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 PUBLISHED BY 
 CALIFORNIA LIBERTY LEAGUE 
 
THE PROBLEM 
 
 A PLAY IN THREE ACTS 
 
 Uy Arthur Arnttunn 
 
 LOS ANGELES : 
 
 C. W. Leach, Printer, 230*/ 2 South Spring Street 
 
 1914 
 

 Copyrighted, 1914, by Arthur Aronsotl 
 
 All rights reserved by the Author 
 
 oct -5 m 
 
 ©CI.D ;3840S 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The modern drama is fast becoming a great factor in the educa- 
 1 fcion and upliftment of the human race. The stage or the theatre is 
 becoming a school 'for the study of social problems, and a sort 
 of pulpit where sermons are preached dealing with society's ills. 
 
 From now on, the play that will meet with public approval will 
 deal with conditions as they really exist; they will have to portray 
 life in its true form, point out its ills, then discuss causes and reme- 
 dies. 
 
 In developing my theme for this play I had two things in mind. 
 There were two distinct messages 1 wished to deliver and impress 
 upon the Teader's mind. 
 
 One is : that man is a creature of habit. I mean inherent habits, 
 that have been handed down from generation to generation and are 
 instilled in the human organism, and should this habit prove to be a 
 -detriment to the huamri race the only way it can be abolished is by 
 gradual education* 
 
 The other is to call attention to a sphere of activity that is of far 
 greater importance to the entire human Tace than any habit, liquor or 
 otherwise. OUR INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS are yet to be solved. 
 
 I shall not quairrel with our prohibition friends, but enter into a 
 path of friendly discussion with them that may lead us onward. 
 Theories and doctrines will not help us. We need facts and deeds. 
 And the facts prove that by passing a law that will prohibit people 
 from indulging in an inherent habit we will only be juggling with theo- 
 ries that never can become facts, and dealing with effects and not 
 causes. 
 
 I am trying to show that shonld these rerornrers, preacheit, and 
 moral uplifters spend their time and energy jn solving industrial 
 problems— -should they try to protect numan lives in the shopsi 
 mines, mills and factories, they will perform their duty to Christian- 
 ity a good deal more effectively than by fighting the liquor traffic. 
 
 ARTHUR ARONSON. 
 
THE PROBLEM 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 Evening. A large study in a residence located in the 
 fashionable district of San Francisco. The room is richly 
 furnished. Mr. Walter Brand, a lawyer, is sitting in a re- 
 volving chair at the right hand side of a large table. He is 
 holding a letter in his hand which has evidently caused him 
 uneasiness, for he was sitting there arguing with himself. 
 You might say he was juggling with his conscience for there 
 was a tempting offer in the letter from a lumber company 
 whom he had heretofore prosecuted in the interest of a poor 
 Italian laborer. 
 
 He finally came to a decision which can be noticed by the 
 sudden determined expression on his face. 
 
 (Mr. Brand) — 'Why not, why not? Am I not in this 
 game for the, money? Have I not struggled all these years for 
 fortune, is not capital above brains, and is not brains something 
 money buys? Why should I not sell myself to the highest 
 bidder?" 
 
 (Takes out a cigar and lights it as he is evidently in deep 
 thought and the door opens, Catharine Brand enters with a 
 newspaper in her hand. She appears very happy and is sing- 
 ing a song.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father look at this paper, this labor case 
 of yours seems to be quite sensational. The newspapers write 
 so much about it. See your picture on the front page. I am 
 sure you are going to win this case for this poor man. How 
 happy his family will be." 
 
 (Brand, very nervous) — "Yes, it is sensational, but I don't 
 think I am going to win it." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Why father! What's the matter? You 
 always seemed to talk so favorably about it. You were so 
 enthusiastic." 
 
 (Brand) — "Well you see the late evidence seems to be 
 entirely against us." 
 
(Catharine) — "But Martin says you have a clear case 
 against the Foster lumber mill and there is no reason why you 
 shouldn't win." 
 
 (Brand) — 'Oh yes, Martin, a dreamer, you can't go by 
 what he says. That man is not living with us today, no he is 
 not in this race for fortune. He is living in the realm of his 
 dreams of future generations and he thinks I can conduct this 
 case for the glory there is in it. 
 
 (Catharine) — "But he has loaned Tony Derano almost 
 everything he had." 
 
 (Brand) — 'Catharine! I am afraid he is paying too much 
 attention to you. He has been coming around here butting into 
 my affairs for the last six months. Why doesn't he stay at 
 home and paint his pictures and mind his own business?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father, why talk that way about Martin, 
 you know he is only interested in this poor Italian and his 
 family; he wants to see him get a square deal in his trial 
 against a millionaire." 
 
 (Brand) — "That is well enough, but I am not in the law 
 business for charity. It takes money to conduct a case like 
 this. He hasn't any and I am not like Martin wasting my 
 life on dreams." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father!" 
 
 (Brand, intercepting her) — "Tu tu, that's enough. You 
 seem to worry about this yourself. I can attend to all of this 
 without any assistance from you or Martin." 
 
 (Bell rings, servant enters.) 
 
 (Servant) — "Mrs. Bevarde and a gentleman wish to see 
 you." 
 
