D 
 
 MARS' MASTER 
 
 A Classical Exposition of Material Influences 
 that Caused the European War 
 
 By bob ROGERS 
 
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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
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 ''The voice of Humanity addresses thee in 
 pain and protest." 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 A Classical Exposition of Material Influences 
 that Caused the European War 
 
 By bob ROGERS 
 
 1916 
 John P. Morton & Company 
 
 INCORPORATED 
 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 
 

 Copyright, 1916 
 
 BY 
 
 ROBERT C. ROGERS 
 
 ^1. 
 
 AUG iO 1916 
 
 r 
 
 ©CU4a8003 
 
TO MY SON 
 
 MILTON B. 
 
EXPLANATOEY 
 
 Finding a particular grain of 
 sand in the desert without any 
 identifying mark or description, 
 were a kindergarten problem 
 against the task of getting at the 
 real truth about the cause of 
 the frightful war now raging in 
 Europe, for students and thinking 
 men know full well that the most 
 skilled writers, the greatest ana- 
 lysts, philos'ophers and mathema- 
 ticians in the nations involved in 
 the conflict — and this includes 
 noted statesmen and in not a few 
 instances heads of governments — 
 are laboring industriously in their 
 literary pursuits to conceal the evi- 
 dence of a crime against civilization 
 7 
 
EXPLANATORY 
 
 which, stands without a parallel in 
 the history of the world. 
 
 Since the first mobilization orders 
 went forth to electrify the sleeping 
 armies of Europe and rouse them 
 into action, the belligerent powers 
 repeatedly have accused each other, 
 officially and unofficially, of pre- 
 cipitating the war. Charges and 
 countercharges have been hurled 
 back and forth over the heads of 
 frenzied millions on the fields of 
 battle. The lie has been passed 
 across international boundaries 
 countless times, while deliberate 
 attempts have been made by re- 
 spected men of learning, aiming to 
 create unified sentiment, to fool the 
 gullible masses with theories they 
 knew to be false. 
 8 
 
EXPLANATORY 
 
 Specifically, a noted educator 
 identified with one of the great 
 universities in Berlin, published it 
 as his own belief that war is 
 natural, therefore inevitable, and 
 according to the law of change as 
 it was explained by the late Charles 
 Darwin. A professor of equal 
 prominence in one of the great 
 English colleges, denounced this 
 statement in terms that could not 
 be misunderstood while the help- 
 less people stood by and wondered 
 which was right. 
 
 Again, the German Imperial 
 Government declared that the Ger- 
 man soldiery found papers in 
 Belgium proving a secret treaty 
 between that country and England; 
 the point being made that Belgium 
 
EXPLANATOEY 
 
 actually sold out lier neutrality 
 long before the commanders of 
 Teuton legions demanded an open 
 road through the town of Liege. 
 England's masterfully worded re- 
 ply to this charge was a denial, of 
 course, and once more the public 
 mind was led astray. 
 
 The reason for this war of words 
 is quite obvious to those whose 
 method of finding solutions to 
 problems begins with a study of 
 motives: The different countries 
 realize that they are facing the 
 dreaded period of reconstruction 
 {almost as nerve-racking in its 
 effect upon a nation as ivar itself) 
 ivhen public opinion must decide 
 whatever advantage one country 
 shall have over another in the 
 
 10 
 
EXPLANATORY 
 
 matter of good ivill. Explicitly the 
 nation that emerges from the 
 hedlamism of battle in victory or 
 defeat, it matters not ivhich, ivith 
 the favor and friendship of the rest 
 of the ivorld, ivill have this strong 
 and encouraging sentiment as an 
 influence to future progress. 
 
 So let lis realize the fact that all 
 the powers in Europe covet the 
 friendship and co-operation of all 
 the neutrals in the coming years. 
 Without it there can be no industrial 
 development in any one country in 
 Europe to insure the permanency 
 of Grovernment, continuation of 
 character, personality, national 
 ideals, advancement in education 
 and all things else. The value of 
 this friendship of the neutrals can- 
 11 
 
EXPLANATORY 
 
 not be estimated in figures or 
 words, but it is great enough for 
 the nations of Europe to assign 
 their best talent to compete for its 
 capture. 
 
