpossibletoestimatetheeffectproducedbythisplay。

PerhapssomeconceptioncanbegainedfromtheveryunusualcircumstancethatithadprovedsopowerfulastoinducetheHomeSecretaryofGreatBritaintoundertakeextensiveprisonreformsinEngland。Averyencouragingsignthis，oftheinfluenceexertedbythemoderndrama。ItistobehopedthatthethunderingindictmentofMr。GalsworthywillnotremainwithoutsimilareffectuponthepublicsentimentandprisonconditionsofAmerica。Atanyrate，itiscertainthatnoothermodernplayhasbornesuchdirectandimmediatefruitinwakeningthesocialconscience。

Anothermodernplay，THESERVANTINTHEHOUSE，strikesavitalkeyinoursociallife。TheheroofMr。Kennedy’smasterpieceisRobert，acoarse，filthydrunkard，whomrespectablesocietyhasrepudiated。

Robert，thesewercleaner，istherealherooftheplay；nay，itstrueandonlysavior。Itishewhovolunteerstogodownintothedangeroussewer，sothathiscomrades"can’avelightandair。"

Afterall，hashenotsacrificedhislifealways，sothatothersmayhavelightandair？

Thethoughtthatlaboristheredeemerofsocialwell-beinghasbeencriedfromthehousetopsineverytongueandeveryclime。YetthesimplewordsofRobertexpressthesignificanceoflaboranditsmissionwithfargreaterpotency。

Americaisstillinitsdramaticinfancy。Mostoftheattemptsalongthislinetomirrorlife，havebeenwretchedfailures。Still，therearehopefulsignsintheattitudeoftheintelligentpublictowardmodernplays，eveniftheybefromforeignsoil。

TheonlyrealdramaAmericahassofarproducedisTHEEASIESTWAY，byEugeneWalter。

Itissupposedtorepresenta"peculiarphase"ofNewYorklife。Ifthatwereall，itwouldbeofminorsignificance。Thatwhichgivestheplayitsrealimportanceandvalueliesmuchdeeper。Itlies，first，inthefundamentalcurrentofoursocialfabricwhichdrivesusall，evenstrongercharactersthanLaura，intotheeasiestway——awaysoverydestructiveofintegrity，truth，andjustice。Secondly，thecruel，senselessfatalismconditionedinLaura’ssex。Thesetwofeaturesputtheuniversalstampupontheplay，andcharacterizeitasoneofthestrongestdramaticindictmentsagainstsociety。

Thecriminalwasteofhumanenergy，ineconomicandsocialconditions，drivesLauraasitdrivestheaveragegirltomarryanymanfora"home"；orasitdrivesmentoenduretheworstindignitiesforamiserablepittance。

Thenthereisthatotherrespectableinstitution，thefatalismofLaura’ssex。Theinevitabilityofthatforceissummedupinthefollowingwords:"Don’tyouknowthatwecountnomoreinthelifeofthesementhantamedanimals？It’sagame，andifwedon’tplayourcardswell，welose。"Womaninthebattlewithlifehasbutoneweapon，onecommodity——sex。Thataloneservesasatrumpcardinthegameoflife。

Thisblindfatalismhasmadeofwomanaparasite，aninertthing。

WhythenexpectperseveranceorenergyofLaura？Theeasiestwayisthepathmappedoutforherfromtimeimmemorial。Shecouldfollownoother。

Anumberofotherplayscouldbequotedascharacteristicofthegrowingroleofthedramaasadisseminatorofradicalthought。

SufficetomentionTHETHIRDDEGREE，byCharlesKlein；THEFOURTH

ESTATE，byMedillPatterson；AMAN’SWORLD，byIdaCroutchers，——allpointingtothedawnofdramaticartinAmerica，anartwhichisdiscoveringtothepeopletheterriblediseasesofoursocialbody。

Ithasbeensaidofold，allroadsleadtoRome。Inparaphrasedapplicationtothetendenciesofourday，itmaytrulybesaidthatallroadsleadtothegreatsocialreconstruction。Theeconomicawakeningoftheworkingman，andhisrealizationofthenecessityforconcertedindustrialaction；thetendenciesofmoderneducation，especiallyintheirapplicationtothefreedevelopmentofthechild；

thespiritofgrowingunrestexpressedthrough，andcultivatedby，artandliterature，allpavethewaytotheOpenRoad。Aboveall，themoderndrama，operatingthroughthedoublechannelofdramatistandinterpreter，affectingasitdoesbothmindandheart，isthestrongestforceindevelopingsocialdiscontent，swellingthepowerfultideofunrestthatsweepsonwardandoverthedamofignorance，prejudice，andsuperstition。

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