 (Brand) — "Show them in." 
 
 (Enter Mrs. Bevarde and Father Don. Mrs. Bevarde holds 
 in her hand a lorgnette and is dressed in the height of fashion. 
 Father Don wears his ecclesiastic garments and has a good 
 natured expression on his face.) 
 
 "Good evening." 
 
 (Brand) — "What guests? Quite a surprise, Father Don." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Walter, Father wishes to talk to 
 you about some charitable work." 
 
(Father Don) — "Yes, Mr. Brand, I knew you were always 
 good to the poor so I came to tell you about a new scheme 
 to help God's unfortunates. We found that there are so many 
 Christian souls who are without any means of support that after 
 a thorough investigation we came to the conclusion that most 
 of the causes of poverty can be traced to the use of the poison- 
 ous liquors. So we have decided that this state at least must do 
 away with the sale of liquors. We have already made plans 
 for a sweeping campaign which will be the means of making this 
 state dry at the next election." 
 
 (Mr. Brand nods and Mrs. Bevarde interrupts the dis- 
 course.) 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde to Catharine) — "What's the matter Cath- 
 arine, why look so down-hearted?" 
 
 (Catharine)— "Oh nothing, Aunty." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "I have some good news for you." 
 
 (Catharine) — "What is it Aunty." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde)- — "I met Mr. Harte and he says he is 
 going to pay you a visit tonight." 
 (Catharine looking worried.) 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "What's the matter Catharine? Don't 
 you like his company. You ought to see the new seven-passen- 
 ger car he bought. They say he is building a new one hundred 
 thousand dollar plant for his factory." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Oh, Aunty please don't tell me of his 
 riches." 
 
 (Brand to Mrs. Bevarde) — "Don't you know that Cath- 
 arine is bamboozled by that dreamer fellow, and Myrtle, I 
 tell you that I will have no more of him around here." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Well, Martin is a good artist and a 
 fine fellow to talk to, but he is not worth anything, besides he 
 mingles among that common laboring class of people. Would 
 you believe that he was invited to many fashionable affairs of 
 our upper set and he actually refused to attend. In one place 
 where he attended because Catharine was there he treated the 
 swellest of ladies with utter coolness, and looked at some of 
 our prettiest gowns with disgust." 
 
 (Father Don) — "Who is Martin, I would like to meet 
 
8 
 
 him." (Evidently seeing his opportunity to speak to Mr. 
 Brand) — "As I was saying before Mr. Brand, I am trying to 
 do God's work by helping these unfortunates. Now I am sure 
 that you will help us. We have put you down for five hun- 
 dred dollars." 
 
 (Brand, surprised) — "How much, five hundred dollars?" 
 (Things for a moment) — "Come in the other room and explain 
 the proposition all over again. Myrtle, will you come with us?" 
 (The three exit.) 
 
 (Catharine, alone) — "There must be something wrong with 
 father. I have never seen him act that way before. He is 
 entirely clanged. He said he was going to make himself a 
 name out of this case whether there was any money in it or 
 not." (Pic^s up newspaper from table and starts reading. 
 Bell rings.) 
 
 (Enter servant) — "Mr. Martin Lightstone wishes to see 
 you" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Show him in." 
 
 (Enter Martin) — "Good evening, Catharine." 
 
 (Catharine) — 'Hello Martin; I am awfully glad you 
 came. I was just talking to father about you and the Derano 
 case. The newspapers are giving it quite a large space. Look- 
 ing at the newspaper.) Look, what do you think of that." 
 
 (Martin) — "What is it." 
 
 (Catharine reads) — " 'The police raided a gambling house 
 last night; among those found there were some of the most 
 prominent citizens of San Francisco including a police judge'." 
 
 (Martin) — "Oh, that is nothing. Judges are doing worse 
 things than that in San Francisco; it's a wonder the Chief of 
 Police wasn't caught gambling." 
 
 (Catharine laughs) — "Say Martin, I want to tell you 
 something serious." 
 
 (Martin)— "What is it?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father seems to have lost all his confidence 
 in that Derano case." 
 
 (Martin) — "He has? Oh well, I guess your father is dis- 
 couraged because money isn't forthcoming fast enough. But 
 things will come out all right. He has everything in his favor; 
 
all the evidence so far proves not only is the Foster Lumber 
 Mills responsible for this man losing his arm, but that they are 
 also violating all the labor laws.*' 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father says you are wasting your life on 
 foolishness and dreams." 
 
 (Martin) — "Well, maybe I am, but these dreams are com- 
 ing truer every day." 
 
 Catharine) — "They say you are advocating municipal 
 ownership/' 
 
 (Martin, laughing) — "Who whispered that into your ear?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father told me, and he says its socialistic. 
 Is it Martin?" 
 
 (Martin) — "I will tell you what it is; we all use the 
 public streets." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes." 
 
 (Martin) — "Therefore we, the people, own them collect- 
 ively. Trat is what we call municipal ownership. Now we 
 all use the railroad and street cars," 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes." 
 
 (Martin) — "Collectively," 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes." 
 
 (Martin) — "Well, why not own them collectively. That 
 would be the municipal ownership of these particular indus- 
 tries," 
 
 (Catharine) — "Oh, I see." 
 