 With so many men of world- 
 prominence debating with each 
 other on the cause of the war, it 
 may seem presumptuous if not 
 audacious on my part to write on 
 the same subject. But even if it 
 does appear that I am matching 
 my poor talents against those of 
 greater men, it can never be said 
 that I am prejudiced against any 
 race of people, and I feel, therefore, 
 that I am entitled to exoneration 
 on the ground that my motive, to 
 find the truth and nothing else, is 
 an honorable one. 
 
 12 
 
EXPLANATOEY 
 
 I believe that the war in Europe 
 really began many years ago, when 
 those treaties were signed. The 
 first person, or the first group of 
 persons that promoted a contract 
 between three nations, binding them 
 to support each other in a defensive 
 war, created a condition that made 
 war inevitable. After the forma- 
 tion of '^The Triple Entente^' and 
 "The Triple Alliance'* it was only 
 a question of time before an im- 
 petuous deed, like the assassination 
 of Ferdinand and Sophia, would be 
 taken as the signal for military 
 action. 
 
 But still there is another power- 
 ful agency that had much to do 
 with events leading up to the pre- 
 cipitation of the war, and those 
 
EXPLANATOEY 
 
 who would know something about 
 this influence are invited to read 
 this little play to its conclusion, 
 beginning with the understanding 
 that the work was suggested by one 
 of the notes written by Woodrow 
 Wilson, President of the United 
 States, to the German Imperial 
 Government on the Lusitania case 
 in behalf of Humanity. 
 
 The ^'Court of World- 
 Knowledge,'' where the scene 
 is laid, should be interpreted to 
 mean what the world will know 
 when all is said and done. In 
 other words, the interior of the 
 mind of the world is here presented 
 as it will appear in condition when 
 the facts are known. ''History" 
 is the judge on the bench because 
 
 14 
 
EXPLANATORY 
 
 it is History tliat will some day 
 decide who is responsible for the 
 war. ' ^ Hnmanity ' ' is introduced as 
 the prosecuting witness inasmuch 
 as it is Humanity who suffers most. 
 "Christian'' comes into the play, 
 representing Christianity, as the 
 lover of Humanity. In a word, 
 love of Humanity is the first and 
 highest principle of Christianity. 
 Where this sentiment is lacking 
 Christianity does not exist. 
 
 Upon its doubtful and uncertain 
 career I start this little book sus- 
 tained by the knowledge that its 
 contents awakening even so much 
 as some slight moiety of sympathy 
 for Humanity, it has not been in 
 
 vain. 
 
 The Authok. 
 
 15 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 By Bob Rogers 
 
 DRAMATIS PERSONAE 
 
 History Adjudicator 
 
 Humanity Prosecuting Witness 
 
 Fool. 
 
 Commercialism. 
 
 Journalism. 
 
 Intruder An Uncalled Witness 
 
 Christian Humanity's Advocate 
 
 Sce7ie: Court of World-Knowledge. 
 
 Time: At the end of the European War. 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
Mars' Master 
 
 Scene 1: The Court of W odd- 
 Knowledge. In the distance the 
 figure of Justice, blindfolded, and 
 holding out her scales, stands 
 above the earth between the 
 American and European conti- 
 nents. History, turning over 
 papers in ivhich he is deeply 
 interested apparently ivhen Hu- 
 manity, groaning aloud, staggers 
 into the court and falls before 
 the rostrum. Humanity raises 
 her head and in a iveak voice 
 speaks: 
 
 Humanity: 
 
 Most liigh, most miglity, most 
 equitable, and most beneficent 
 History: Humanity lies prostrate 
 before thee pleading for recognition. 
 
 19 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 History: 
 
 Is it come to this! Humanity, 
 trusting, mild and unoffending on 
 bended knee! What cruel fortune's 
 dragged thee down from rightful 
 reign to lowly supplication! Arise, 
 and weep no more. By that bond 
 of sympathy and faith between us, 
 I pledge thee deepest devotion. In 
 the Court of World-Knowledge, 
 where exists no prescribed, tech- 
 nical procedure, thou art welcome. 
 Make known thy slightest will and 
 History is thy minister. 
 
 Humanity : 
 
 Just and generous History, the 
 voice of Humanity addresses thee 
 in pain and protest, moved to 
 
 20 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 speech by heavy and disquieting 
 wounds inflicted by some craven, 
 malevolent and hidden enemy! 
 
