Price, 15 Cents ©\ 0^^^'\^ FOR LIBERTY'S SAKE A PATRIOTIC PLAY By Stanley M. Rowland MARCH BROTHERS, Publishers 208, 210, 212 Wright Ave., Lebanon, Ohio No Entertainments Exchanged No Entert( inments Sent on Selection or Subject to Return For Liberty's Sake By Stanley M. Rowland fsT/t March Brothers Publishers 208, 210, 212 Wright Avenue, Lebanon, Ohio ^A^' ^'V- Copyright, 1918, By March Brothers iClD 5 03-'" SEP I i 1918 CHARACTERS Charles Gray. Mrs. Gray. Jack Gray, their son Nellie Gray, their daughter. Howard Chase, Jack's chum. Gene Fisher, an enhsted soldier. Ruth Sherrod, a Red Cross nurse. Democracy, \ Liberty, V Spirits. Peace, / For Liberty's Sake ACT I. "Everywhere in America." [An ordinary interior. Table at center around which are seated Charles Gray, Mrs. Gray and their son Jack. Mr. Gray reading, Mrs. Gray sewing or knitting, and Jack reading a news- paper. Jack drops the paper and opens the con- versation.] Jack: Well, father, I see where Uncle Sam is urging men to enlist for service in France, and it also says that after a certain date no man sub- ject to draft can enlist. It is more than likely that I shall have to go as a drafted man, and I would rather enlist. Mr. Gray [dropping paper] : Well, Jack, I am glad to know you have the spirit of a fighter when fighting is necessary, but still, I would not rush hastily into the conflict. There is time enough yet and who knows but that our linger- ing hopes of peace will be realized before your call will come. Jack : But some of our boys must go, father, as quickly as they can, to fill the vacant places 6 FOR LIBERTY S SAKE in the lines of our allies, for France has already bled until she is white and England is looking westward across the sea for the help that must soon come. Mrs. Gray : Jack, why is it that you are con- tinually bringing up this war question? I hate war and the people who engage in it, and only broken homes and blasted hopes and bitter tears follow in its wake. No good can come out of such an evil. Why should you risk your life because the evil designs of a ruler of Europe have plunged almost the whole world in war? Be still and get this fighting notion out of your head. Jack : I hate war also mother, as every sane person should, and God hasten the day when wars shall be no more. But yet, we have not reached the haven of a lasting peace and from time to time there are great principles at stake that still call for a human sacrifice to the God of war. Mrs. Gray: Well, I have no patience with civilized nations that ought to know better, jump- ing at each other's throats like wild animals, just because some iron-heeled monarch wills it so. People ought to have more sense. Jack : It is not the fact that we haven't sense enough, mother, but that we allow sin and greed to so stifle our better selves that we do not do those things which a better judgment would dictate. FOR liberty's sake 7 Mrs. Gray : Suppose you and Howard Chase were to quarrel on the street and began striking each other. Why, the pohce would arrest you in five minutes and you would be called to ac- count for the offense. But these nations go on killing and destroying with no power, apparently, that can stop them. Jack : But nations as well as men will some- where and sometime be called to account for the deeds done in the body, and the nation that is not founded on liberty and honor must perish from the earth. But you mention Howard's name, mother, and I had intended to tell you that he will enlist in the field artillery on next Thurs- day if they will accept him. Mr. Gray: What's that? Howard going to enlist? Are you sure, Jack? Jack: Yes, quite sure. He told sister Nell last night and today he asked me to go with him. Mr. Gray : Well, I am not greatly surprised. Howard's father fought with me at San Juan Hill and came back with one coat sleeve empty, but not regretting the sacrifice. Howard is of the self-same stuff. Jack : Yes, mother, you remember that when President McKinley called for volunteers father was one of the first to go, and I am sure you are not sorry now that he helped a little, at least, in bringing the freedom of the Stars and Stripes to the down-trodden people of Cuba. Why 8 FOR, liberty's sake should I not just as quickly hear the call of the oppressed today and be just as willing to battle for liberty's sake? Mrs. Gray : The two calls are not alike. Cuba was a part of our own western world, and natur- ally looked to us for protection. But this war does not concern us — it belongs to Europe. Mr. Gray: I am afraid a mother's love for her boy somewhat obscures her vision of things that may demand