 (Martin) — "I forgot we are just beginning to own the 
 street cars in San Francisco," 
 
 (Both laugh) 
 
 (Enter Mrs, Bevarde and Father Don.) 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Here is Mr. Lightstone, Mr, Light- 
 stone, I want ycu to meet Father Don." 
 
 (Father Don) — "I have heard so much about you and 
 your work amongst the poor that I wanted to meet you. You 
 see, I too, am interested in charitable work." 
 
 (Martin) — "Yes, I mingle amongst the poor all the time. 
 Eut not for charitable purposes. You see, Father Don, to 
 my mind the workers don't need any charity. Just give them 
 a square deal and that will be enough." 
 
10 
 
 (Father Don) — "I understand that you are publicly oppos- 
 ing the prohibition amendment, Mr. Lightstone, is that true/* 
 
 (Martin)— "Yes." 
 
 (Father Don) — "How can you conscientiously claim to 
 be pleading the cause of the poor when you know that liquor 
 has been their curse/' 
 
 (Martin) — "Look here, Father Don, I don't want you to 
 think that I have any hard feelings against you; on the con- 
 trary I believe that you are sincere and that you are a big 
 hearted man trying to help the poor, but without first finding 
 the cause that makes them poor, and then eliminating that 
 cause/' 
 
 (Father Don) — "But you do not deny that should this 
 law be enacted the workers, who are most subject to drink, will 
 be denied the incentive to the use of liquor by having the 
 saloons closed/' 
 
 (Martin) — "I do deny that. The saloon is not the in- 
 centive for drink. People do not drink because the saloon is 
 here. But the saloon is here because people drink. And I 
 say that if you drive the legal saloon away from Main Street 
 you will spread illegal ones all over the city." 
 
 (Father Don) — "Well, don't you know Mr. Lightstone 
 that the churches and all the good Christian people are in favor 
 of abolishing this liquor traffic." 
 
 (Martin) — "This is no doubt true, but there must be 
 another reason for this deplorable condition. Possibly if the 
 church looked at the question with both eyes open they would 
 find that men are not poor because they drink, but that they 
 drink because they are poor. For as long as there is poverty, 
 and men are forced to work ten, twelve and fourteen hours a 
 day at hard labor, they will drink. It matters not whether you 
 have a mental or physical strain, human beings will require a 
 stimulant." 
 
 (Father Don) — "You know that liquor enslaves the mind 
 and decreases the person's capacity to think." 
 
 (Martin) — "Here is where you are wrong, for if you have 
 studied literature and American history you will find some of 
 our greatest men, statesmen, sociologists, poets; in fact, almost 
 
11 
 
 all the great literary minds have been subject to a daily stimu- 
 lant of liquor. Some of them even drank to excess." 
 
 (Father Don) — "Mr* Lightstone, I am afraid you are not 
 a good Christian/' 
 
 (Martin) — "And I am trying to show you that I am the 
 better Christian. The matter of fact is that men drank ever 
 since this world began; all through the ages people have used 
 liquor and here you are trying to reverse this inherent habit of 
 the human race by some nice day passing a law against it. 
 I tell you you can't do it. You will only have more laws 
 broken* Everywhere liquor is sold as free as bread you 
 have less drunkenness. Sweden, Germany, France and other 
 countries where we have beer gardens in public parks, there the 
 working people do not drink to excess and there we find the 
 most advanced nation in art, literature and science, so if your 
 reformers, preachers and calamity howlers will spend more of 
 their time dealing with causes that make poverty, I say, they 
 will fulfill their mission to Christianity a good deal more 
 effectively than by fighting booze." 
 
 (Enter Brand.) 
 
 (Martin)^ — "How do you do, Mr, Brand." 
 
 (Brand) — "How do you do." 
 
 (Martin) — -"Are you going out," 
 
 (Brand, roughly) — "Yes, I am going out, I have an ap- 
 pointment at a club, I must go right now," (Going towards 
 the door.) 
 
 (Martin)— "Just a minute, Mr. Brand, I have never seen 
 you in such a hurry before," 
 
 (Brand)— "What is it?" 
 
 (Martin) — "I want to talk to you about that Derano case 
 for a few minutes." 
 
 (Brand) — "There you are again. Do I have to tell you 
 all my affairs." 
 
 (Martin) — "No, not all of them, but in this particular 
 case I happen to be interested. You know I loaned this man 
 almost all I had to fight the case and certainly I am entitled 
 to know something about it." 
 
 (Brand) — "I haven't the time to talk about it now." 
 
12 
 
 (Martin, taking out his watch) — "Here, we will only take 
 ten minutes. Sit down there and just answer me a few ques- 
 tions/* 
 
 (Brand) — "Well if you must know, I want to inform you 
 that I am going to drop the case all together." 
 
 (Martin, startled)— "What!' 1 
 
 (Brand) — "Yes, I have discovered that I have no case 
 against the company." 
 
 (Martin, shaking with fury.) 
 
 (Brand) — "I don't see why you are so startled about it, 
 I will see that you don't lose anything by it." 
 