 History: 
 
 Ila! Didst thou say '' hidden ene- 
 my f Enemy that strikes from 
 place of concealment. What mortal 
 could be so like the devil to assail 
 our beloved and defenseless Hu- 
 manity! Nay, do not weep, for 
 History will soften thy wounds, 
 expose thy enemy, and redress thy 
 wrongs. Haste me to know the 
 circumstances. 
 
 Humanity: 
 
 It was nearing the close of the 
 summer of 1914. I was happy and 
 content, for the nations 'of the 
 
 21 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 world were at peace with each 
 other, and Gl^od in His heaven 
 showered His blessings with a 
 bounteous hand upon the earth 
 and its toiling millions. The poor 
 cobbler sat in his doorway as the 
 light of the amber sun died out of 
 the sky, singing his song of thanks 
 to the Almighty as he worked and 
 earned sustenance for his little 
 family. The shops were busy; the 
 factories humming with industry; 
 the fields gave forth abundance of 
 her products for all mankind; the 
 flowers never bloomed more fair, 
 and the lark soaring in the meadow, 
 sang a song that was soothing and 
 sweet, when suddenly and without 
 warning, some demon of blackest 
 darkness, with subtle cunning and 
 
 22 
 
MARS^ MASTER 
 
 heartless premeditation let slip the 
 dogs of war, and the roseate 
 picture of calm, freedom, and love, 
 faded into a vista of death and 
 destruction! Germany, England, 
 France, Russia, Austria-Hungary, 
 Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Serbia, all 
 were dragged into the desperate 
 conflict, and amid the shifting 
 seasons, through smiling spring 
 and summer, and winter's snow 
 and ice, rended each other to 
 pieces, and steeped their brutal 
 hands in the blood of Humanity. 
 
 History: 
 
 No more! I pray thee speak no 
 more. Thou griev'st me to the 
 soul where welling springs of 
 
 23 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 sjTupathy, moved by tliy tragic 
 recital, run over mtli tlie scalding 
 tears of sorrow. Tlion wilt name 
 the author of this monstrous 
 crime so History, with the damning 
 evidence, may write it down on the 
 tables of everlasting memory. 
 
 Humanity: 
 
 Nay, I know not who, nor how, nor 
 why. I only know that I heard 
 something about the breaking oif 
 of diplomatic relations, and then 
 the storm of strife broke in all its 
 fury. 
 
 History: 
 
 Thou didst hear of the breaking off 
 of diplomatic relations! Then we 
 will call Diplomacy, from whose 
 
 24 
 
MARS^ MASTER 
 
 lips we'll hear the name of thy 
 foe. Diplomacy, thou are sum- 
 moned to the Court of World- 
 Knowledge. 
 
 [Enter Fool in cap 
 
 and hells singing.] 
 
 ^'At the battle of the Nile, 
 They were fighting all the while — 
 They were fighting all the while, 
 At the battle of the Nile. 
 At the battle of the Nile, 
 They were fighting all the while — 
 They were fighting all the while, 
 At the battle of the Nile.'' 
 
 History: 
 
 What means t thou by this im- 
 pudence! And why dost thou 
 answer to the call for Diplomacy? 
 Thou art not Diplomacy. 
 
 25 
 
MARS^ MASTER 
 Fool: 
 
 Thou art right and wrong, History, 
 and so thy reputation for accuracy 
 is good and bad. No, I am not 
 Diplomacy, but I was Diplomacy 
 until they gave me the name of 
 ^'Fool." See the cap and bells? 
 I^ faith, I like the costume, and 
 the name, too, fits me nicely. 
 
 History: 
 
 Fool, thy presence in the Court 
 of "World-Knowledge shall be of 
 benefit, for one thing thou dost 
 prove that there is something in a 
 name. And so, for the sake of 
 technical accuracy, and according 
 to legal custom, we'll call thee 
 ^'Diplomacy, alias Fool." Diplo- 
 
 26 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 macy alias Fool, to tliy credit tliou 
 didst maintain friendly relations 
 'twixt the Powers of Europe. 
 Thou didst conduct negotiations 
 for the different countries in the 
 summer of 1914, and from thee 
 History would know the cause of 
 the war. 
 