his sacrifice. But we must remember that today humanity is a great common brotherhood and that we are our brother's keeper whether that brother be in America or in Europe, or in the faraway isles of the sea. Mrs. Gray : Oh, of course, it's no use to talk to you men about war. Woman's part is to quiet- ly submit and bear the awful burdens of a silent grief. I am older now and had hoped that I might never see another war, but that hope now lies in shattered ruins. Suppose this war is fought to a successful finish as you say and that you play a part in the awful game, Jack. Could all the success that might come to all the great allied powers of the world compensate me for the loss of a son if you should fall while fight- ing? No, Jack, stay here and bide your time. Jack: But, mother, if Howard goes ought I be any less a man than he is? Mrs. Gray: No, Jack, not less a man, but perhaps a trifle less of a fighter. It is not neces- FOR LIBERTY S SAKE 9 sary, my son, to be on the field of battle to prove your manhood. As to Howard's enlisting, I don't believe he will go. Jack [rising and zvalking over to window] : I should be only too glad to prove my manhood in other ways than in war, but when the battle is raging then my proving ground is out there where the call is the loudest. [Looks out win- dow.] Howard is coming now. He can speak for himself. [Enter Howard and Nell. General greeting.] Mr. Gray : Well, Howard, Jack tells us that you are thinking some of enlisting in the artillery. Of course we hate to think of your going, but then your father was a fighter before you. Howard : Yes, Mr. Gray, I should count my- self a coward to hesitate to enlist in a cause even more righteous than that in which my father en- listed. I shall take the examination Thursday and shall report at once for duty. Nellie: Oh, I think that's great, mother, don't you? Of course we hate to see him go, but just think how manly it is to be a soldier and fight for the flag we love. Mrs. Gray: Yes, that is just a thoughtless girl's notion of war. Caught by the flash of uni- forms and muskets you forget the real side of it. Suppose he should not come back? Nellie: Oh, mother, you mustn't think of that ; but still we know that somebody's boys will 10 FOR liberty's sake not come back. But we shall ever cherish their memory as a sacred heritage won for us by the heroes of war. Mrs. Gray : Those words sound nice, of course, and maybe all of us would like to be heroes, but we don't particularly like that way of winning the title. I would rather be a living hero of peace than a dead hero of war. Howard: But, Mrs. Gray, our country is now in war and for the time, at least, we must play the game of war whether we like it or not. When this dreadful struggle is over, perhaps we can all then be true heroes of peace. Nellie: We must remember, mother, that heroes of peace are possible because of heroes of war. Those of us who have enjoyed the long periods of peace in our own country must never forget that that peace was secured at a terrible sacrifice. We are insolvent debtors to those who fought and died and to those who fought and lived at Bunker Hill and Saratoga and Antietam and Gettysburg. Now it is our turn to fight in order that peace may become universal and more lasting. Oh, I wish I were a man ! Mrs. Gray : Well, at times like these I almost wish I was a man, too, for I sometimes think it would be easier to be out on the battle line than to be at home watching and waiting. Mr. Gray: Jack, has also told us that you have talked the matter over together, and he now FOR liberty's SAKE 11 awaits his mother's consent to enlist with you. Much as I love him, I love this old flag- [pointing to American ^ag] the more. Every stripe and every star in its silken folds speak with the pa- triot voices of the past and for such a flag no sacrifice can be too great. Fight for it to the last ditch, for it has always floated over fields of battle where liberty and democracy were at stake. May God bless you, boys, and keep you under the shadow of his wing. Jack : Well, mother, I wish you might feel as father does about my going, but I am sure you will no longer forbid me, even though you may not willingly consent. Mrs. Gray: I do not wish to be counted as one who does not love the country of their birth, but to oft'er my boy as a sacrifice upon the unholy altar of war, I never can consent to that. If you go, a mother's love and a mother's blessing will follow you to the ends of the earth. Further than that, God must be my judge. [Mrs. Gray breaks dozun and weeps.] Mr. Gray: A mother's love is too strong for her to say go, but her heart is beating with ours. [Puts his hands on Jack's and Howard's shoul- ders.] Go, and we bid you God-speed as we pledge our allegiance to the flag we love. [Mrs. Gray remains zveeping. Others stand at salute and repeat the pledge.] 