 (Martin, startled) — "Why, Mr. Brand have you no heart 
 at all, can't ycu hear the cries of that man's children. Drop 
 it, surely you don't mean that after you have let this man 
 suffer for six months you'll throw him down like a dog, (Ex- 
 citedly.) No, no, no, you don't mean it. You won't drop 
 this case. You don't realize what it means. Evidence? I 
 should say you have a clear case. It has been conclusively 
 proved that the company was too greedy to buy safety appli- 
 ances for the protection of their employees. Yes, for the sake 
 of a few dollars they were willing to sacrifice human life. 
 This man is only one of a thousand that are killed annually on 
 the altar of greed. He is worse than dead. Disabled, crip- 
 pled, without arms." 
 
 (Brand) — "Well, this may do for a radical speech but 
 not as evidence in a court. It has been clearly proved that 
 the man was drunk the night before the accident and still had 
 the effects of it at his work at the time when he was hurt." 
 
 (Martin) — "There you are again. Whenever there is a 
 crime committed, or whenever there is some dirty work done 
 against the poor man, there you will always find people trying 
 to cover it up by blaming it to liquor. Mr. Brand, something 
 is the matter here; you have never talked that way before." 
 
 (Martin Walks around the room nervously, and suddenly 
 stops at the table where Brand had been sitting, and discovers 
 the letier from the Foster Lumber mills. Brand Watches him 
 take up the letter.) 
 
 (Brand) — (To himself) "My God, that letter." 
 
13 
 
 (Martin)— (Very loud) " Brand, is it possible that you 
 too have fallen so far below justice that you are willing to 
 sell yourself and become a slave to dollars. Is it possible 
 that money can buy your body and soul. I see you are acting 
 as attorney for the lumber company and for this employee at 
 the same time. Now I see why you will return the money I 
 have put up." 
 
 (Brand, realizing the situation} — "Well, after all, we 
 are all in the game for money and must play the game accord- 
 ing to its rules." 
 
 (Martin) — "Yes, the game, that's what they all say. 
 Crimes are committed, human lives sacrificed, children starved, 
 and all is blamed on to the game. It's about time we changed 
 this kind of a game." 
 
 (Enters servant) — "There is an Italian with one arm at 
 the door, and wishes to see Mr. Brand." 
 
 (Brand) — "Tell him I am not at home." 
 
 (Martin) — "That must be Tony. Brand let this man in 
 and tell his own story to these people." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Yes, I would like to see this man." 
 
 (Brand) — "All right, let him in." 
 
 (Enters Tony) — "How do you do, sir." 
 
 (Bevarde doesnt answer, Brand mutters an answer, Martin 
 Walks over and shakes hands with him, and Catharine asks him 
 to sit down.) 
 
 (Martin) — "Tony, what did you come here for?" 
 
 (Tony) — "Mr. Brand he no see me for three days. I no 
 know what's the matter, so I come to see him." 
 
 (Martin, looking sore at Brand) — "Tony, will you tell 
 these people how you got hurt." 
 
 (Tony) — "I will, Mr. Martin. (Takes long breath.) 
 You remember six months ago, when the strike broke out in 
 the Foster Lumber Mills, we insisted that the company install 
 safety appliances like they have in some of the other mills, and 
 we demanded one dollar and seventy-five cents per day instead 
 of one dollar and fifty cents. Mr. Foster refused to grant 
 either. 
 
 "To make things short, we lost the strike and went back to 
 
14 
 
 work in the saw mill. One day we had a special job; we were 
 rusbed. The foreman was standing beside me, watching me 
 work and rushing me, when suddenly my sleeve got caught and 
 my hand was pulled into the rip saw, and I just had time 
 enough to call my Maria when the teeth of the terrible saw 
 began to cut into my hand. I fell over the machine and could 
 see the blood of my body dripping all over the floor. (Draws 
 deep breath.) I didn't feel anything more until some days 
 later I woke up at the hospital and my arm he was gone." 
 
 (Every one is silent) 
 
 (Martin) — "Well, Mr. Brand, you will not get out of this 
 so easily. (Taking his hat and walking toward the door.) 
 "I am going to expose you. The newspapers shall have the 
 whole truth before morning." 
 
 (Brand, in agony) — "No, you will not do that." 
 
 (Martin)— "Yes, I will." 
 
 (Brand, running towards the door and blocking his pas- 
 sage) — "You shall not leave this room until you give me that 
 letter. You will ruin me." 
 
 (Martin) — "Ruin you? Did you for a moment consider 
 how you were going to ruin an entire family. Of course, to 
 you they don't amount to anything. Because they are only 
 poor working people. But I want to tell you they are human 
 beings the same as you are. They must live, breathe and eat 
 the same as you do. Yes, and they are a darned sight more 
 useful than you are. Well, I shall go now and we will see 
 who is the strongest. (Walks toward the door and attempts 
 to pass him. Catharine running between them.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "Martin, please don't." 
 
 (Martin) — "Catharine, please let me go. I must; it is my 
 duty to expose the whole affair." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Please, Martin, won't you do something for 
 my sake." 
 
 (Martin stops to think for a time.) 
 
 (Martin) — "Catharine, take a pen and ink and write what 
 I tell you." 
 