 Fool: 
 
 No more than that? Indeed, His- 
 tory, 'tis as plain as thy ignorance : 
 albeit I will explain as follows: It 
 was some time after the Franco- 
 Prussian War of 1870, that Ger- 
 many, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, 
 through their duly authorized 
 agents, formed what is known as 
 ^'The Triple Alliance." This 
 treaty was the result of an hy- 
 
 27 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 pothetical neoplasm of the con- 
 stitutional rights of the Teutonic 
 and Slavonic unifications. Then 
 England, France, and Russia, 
 anticipating a heterogeneous con- 
 stellation of the equinox, signed a 
 contract along similar lines styled 
 ''The Triple Entente." Under the 
 circumstances described, with three 
 nations on one side, and three on 
 the other, the natural result was 
 administrative confusion through 
 the orthosymmetrical transposition 
 of governmental functions. The 
 negative and positive vibrancy of 
 the subtangent, growing out of the 
 clavicornia, and the ellipsis of 
 the quadrilateral negotiations, pre- 
 cipitated the combat. See how 
 simple it is? 
 
 28 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 History: 
 
 Away with thee and thy meaning- 
 less platitudes! Humanity, I do 
 not mean to chide thee, but thou 
 wert reckless indeed to trust thy 
 happiness and well-being into the 
 hands of this blundering clown. 
 Better hadst thou thrown thy for- 
 tunes to the aimless winds with a 
 prayer to the Grod of Chance to 
 favor thee. 
 
 Humanity : 
 
 Nay, it was not I that did it. It 
 was not I that commissioned Diplo- 
 macy to act. It was the Sovereign 
 rulers, who slighted all considera- 
 tion of war's effect on Humanity. 
 Ignored me in mine own affairs of 
 government, for all government 
 belongs to Humanity. 
 
 29 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 History: 
 
 Then we will call these rulers, if 
 in our words we may honor them 
 as such, and make them reveal the 
 hidden facts. 
 
 Humanity : 
 
 No, no, I pray you do not call 
 them. I know what they will say. 
 'Tis written here. 
 
 [Humanity hands History a 
 hiindle of papers. History 
 reads as follows'] : 
 
 '^ England entered the war in de- 
 fense of Belgian neutrality after 
 the conflict had been originated by 
 Germany. 
 
 "{Signed) George F." 
 
 30 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 '' Germany declared war in self- 
 defense, while Russian soldiers 
 were mobilizing on German 
 borders. England engineered the 
 political situations preceding the 
 conflict for the destruction of 
 German Commerce. 
 
 "(Signed) William 11.'' 
 
 ''Belgium proclaimed her neutral- 
 ity to all the world, but we were 
 attacked by Germany and forced 
 into the trenches against our will. 
 We fought for the right to be 
 
 peaceful. 
 
 ''{Signed) Albert.'' 
 
 ''France declared war while Ger- 
 man soldiers were advancing on 
 
 31 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 French borders. In self-defense 
 and to uphold the honor of our 
 treaty pledge to Eussia. 
 
 ' ' {Signed) Poincaire. ' ' 
 
 ^^ Eussia was bound to remain loyal 
 to her Serbian ally when attacked 
 without provocation by Germany. 
 ''{Signed) Nicholas 11.'' 
 
 ' ' My son and daughter-in-law were 
 foully slain as the result of a 
 Serbian plot, and an insulting dis- 
 regard of our sincere appeal for 
 justice was equivalent to an act of 
 war, and thus the Dual Monarchy 
 was compelled to draw the sword. 
 ' ' {Signed) Franz Joseph, ' ' 
 
 ''Serbia was not to blame for the 
 assassination of Ferdinand and 
 Sophia. It was the act of an 
 
 32 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 anarchist! Though robbed of 
 Bosnia and Herzegovina, we were 
 extravagant in our offers of repara- 
 tion to the Dual Monarchy, but 
 Franz Joseph, with the Kaiser at 
 his back and panting in his ear, 
 issued the first declaration of war. 
 ''{Signed) 
 
 ''Peter Karageorgevitch.^^ 
 
 ^'Turkey kept out of the war until 
 she learned of a conspiracy among 
 the Entente Allies to give her lands 
 to Eussia. 
 
 "{Signed) Enver Pasha. ^^ 
 
 ''Italy's righteous cause was the 
 recovery of property stolen by the 
 Dual Monarchy. 
 "{Signed) 
 
 ' ' Victor Emmanuel. ' ' 
 33 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 History: 
 
 Enough! Enoiigli! With such con- 
 flicting testimony as this the task 
 is hopeless. We must have more 
 reliable witnesses. 
 