12 FOR liberty's sake All : "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands. One nation indi- visible, with liberty and justice to all." [curtain.] ACT 11. "Somewhere in France." [American soldiers in camp. A tent zuith arms stacked at back of stage. Camp-fire dimly burn- ing. Howard Chase and Gene Fisher on sen- try duty at camp. They are seated on boxes at opposite sides of the stage. Low lights. Low conversation.] Howard: Well, Gene, I have no trouble in keeping awake tonight. This was a terrible day for the 36th. Almost half our number are lying out there tonight far away from home and friends and on a foreign shore. Our boys followed the flag into the thickest of the fight and many of them never came out of it. My God ! but war is a fearful thing, and to think that civilized men will engage in it ! Gene: Yes, Howard, we must at least hope that some day it will be over forever and that this terrible struggle in which we are now engaged is helping to hasten that glorious day. We are here to slay and to kill, and yet I have a horror to- night lest my hand should bear the stain of blood of even one who has fallen on the other side today. FOR liberty's sake 13 Howard : Memories come crowding in upon my frenzied brain tonight, until I am almost be- side myself. I am thinking of a home across the sea where a father and mother and sister are anxiously waiting for one who will never return. And that is only one of millions of homes where the long hours of painful silence will be rudely broken by a glance at the list of the dead. I would not for all the world be one who is in any way responsible for such heart breaks, but if they needs must come then I will fight on to hasten the time when they shall be no more. I think even now I can hear the voices of the dead from over the field of battle out yonder. They seem to call to us and urge us onward, ever onward. Gene : I can not conceive of the dead having voices, but there is some mysterious something that seems to tell us that we must not give up the cause for which they have given the last full measure of devotion. It must be still onward for liberty's sake. Howard: Six brave fellows manned the gun with me this morning. Tonight only two an- swered roll-call. The others are out there under the stars and Jack Gray among them. A better or braver lad never fought than Jack. He went down in the thick of the fight and only after he was wounded for the third time. Just as we shifted our position to the ridge beyond the woods he raised himself feebly and motioned to me as if he had some message to tell. It broke my 14 FOR liberty's sake heart to turn away, but I was still playing the game of war and couldn't turn back. Gene : He will doubtless be cared for tonight by the ambulance corps, although they are almost worked to death. Some of these nurses are go- ing day and night with scarce an hour of sleep and are bringing relief to friend and foe alike. Howard: Yes, strange as it may seem, when war has tried its best to tear and mangle, these angels of mercy come along and try to make men' out of what's left. Their work is a work of mercy and love. Gene : It seems so strange, Jack, that in spite of all the evil and wrong in the world, there is still so much of good and righteousness. God has intended that some day the good will conquer and that everyone shall live to help his fellow man. Hark ! I hear a sound. Someone is ap- proaching. [Both rise.] Howard: They are coming from the direc- tion of the hospital, but it seems strange at this late hour. Gene: Halt! Who comes there? A Voice Outside: "A friend — Ruth Sher- rod of the Red Cross." Gene: Advance, friend. [Ruth Sherrod enters.] Howard: You are out from camp late to- night, but doubtless you have found many calls after the deadly work of today. FOR liberty's sake 15 Ruth : Yes, our field hospital is full to over- flowing, but we are doing the best we can until more help comes. I am on my way now to a tent where many are lying sorely wounded. We have no time for needed rest, for one can not rest when such work is to be done. Howard: Perhaps you may have adminis- tered to some of the members of the 36th, for many of them did not come back tonight. Ruth : I remember one fellow especially. Jack Gray was his name. Howard: Did he have any message? Ruth : He begged for a comrade by the name of Chase — Howard