 (Letter) — To the Foster Lumber Mills; I wish to inform 
 
15 
 
 you that I am going to fight in behalf of Derano to the finish. 
 "Now, my dear Mr. Brand, come here and sign this.** 
 
 (Brand) — "No, no; I can't, I can't." 
 
 (Martin) — "You can't. You ought to be exposed yourself 
 and finish you as a lawyer for all time to come. But I am 
 doing this for the sake of Catharine, and not for you. Come 
 here and sign this." 
 
 (Brand crawls over and signs the letter.) 
 
 (Martin) — "Now, Tony, you come with me. There are but 
 few friends here." 
 
 (Exit.) 
 
 (Brand) — "Catharine, this is all your fault. If it were 
 not for you this Martin would not be hanging around here, 
 butting into my business. Look here, I will have no more of 
 this. (Stands up and Walks over to Catharine and in a vefp 
 exicted manner says) "You can have your choice, stay here 
 with us and live happily and be the heir of my property, marry 
 a respectable business man like George, or you can go and live 
 with this anarchist Martin and I will disinherit you. Not a 
 penny, not a penny." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father!" 
 
 (Brand) — "That's my last word, you can make up your 
 mind." 
 
 (Catharine) — "But I love Martin." 
 
 (Brand) — "You love him. Do you realize what would 
 become of you if you married him, a poor artist He couldn't 
 even make a decent living. (He turns towards the door.) 
 Remember what I said. You must decide right now. I will 
 be back in a few minutes." 
 
 (Brand exit.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "My God, what shall I do. I will ring up 
 Martin." 
 
 (Goes to the phone and rings up.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "Hello, Martin. Father is going to drive me 
 out of the house unless I marry Mr. Harte. What shall I do? 
 (Short pause) "No, no, Martin, I can't, I can't. I won't. 
 I hate him, I love you. No, I won't, I won't. (She ap- 
 pears to he angry, stamps her foot on floor, drops the receiver 
 
16 
 
 and starts crying. To herself) He doesn't want me to sac- 
 rifice my fortune for him. He says for me to marry Mr. 
 Harte. But I won't. I will leave and go and make my own 
 living. (Stops to think for a while.) But what can I do. 
 I have never done any work in my life, I wouldn't know how 
 to start. (A sudden thought strides her.) I know what I 
 will do, I will go on the stage. I have a good voice and was 
 offered a part once in an opera, but father wouldn't let me 
 take it. I will go and pack up right away." 
 
 (Enters Servant) — "Mr. Harte is here." 
 
 (Catharine) — "I can't see him now." 
 
 (Servant) — "But he insists; he says he has something very 
 important to speak to you about." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Well, let him in." 
 
 (Enters Mr, Harte) — "Good evening, Catharine." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Ob, it is you." 
 
 (Harte, to himself) — "Pretty cold reception. (To Catha- 
 rine) What are you so excited about." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Oh, nothing, only a little bad news." 
 
 (Mr, Harte) — "Look here, Catharine, why are you always 
 so cool to me." 
 
 (No answer.) 
 
 (Mr. Harte) — "Oh, I guess it is that Artist Martin." 
 
 (No answer again.) 
 
 (Mr. Harte) — "Yes, you had rather marry a pauper than 
 than a business man worth a half million. Come now, 
 Catharine, why not get together and understand each other, 
 I will make you happy. You can have all your heart desires 
 — automobiles, diamonds, jewelry and fine dresses." 
 
 (Catharine) — "I don't want any of your riches, your auto- 
 mobiles, because — " 
 
 (Mr. Harte) — "Yes, because this pauper Martin has bam- 
 boozled you. You will be sorry when you have married this 
 anarchist, this good for nothing." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Mr. Harte, you are in my house." 
 
 (Enters Brand) — "No, you are not. (He rings for serv- 
 ant Servant enters. Brand, to servant) Go, pack up Catha- 
 rine's things." 
 
17 
 
 (Catharine thinks-) 
 
 (Exit servant) 
 
 (Brand) — "Here is your last chance. You can decide 
 before she comes back/* 
 
 (Mr- Harte) — 'What is the matter, Mr. Brand? What 
 are you going to do?" 
 
 (Brand) — "If she insists on marrying this pauper she is no 
 longer my daughter. I will not have such a tramp for a son- 
 in-law." 
 
 (Mr, Harte, to Catharine) — "Please stay and don't leave 
 a happy home. What are you going to do. God knows what 
 may become of you. You have never worked in your life." 
 
 (Enters servant with bag.) 
 
 (Catharine, taking bag from the servant) — "I am going to 
 earn my own living, like other girls do. They are human and 
 they can; I will too. (Walks towards the door and then turns 
 towards her father and speaks to him) Father, you don't 
 understand. If mother had lived she would understand, be- 
 cause a woman knows better what love is. She holds it more 
 sacred than men do. Well, goodby, father, some day you 
 will forgive me." 
 
 (No answer.) 
 
 (She walks slowly toward the door and passes out) 
 
 (Harte stretches out his arms towards her.) 
 
 CURTAIN. 
 End of Act I. 
 
18 
 
 Act II. 
 
 SCENE: Poorly furnished room, three chairs, small table 
 and a bed. 
 