 Humanity : 
 
 Noble and righteous History, the 
 Count Leo Tolstoy did write a book 
 in which he did say that Com- 
 mercialism would plunge the world 
 into a war'. Perchance 'twill not 
 be in vain to question Commer- 
 cialism. 
 
 History: 
 
 Commercialism, thou wilt come to 
 the Court of World-Knowledge and 
 tell thy part in the war. 
 
 34 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 Commercialism : 
 
 With all the solemnity of a devout 
 and faithful soul in the presence 
 of the Deity, I do proclaim mine 
 innocence. War means destruction, 
 and Commercialism means con- 
 struction. I provide employment 
 for all, food for all, homes for all, 
 education for all, rich and poor 
 alike, and thus, under my influence 
 the progress of the world goes on. 
 I owe my existence to the toiling 
 masses; not the classes. — I am the 
 masses! The masses did not seek 
 for war and therefore the con- 
 science of Commercialism is clear. 
 Under the great natural law, there 
 must be leaders and followers. If 
 the leader is honest, he is the 
 
 35 
 
MARS^ MASTER 
 
 helmsman wIto guides the vessel 
 away from the rocks to the harbor 
 of safety. Otherwise, woe betide 
 the trusting ones who look to him 
 for guidance. I do believe that the 
 few, with those subtle arts and 
 wiles known to political science, 
 practiced witchcraft on the many, 
 and led them as the shepherd leads 
 his flock, into the valley of death. 
 And all during the progress of the 
 march over the highways of ruin 
 and disaster, the name of Commer- 
 cialism was 'a target for the shafts 
 of slanderers. Thus, the real 
 criminals made their escape while 
 Commercialism, innocent of wrong, 
 was tried and convicted in the pub- 
 lic mind. But in the Court of 
 World-Knowledge, I shall be ex- 
 
 36 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 onerated on mine own defense, 
 based on the fact tli'at I provide 
 employment for all, food for all, 
 homes for all, education for all, 
 rich and poor alike, and so, under 
 my influence the progress of the 
 world goes on. 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
 History: 
 
 Humanity, I do believe that Com- 
 mercialism is thy true and loyal 
 friend, and therefore blameless. 
 We must have still more witnesses. 
 
 Humanity: 
 
 Alas, History, I do not know but 
 ■one, and that is Truth. But Truth 
 deserted me at the opening of the 
 war and I have sought her since 
 in vain. 
 
 37 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 History: 
 
 Nevertheless we will call Truth. 
 Truth, thy adored and radiant 
 presence is importuned in the Court 
 of World-Knowledge. She does 
 not answer — Truth, shining and 
 beauteous angel of honorable pur- 
 pose, we pray thee come — She does 
 not answer. Truth, fairest flower, 
 in the garden of righteousness. 
 History addresses thee in fervent 
 prayer in behalf of suffering Hu- 
 manity. Truth — Ah! She comes! 
 She comes! I see her form in the 
 distance! I knew she would not — 
 
 Humanity: 
 
 No, no. History, this is not Truth. 
 This is Journalism. He can tell 
 
 3S 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 us nothing, and, therefore, he is 
 out of place in the Court of World- 
 Knowledge. 
 
 History: 
 
 Nay, be not too hasty. Journalism 
 perchance may know the where- 
 abouts of Truth. We will question 
 him — Thou art Journalism, art 
 
 thou? 
 
 Journalism: 
 
 I am Journalism. 
 
 History: 
 
 Journalism, thou wert the lover of 
 Truth. Where is she? 
 
 Journalism: 
 
 Nay, I know not for Censorship 
 has stolen her away from me, and 
 
 39 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 I cannot live witliout her. She 
 disappeared at the inception of the 
 war, when Falsehood came io take 
 her place. But Falsehood can 
 ne'er ingratiate herself into the 
 favor of Journalism. I loathe and 
 detest her as a bawdy thing. Her 
 charms are evil and naught com- 
 pared to the virtues and attractions 
 of my beloved Truth. I seek for 
 Truth, and I will find her in spite 
 of Censorship. (Exeunt.) 
 
 History: 
 
 Fare thee well Journalism, and God 
 be with thee in the search. Until 
 we find Truth, History will never 
 know the cause of the war. 
 
 40 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 [Enter Intruder, sJirieJcing 
 and laughing hysterically 
 and singing.'] 
 