Chase. Do you know him ? Howard: I am Howard Chase. Ruth : Then I have a message for you. He was brought in to us too far gone for much relief, and although alert and active mentally, he seemed to know that life was brief for him. He gave me the name and address of his mother and had me promise to write and break the news to her, telling her that he fought to the last ditch for the old flag. He also mentioned the name of his father and a sister Nell. Then there seemed to be something on his mind that he did not want to tell me and he asked for Howard Chase. I told him that I did not know such a person, and besides, it would be impossible to find him while the battle was still on. So he begged me to sometime find Howard Chase and tell him if 16 - FOR liberty's sake God spared him to bear this message to his mother back across the sea: "Tell her," said he, "that I played the game and lost, but that I do not regret the step I took. I do not count my life as much and it is only one of millions that have been sacrificed to this merciless God of war, but rising out of this sacrifice we can now see the sacred figures of democracy and liberty and peace com- ing to rule forever over a reunited world. May her vision of these spirits be so clear that she may feel them ministering to her in place of her boy who will not return. I did what I thought was right and God must be my judge." With the mention of her name he was gone. I trust that God will protect you and allow you to bear thi§ message to the broken-hearted mother waiting over there. Good night. [Taps sound over the camp.] [curtain.] ACT III. "For Liberty's Sake." [Same interior as Act I. Mrs. Gray seated at the table dozing. She soon falls fast asleep. Enter Spirit of Democracy, hearing a Hag zuith the words, ''Equality and Justice.''] Democracy: In the days of old might made right, and he who could oppress his fellow man was looked upon as his natural superior. The great institution of human slavery in all its forms FOR liberty's sake 17 was based upon this belief and for ages thou- sands of people were shackled and chained to the will and desire of others. Gradually in the hearts of men there developed a sentiment that there were certain rights that should be common to all people, weak and strong alike, and that the weak must be sustained in such rights by the power of the strong. In the accomplishment of this end the earth has run red with human blood and the most costly sacrifices have been heaped upon the altar of equality and justice. But from this altar the spirit of democracy has now risen full-fledged and today stands knocking at the very last re- doubts of the iron-heeled monarchs of the world. Down-trodden people of the past are mingling their voices with the liberated hosts of the present to tell us that democracy is the 'cherished hope of man and is precious because of sacrifice. [Exit.] [Enter Spirit of Liberty with American ^ag.] Liberty: I am come to set the captive free, to loose the shackles of the bondmen and to lift down-trodden men into the glorious light of a freedom that is rightly theirs. I am a child of battle, born and nurtured amid the din and roar of musketry, christened with the blood of millions of heroic men and women and dedicated to undy- ing struggle for universal freedom. I have never drawn the sword in a spirit of conquest or re- venge, but in the spirit of defense for the weak where the fight has been one for liberty's sake. Those things we love the most have cost us heav- 18 FOR liberty's sake ily in sacrifice and today people who have known me and have reaped the rich rewards I bring, love me even unto death. The blood of my pro- tectors has enriched many a sacred spot and to- day millions of silent voices cry out to me, ''On- ward — ever onward." [Exit.] [Enter Spirit of Peace bearing white flag.] Peace: Ever since the world began, man has been struggling with man for supremacy, and as the years went on he began to dream of a time when wars should be no more and when peace should reign over the nations of the earth. In this terrible struggle upward the vision of this dream has never vanished, but like a will-o'-the- wisp it has hovered over every battlefield, and thence it has led on and ever on into the distant future. In our efforts to overtake it wreck and ruin have marked our pathway. Countless ranks of brave-hearted men have marched away to do their part in sacrifice to lessen the burden of other men's unrighteousness. Mothers and wives and sisters at home have been bowed down under the burden of a silent grief and have waited and watched for those who never