 (Enters landlady, an Irish "Woman, followed by Mrs. J3ev- 
 arde and Mr. Harte.) 
 
 (Landlady) — "This is rer room. Take seats, she just went 
 across the street to buy some food. She will be back soon. 
 Poor girl, she is worried to death because she couldn't find 
 any work. She hasn't had more than one meal a day for the 
 last week." 
 
 (Mr. Harte) — "How long has she been living here." 
 
 (Landlady) — "About three months. She has been work- 
 ing in the chorus at the Gaiety Theatre, but the company went 
 broke and she lost some of her salary. Poor kid. I think 
 she would make good, for she has a good voice; if she could 
 only get a chance at some of these what you call grand operas." 
 
 (She hears a noise) — "Excuse me, but my soup is boiling 
 over." 
 
 (She hurries out.) 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "To think that a daughter of Walter 
 Brand should come to this." 
 
 (Harte) — "It is really sad. By the way, what has be- 
 come of the dreamer, Martin." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "There are various rumors about him. 
 The last I heard of him was that he was seen hoboing around 
 the country. They say ever since the day Catharine left he 
 neglected his art. He never even showed up in town any 
 longer. It looks as though he has taken things to heart and 
 decided to become a hobo." 
 
 (Harte) — "Oh, well, that would have been the end of him 
 any way, and should he have married Catharine he would have 
 dragged her down into the slums with him. You know, Mrs. 
 Bevarde, that I told father of my love for Catharine and he 
 is coming here to persuade her to come back and live with us." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "That's good. I believe she has suffered 
 enough now and that she has about made up her mind to come 
 home." 
 
19 
 
 (Harte) — "Hush, I think she is coming.'' 
 
 (Enters Catharine.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "My, what unexpected visitors (talking 
 coolly). Well, how are you, aunty. It has been quite a long 
 time since I have seen you." 
 
 (Mrs. BeVarde) — "We have come here to see if we can't 
 get you to leave this life of misery and come back home/' 
 
 (Catharine) — "Well, aunty, I will tell you, I have learned 
 a good deal since I left home. I found it is not so easy to get 
 along without a rich father, but I have made lots of friends; 
 besides there are thousands of working girls living from hand 
 to mouth and I am no better than they." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "But just consider for a moment what 
 may become of you, Catharine." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes, I have learned that it is a hard thing 
 for a girl to lead a straight life in this unfair world. But listen, 
 I now take this life as part of one's experience. What's the 
 difference. After all, we can live in silks and we can live in 
 rags. I found that if one lives in luxury and palatial homes, 
 then thousands of others must live in poverty and rags. You 
 are not aware of this fact, but I am." 
 
 (Harte) — "But you admit it is nicer to eat good things and 
 ride around in automobiles than it is to live in rags." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes, it is, I admit, but if you understood 
 how these riches come from the sweat and blood of the poor 
 working girls you w r ould not enjoy them so much. That is, if 
 there were more human in you than brute." 
 
 (Harte) — "You don't mean to insinuate " 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Now, don't start an argument. This 
 is not what we came here for. Catharine, let us reason. Can't 
 you see there is no end to this misery. Why not come home. 
 You can not help these people. The poor have always been 
 and they will always be with us. You can do more good by 
 coming home and helping the charitable institutions, for instance, 
 like Father Don is doing." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Father Don, why aunty, you don't know 
 him now. Father Don has changed entirely since he left. He 
 has left the church and is now preaching a new gospel, a gospel 
 
20 
 
 for the kingdom of God on earth. He has been coming up 
 here every day for the last few months, and we have studied 
 together a new religion. He has become very poor and is 
 spending a lot of his time on me. He has searched the world 
 to find what has become of Martin Lightstone." 
 
 (Harte) — "What's the use, there are no hopes of finding 
 him. He has left this country altogether." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Yes, a man like him doesn't think of 
 settling down and living a steady life. He is always on the go." 
 
 (The bell rings.) 
 
 (Harte) — "That must be father." 
 
 (Enters Landlady) — "A gentleman by the name of Mr. 
 Harte wants to come in." 
 
 (Harte) — "That is father; let him in." 
 
 (Enters Harte, Sr., Well dressed.) 
 
 (Mr. Harte, Sr.) — "My, what foul air in here." 
 
 (Harte, Jr.) — "Father, this is Miss Brand, that I was 
 speaking to you about." 
 
 (Harte, Sr., sitting dorvn) — "What's the matter, my girl? 
 Let's sit down and talk seriously. (To Harte, Jr., and Mrs. 
 Bevarde) Will you please leave us for a time, so I can talk 
 to her privately, and when you come back I can assure you 
 she will go with us." 
 
 (Exit Harte and Bevarde.) 
 
 (Harte, Sr., takes chair, moving it near Catharine, and sits 
 down.) 
 
 (Harte, Sr.) — "Now, my dear, you know that George is 
 my only son. He is the heir to all my millions. He told me 
 that he loves you and wants to marry you. Of course, you 
 know that he can get any girl of high standing in society, but 
 I believe in letting him have his own way. Now, I came here 
 to persuade you to marry him." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Impossible." 
 
 (Harte, Sr.)— "Impossible? Why?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Because I do not love him. I love some 
 one else." 
 