 ^^The Sword of Mars is unslieathed 
 Yo-ho ! and the slangliter goes on ; 
 But. the legions of death are 
 
 relentless, 
 Till a glorious victory's won." 
 
 History: 
 
 Ho! this way with the guard! 
 Seize him ! By all the gods I swear 
 thy profanity condemns thee to the 
 rack! 
 
 Intruder: 
 
 [Laughing derisively.] 
 The rack! Ha, ha, — Why, we are 
 kinsmen, the rack and I, — kinsmen 
 by all the laws of sympathy and 
 
 41 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 blood, — mostly blood. And believe 
 me History, he's 'a jolly rogue for 
 royal entertainment. 
 
 History: 
 
 What saturated wabbler art thou! 
 Thy name? Speak! 
 
 Intruder: 
 
 My name? Ha, ha, ha! Why, 
 canst thou not tell by the light in 
 mine eyes that I am Insanity? Ha, 
 ha, ha! I am here to confess to 
 thee that it was I that precipitated 
 the war in Europe. I am here 'to 
 tell thee that it was Insanity that 
 directed the slaughter of the in- 
 nocents, but thou canst no-t punish 
 me for I am not responsible, and 
 
 42 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 here's the reason why: Man is 
 accepted as the masterpiece of God. 
 Man was created with the faculty 
 to judge between right and wrong, 
 and it was the bestowal of this gift 
 that released the Almighty from 
 responsibility, and so, each man 
 must work out his own salvation — 
 But Insanity was not so favored. 
 I was denied the power of judg- 
 ment and understanding and my 
 creator must answer for my deeds 
 of violence and wrong. And 
 wouldst thou know my creator! 
 Why, I am the fruit of men's folly 
 and if thou wouldst learn how I 
 oame into being in Europe, test 
 the bloodstream of the European 
 nobility — Think about the poverty 
 and the crime of Italy — Ponder 
 
 43 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 well tlie oppression, the slavery, 
 and ignorance of Russia — Observe 
 the intemperance and race suicide 
 of France — Consider the inter- 
 marriage of the English royal 
 family — Heed you the Hapsburg 
 tragedies, and pity Grermania 
 'ncath the iron heel of militarism — 
 The nobility is responsible for me, 
 and at these men I point the accus- 
 ing finger and condemn them 
 to everlasting damnation — And 
 again I say that I plunged the 
 world into a war, and if thou art 
 skeptical about this, I will remind 
 thee that it was B'almes, the great 
 Spanish philosopher, who did write 
 a book in which he did say that the 
 reformation in England during the 
 reign of Henry VIII, was due to 
 
 44 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 the state of mind of the people; to 
 the turbulent mental conditions 
 created by centuries of force, and 
 violence, and bloodshed, originating 
 back beyond the time when Rome 
 was in the ascendency. Ha, ha, ha ! 
 Verily it is possible for races of 
 people, like individuals, to act 
 under the spell of madness. And 
 as proof of this I tell you that 
 the last words of the Son of Man, 
 as he died on the cross, were: 
 *^ Father, forgive them; they know 
 not what they do." Ha, ha, ha, 
 ha, ha! — Aye! Indeed, I am the 
 Master of Mars ! The God of War 
 is obedient to the will of Insanity! 
 The world is gone mad, and In- 
 sanity is King with millions of 
 subjects — H, ha, ha! And History 
 
 45 
 
MAES' MASTEE 
 
 will decide that it was Insanity 
 that caused the war in Europe. 
 
 [As Insanity rushes out 
 Humanity reels and falls.] 
 
 History: 
 
 God, oh God — If ever pity moved 
 Thee look down upon this fainting 
 form and feel it now. See, see 
 Humanity abject and wretched as 
 Mary at the cross. High and Holy 
 Sovereign — Sublime Personality of 
 Heaven — We acknowledge Thee 
 Creator of all things — Giver of 
 light and air and nature's qualities, 
 but these are naught without Thy 
 blessing. 
 
 46 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 Humanity: 
 
 [Recovering and speaking 
 
 dreamily.] 
 Sweet song of love and peace — 
 strength — confidence — children 's 
 prattle — sunshine — flowers, and 
 blessed Hope, all, all forever lost. 
 'Gulfed in the maelstrom of Des- 
 pair. Oh, woe is me! Oh, woe 
 is me! 
 
 History: 
 
 "Woe indeed to so resign. Rouse — 
 Rouse thy sinking spirit. Thy 
 future with promise awaits thee. 
 