returned. But in all these sacrifices there has been the striving of the human soul to do true and noble deeds of service, and by such deeds the world has been lifted from its selfishness and grief to peace and brotherhood. Such measureless devotion will se- cure for all time governments of the people, by the people and for the people, and will make the welcome cry of the angel again ring true : "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good-will to men." [Exit.] FOR liberty's sake 19 [Mr. Gray, Nell and Howard Chase enter and Mrs. Gray awakes from her sleep.] Mr. Gray : Well, mother, we have been to the station and brought back with us about all that remains of the fighting 36th. Mrs. Gray [greeting Howard heartily] : Thank God, Howard, that you were left to come back to us, for next to Jack we have watched most anxiously for you. Howard : Yes, Mrs. Gray, knew you would be thinking of me, but I have often wished that Jack might have been spared and that I rnight have been left buried in the war-torn soil of France. Mrs. Gray : No, Howard, that was not to be. It is not for us to question God's ways of trying the human heart, but, hard as it may be at times, we must submit ourselves to his guidance. A letter from a Red Cross nurse brought the awful news to us and for a time we reeled and stag- gered under the blow, but by God's help we are still struggling on. Was there any message from him, Howard? Howard: Yes, Mrs. Gray, there was. He fell in the thick of the fight and I was forced to move with our battery, leaving him upon the field. But that night, while we were on guard duty at camp, a Red Cross nurse passed on her errands of mercy and asked for Howard Chase. She was with Jack at the last and after he had 20 FOR liberty's sake asked her to break the news to you, he told her to find Howard Chase and have him bear this word to you : 'Tell her that I played the game and lost, but I do not regret it. I am only one of many to give my life to the God of war that out of this sacrifice democracy and liberty and peace may come to rule over a suffering world. I did what I thought was best for liberty's sake." They buried him with some of his comrades not far from where they fell and I still hold a record of that spot. Mrs. Gray: Perhaps I loved him too much and was selfish when I told him not to go. I couldn't see it any other way then, but somehow, just tonight, I have seen a clearer vision of what it all means. It seemed like a dream to me and there were figures standing before me and I thought I could hear them speaking. These spir- its seemed to rise one by one from an altar on w'hich millions had been sacrificed, and the spirits said that from such as these they sprang and came to bring justice and liberty to all mankind and a righteous peace to a waiting world. Deep as my sorrow is, it is easier now to bear, for I am beginning to see some reason for it. Here, with you, I want to pledge my allegiance to the flag and the country that are now more dear to me than ever before because of sacrifice. [They stand at salute and repeat pledge used at close of Act /.] [curtain.] Best Washington a ^^^ '' ^^^^''^^^ Entertalnmc 016 103 834 9 WASHINGTON CELEBRATION AT IlIVEKSID while Recitations. Dialogs, Soiijis. Cliaraues, M HOW TO CELEBRATE. DoUkIiHuI iirugrain.s ioi holidays, birthdays, etc. I'ractical and satisf actor.\ . i..i.^.r .,. ^- THE SONG OF THE HATCHET. Very popular new song. Words spicy and wittv music saucv and sympathetic. Solo or chorus; a hit. Sheet music. 25c. THE HEIR OF MT. VERNON. Colonial play. Washington's sterling manhood and courtesy portrayed ; Christmas eve in rare old plantation style. 25t'. WAVE OLD 'glory. A patriotic song with rousing chorus. A splendid march- ing song. For any number. Sheet music. 25c'. TWO CRUSTY LITTLE PIES. Why tlie pies were crusty. An attraction for Washington Birthday exercises. Solo, duet or chorus. Sheet music. 25c. FIN DE SIECLE WASHINGTON'S BIKJ HDAY EXERCISES. Historical Tab- leaux Flag Drill, etc. Recitations, Dialogs. Songs, Exercises. All ages. 15c, THE WASHINGTON Gl ARDS AND LADIES OF HONOR. Unique operatic drill. Introduces George and Martha, Guards and Ladies. Fine. HATCHET MARCH AND DRILL. Spectacular : diagrams and given. Verv effective and pleasing. 16 or 24 boys. 15c. FIN DE SIECLE LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY EXERCISES. Lincoln's epigrams, anecdotes, speeches, etc.. songs, recitations, dialogs. All grades. 15c. MASTER GEORGE WASHINGTON: HIS SIX'i'H BIRTHDAY PARTY. I'lay for little folk. Delightful children's party in the boy \\ ash ington s home. 15c. TH^T BOY GEOR