 (Harte, Sr.)— "Who?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Martin Lightstone." 
 
21 
 
 (Matte, £r.) — "Oh, that dreamer. There is no longer any 
 hope f:r your marrying him." 
 
 (Catharine) — -"What do you mean?" 
 
 (Harte, Sr.) — "I mean that Martin Lightstone will hang 
 in a few days." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Hang, what is the matter with you, Mr. 
 Harte?" 
 
 (Mr. Harte, Sr.) — "I mean what I say." 
 
 (Catharine gets excited, runs over, grabs Harte, Sr. 9 by 
 coat lapels and starts shading him) — "Are you joking? Ex- 
 plain, please explain. Is it true?" 
 
 (Harte, Sr.) — "Yes, it is true. Martin Lightstone, under 
 another name became the leader of a violent gang of strikers 
 in one of my factories, and in a recent riot between the militia 
 and the strikers twelve officers were killed, and he is now held 
 under crarge of inciting the strikers to murder, and I will see 
 that he hangs." 
 
 (She faints.) 
 
 (Landlady comes running in, picks up Catharine and ad- 
 dresses Harte, Sr ) — "What have you done to her. What 
 have you come here for — to kill the girl? I never did like 
 these snobs any way." 
 
 (Enter Mrs, Bevarde and Harte) — "What's the matter 
 Fere? What's the matter?" 
 
 (Harte, Sr.) — 4 '0h, nothing. I just told her some bad 
 news about Martin and she fainted." 
 
 (They pick Catharine up and lay her on the bed and bathe 
 her head. Catharine comes to. She looks around and starts 
 crying again. They let her cry for about [too minutes while 
 the three gather in the corner and discuss something in a low 
 voice. After a while Harte, Sr '-, speaks ) 
 
 "Now, my dear, you see there is no use. Martin will have 
 to hang, and you will be left alone here. Why not come 
 with us?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Can't you save him? Can't you save him? 
 Surely you can. You are a rich man. You can make your 
 millions work." 
 
 (Harte, Sr.) — "Of course I can, but I won't. He is gu'.hy 
 
22 
 
 and he shall die. He committed the crime which is punish- 
 able only by death. He is a traitor to this government." 
 
 (Catharine sobs,) 
 
 (Mr. Harte, Sr.) — "Catharine, I am going to do one thing 
 for you. One word from me and Martin will go free. I 
 will give that word and you can save his life provided you 
 promise to marry George and come home and live with us." 
 
 (Catharine) — "No, no, no. I can't, I won't." 
 
 (Harte, Sr.) — "All right, then, that is settled. Martin 
 will die and you had the power to save his life, if you wished. 
 (Turns to the others) There is no use, let's go." 
 
 (They all get up to "Walk out.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "No, no, no, please don't go yet. Give me 
 a little time to consider." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "There is nothing to consider, dearie: 
 there is only one way out of the situation. That is for you to 
 come with us. Now come, go and pack your stuff up and 
 let's go." 
 
 (Catharine suddenly appears to have decided something, 
 stands up, wipes her tears and says) — "I will go. I am going 
 to sell myself, but for a good price. I shall sell myself to a 
 man I hate for the life of the man I love." 
 
 (She starts packing her grips, and they are all about ready 
 to go, when they suddenly hear a noise at the door. The door 
 opens without knocking and Father Don and Martin Lightstone 
 come in. Catharine runs over to Martin with a scream of joy. 
 They embrace each other.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "I am so glad you are a free man, I thought 
 you were innocent." 
 
 (Martin) — "Innocent of what?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Weren't you sentenced to be hanged?" 
 
 (Martin) — "Of course not." 
 
 (Catharine) — "That man over there told me that you were 
 to be hanged in a few days (pointing to Harte, Sr.) 
 
 (Martin, looking at Harte, Sr.; recognizes him as the presi- 
 dent of the Foster Lumber Mills. He leaves Catharine alone, 
 grows more furious and speaks to Harte, Sr.) 
 
 "So it is you? — uh. (Runs over to him, grabs him by his 
 
23 
 
 ihfoat and starts choking him.) I have been looking for you 
 for the last three months, and you knew it, and you were over 
 in Europe/* 
 
 (Harte, Sr.) — "What's the matter? Why are you so 
 bitter against me?" 
 
 (Martin) — "Maybe you don't know me, but I know you, 
 Maybe you don't know that fifteen years ago my father was a 
 victim of your greedy, money making schemes. Yes, you 
 don't know that the poor laborer who was killed in one of your 
 mills fifteen years ago was my father, and even then I swore 
 revenge. Not satisfied with killing him, you have made me 
 a pauper, a tramp. You have bought out the attorney that was 
 defending a poor Italian whom I have loaned all I had. You 
 have ruined him and he now lies in a pauper's grave, and now 
 you come here and try to destroy the only thing that money 
 cannot buy, and you and all of your kind with all of your 
 millions cannot control, that is, this woman's love and happi- 
 ness. I shall reckon with you right now. You shall pay in 
 blood of your body for the blood of the many hundreds of men, 
 women and children that you have killed and disabled in your 
 factories. (He rushes io him, when the three others hold him 
 back. He struggles for a while.) 
 