 Humanity: 
 
 [Struggling to free herself.] 
 Mine enemy lurks in the future. 
 
 47 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 History: 
 
 I pledge myself thine enemy to 
 destroy. 
 
 [History releases Humanity 
 as she shows signs of com- 
 posure.] 
 
 Humanity : 
 
 Alas ! History, Insanity is an enemy 
 thy pen can describe, but never 
 destroy. 
 
 History: 
 
 Then I'll strive until I fail; nor 
 comply without a struggle. I tell 
 thee. Humanity, thy yielding soul 
 has brought thee ruin, for villainy 
 finds opportunity in weakness. 
 Think of this, and know that Grod 
 will send his legions to defend thee. 
 
 48 
 
MAES' MASTEE 
 
 [As these tvords are spoken, 
 a melodious voice is heard 
 singing in the distance.] 
 
 ' ' Oh, come all ye faithful, 
 Joyful and triumphant," etc. 
 
 [History and Humanity 
 • stand transfixed in listening 
 attitude. As the song rises 
 in volume, Humanity looks 
 toward the sound and cries'] : 
 
 Oh, spare me this reminder of 
 death. It is a soldier! 
 
 [As History advances to 
 protecJ^ her, enter Christian, 
 armed with sivord and shield, 
 and finishing his song.] 
 
 49 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 Christian: 
 
 Aye! I am a soldier; a soldier in 
 the service of God. Behold! I 
 am Christian. I come to pledge 
 allegiance everlasting and undying 
 to wronged Humanity. 
 
 [Humanity throivs herself 
 weeping on Christian' s 
 hosom, while History 
 mahes the sign of the cross 
 murmuring] : 
 ^'Lord, God of Hosts, my prayer 
 is answered. ' ' 
 
 Christian: 
 
 Peace! Peace, Humanity. It is I, 
 Christian, that gives thee peace. 
 Thy sorrows run their course, and 
 
 50 
 
MAES' MASTER 
 
 Christian comes to lead tliee to the 
 Garden of Happiness. Tranquil 
 and serene it nestles there in the 
 placid sea of after years. It is the 
 Grarden of the World when civiliza- 
 tion comes into its own. Sounding 
 with the patter of children's 
 feet; laughter of Youth; sweet 
 music vibrating from joyous souls 
 through vales of smiling blossoms, 
 and supreme over all the inspiring 
 and protecting presence of God. 
 
 Humanity: 
 And dost thou know the way? 
 
 Christian: 
 
 I do, and I will tell thee. Listen: 
 There is a land beyond the seas 
 
 51 
 
MARS' MASTER 
 
 that points the way. Abiding place 
 of liberty and justice. Where love 
 of Humanity is instinctive under 
 the influence of Truth and the 
 lessons of the Nazarene. 'T was 
 separated by God, in His wisdom, 
 from all the rest to mingle races in 
 the birth of the future civilization. 
 Come! 
 
 [As Christian holds out 
 his hand, the stars in the 
 heauens fade out gradually 
 until a cross of stars is 
 formed in the place ivhere 
 Justice stood on the world 
 hetiveen the tivo conti- 
 nents. As they move to- 
 tvard exit, hands joined, 
 History speaks.] 
 
 52 
 
I 
 
 MARS' MASTER 
 
 History: 
 
 And History records the glorious 
 truth that Christianity and Hu- 
 manity are one and inseparable. 
 
 CUETAIN 
 
 53 
 
ENCOMIUMS 
 
ENCOMIUMS 
 
 Louisville, Ky., January 20, 1916. 
 
 Mr. R. C. Rogers, Louisville Herald, City. 
 
 My Dear Mr. Rogers: 
 
 I was sorry you hurried off before the 
 meeting broke up the other night as I 
 wanted an opportunity to tell you how much 
 I enjoyed the recital of your play — It was 
 fine! I knew you were a fine news writer, 
 but I did not know before that you had in 
 you so much of the combination of historian, 
 poet, and philosopher, not to mention your 
 histrionic power. It surely was a great treat 
 to everybody, and it certainly was to me. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 A. Y. Ford. 
 
 [The above letter was written a few days 
 after a reading of "Mars' Master" at the 
 annual meeting of the Engineers' and Archi- 
 tects' Club of Louisville. The writer is 
 President of the Board of Trustees of the 
 University of Louisville, one of the foremost 
 institutions of learning in the South.] 
 
 57 
 
ENCOMIUMS 
 
 The following articles appeared in the 
 columns of The Neivs Democrat, Paducah, 
 Ky., January 6, 1916, the next day after a 
 meeting of the Paducah Rotary Club at 
 which "Mars' Master" was the principal 
 event on the programme: 
 
 "BOB" ROGERS DELIGHTS ROTARIANS 
 
 WITH "MARS' MASTER," AN 
 
 ALLEGORY. 
 
 In the diary of their meetings the Paducah 
 Rotarians have set down yesterday's lunch- 
 eon gathering at the Palmer House as the 
 most enjoj^able. They do this because of the 
 presence there of Robert C. "Bob" Rogers, 
 of the Louisville Herald, as the honor guest, 
 and the fact that he gave them during the 
 demi-tasse and cigars his allegorical arrange- 
 ment of the World War, "Mars' Master," 
 which it appears is about to make him 
 famous. 
 
 The idea embodied in the allegory showed 
 Mr. Rogers to be a thinker of unusual genius 
 for originality, clear perception and grasp of 
 fundamental truth and the manner in which 
 the idea is clothed and given expression 
 showed him to be a rare master of the 
 
 58 
 
ENCOMIUMS 
 
 English language and a man of genuine 
 artistic powers. One might exhaust all the 
 pompous and bizarre adjectives in the lan- 
 guage and not exaggerate the value of his 
 sketch both as a piece of literature and as 
 an expose of war. 
 
 In the course of the allegory Mr. Rogers 
 attempts, and succeeds to an admirable de- 
 gree, to show the true aspect of war and its 
 real effect on mankind. His manner of pre- 
 sentation is in a court scene. He conceives 
 a "Court of World-Knowledge," with War on 
 trial. Humanity is the prosecuting witness 
 and History is the judge. The court is try- 
 ing to get at the cause of the crime of War 
 and in the course of the trial calls as wit- 
 nesses for examination. Diplomacy, the 
 Rulers of the Warring Nations, Commer- 
 cialism, Truth, and Journalism. 
 
 These witnesses are questioned in the 
 order mentioned, but without the court being 
 successful in fixing the responsibility for the 
 war. Then, as the court sits baffled, a 
 hideous wild-eyed creature, babbling in- 
 sanely, staggers into the court room. Judge 
 History demands to know who the mad 
 stranger is and the new arrival cries out 
 that he is Insanity and confesses to having 
 caused the war in Europe. History wants to 
 know from whence he comes and Insanity 
 
 59 
 
ENCOMIUMS 
 
 replies that to determine his origin the blood 
 of the depraved European nobility must be 
 examined. 
 
 Thus the author of the allegory shows that 
 the insane lust of the European nobility for 
 power, wealth, and dominion rears up the 
 monster Insanity, which is the breeder of 
 War. Mr. Rogers lays no blame for the 
 great War on the people of the warring na- 
 tions, but upon the rulers. For example, he 
 thinks there are no finer people than the 
 Germans as a people, but hates the corrupt, 
 avaricious German nobility that has set these 
 noble people to such inhuman and disgrace- 
 ful tasks. 
 
 The time of the allegory is directly after 
 the close of the great war now raging. 
 
 60 
 
ENCOMIUMS 
 
 ROTARIANS GIVEN A TREAT. 
 
 Paducah Rotarians are deeply indebted to 
 Rotarian Bob Rogers, of Louisville, who at 
 the Rotarian luncheon Wednesday gave the 
 gathering by far the greatest treat which has 
 been enjoyed in the history of the organiza- 
 tion. For a period of twenty minutes Mr. 
 Rogers gave an allegorical picture, the theme 
 of which centered about the great European 
 conflict. In a style in which beauty of word 
 painting blended with a charm of delivery 
 his drama of war and reality was presented 
 as a gem long to be remembered by all who 
 heard it. If the Louisville Rotary Club has 
 on its membership any more at home like 
 Bob Rogers there is a vacant chair ever 
 ready for him at any of the delightful gather- 
 ings of the Paducah Rotarians. And by the 
 way, should Rotarian Rogers ever feel an 
 inclination to visit Paducah again there will 
 be a waiting delegation composed of the en- 
 tire membership to give him welcome. 
 
 — Editorial Page. 
 
 61