 (Mr. Harte, Jr., in alow tone) — "We will make him suffer 
 for this. Let us go now." 
 
 (They all leave the room except Martin and Catharine.) 
 
 (Catharine calms Martin.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "I am so glad you have come back, I never 
 would have believed that of father. I wonder what tempted 
 him to do this thing." 
 
 (Martin) — "I know what did it. It is nothing unusual; it 
 happens every day in our civilized world. It is that ever cring- 
 ing, craving lust on the part of the rich for more money. Money 
 they don't need. It is the mad hunt for money that turns 
 human beings into heartless beasts. No, Catharine, after all 
 it is not all his own fault. It is the game, and he is trying to 
 play as he sees it. It is also our fault, the people's fault, for 
 allowing this kind of a game to continue. This is the great 
 problem for us yet to solve. 
 
 End of Act II. 
 
24 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 Studio. Very artistically furnished. Martin Lightstone 
 sitting beside a painting half finished on an easel. He holds 
 the brush and palate in his hand and is whistling some song. 
 He appears to be interested in his painting when the door 
 opens and Catharine enters. She lightly runs over to Martin, 
 touches him on the shoulder and he turns around, smiling. 
 
 (Martin, smiling) — "Hello, Catharine. Back already?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes, Martin; done some shopping." 
 
 (Martin) — "I suppose you bought some more ties and cuff 
 links for me?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "No, no, no!" 
 
 (Martin)— "What then?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Oh, I bought some goods; I'm going to 
 do some sewing*" 
 
 (Martin) — "Sewing? What are you going to sew now?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Oh, just some sewing," 
 
 (Martin) — "Pray tell me, what are you going to sew?" 
 
 (Catharine does not answer.) 
 
 (Martin) — "Come now, what are you going to sew?" 
 
 (Catharine, blushing) — "None of your business." 
 
 (Martin) — "Now, Catharine, this is the first time you have 
 spoken that way to me since we were married." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Oh, yes, that reminds me, Martin, Monday 
 will be our first wedding anniversary." 
 
 (Martin)- — "Yes, that is certainly a memorable day. I 
 guess we were married under more unusual circumstances than 
 any other two persons in the world." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes, how well I remember those days! I 
 shall never forget them, and I believe if it was not for Father 
 Don, we never would have been married." 
 
 (Martin) — "^nd how he has changed since!" 
 
 (Catharine) — "He seems to be very down-hearted; I won- 
 der what's the matter." 
 
 (Martin) — "I know what's the matter; you see Father Don 
 has spent many years of his life in fighting the liquor traffic, 
 and now, after he has succeeded in voting this State dry, look 
 
25 
 
 at the consequences! Business depressions, more unemployed, 
 more poverty, and the worst of it all, there are more drunks 
 ' than ever before. He found out that he has wasted his time 
 and that Prohibition really does not prohibit. Can you blame 
 him for being down-hearted?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Isn't it too bad that people can not refrain 
 from poisonous liquors ?" 
 
 (Martin, looking surprised) — "Catharine, since when have 
 you become a Prohibitionist?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Isn't it true; does not liquor contain poi- 
 son.-* 
 
 (Martin) — "Well, to be frank with you, it does contain poi- 
 son to a certain degree, but the question arises: is that poison 
 harmful to your body? As a matter of fact, beer is more 
 nourishing than the average food stuff that you eat, and the 
 so-called poison is less harmful to your physical organism than 
 such frequently used foods as coffee, tea, pepper, ginger, and 
 even common table salt. Why don't they try to pass a law 
 prohibiting the use of these?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "You win." 
 
 (Door bell rings.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "Who can that be?" 
 
 (Martin) — "I guess it is Father Don." 
 
 (Catharine runs out and returns in a few moments, hand-in- 
 hand with Father Don.) 
 
 (Catharine) — "You are right; here he is." 
 
 (Martin) — "Good afternoon, Father Don." 
 
 (Father Don) — "How many times have I told you not to 
 call me * Father'; my name is now 'Mr. Don.' 
 
 (Martin) — "So? All right, Father Don." 
 
 (Father Don)— "What?" 
 
 (Martin) — "Oh, I mean 'Mr.' Don. Why do you 
 object to being called 'Father?' 
 
 (Father Don) — "Because I believe in the brotherhood of 
 man; since we are all brothers, how can I be your father?" 
 
 (They laugh.) 
 
 (Martin) — "Well, now that you have got the saloons closed, 
 what are you going to close next?" 
 
 (Father Don) — "Why do you ask this question?" 
 
26 
 
 (Martin) — "Is it not perfectly natural for people of such 
 grand moral caliber as our Prohibition friends are, to try to 
 close dance halls, pool rooms and even theatres. Now really, 
 I think you ought to try to close the theatres to give the people 
 a chance to go to church." 
 
 (Father Don) — "Why be so sarcastic? There was a time 
 when I really was in favor of all these things, but you know 
 I have changed." 
 
 (Martin) — "You have! Now, Father Don, answer me; 
 what would you do with a man that can not control himself 
 and drinks to excess?" 
 
 (Father Don) — "There is one thing I am now convinced of; 
 prohibition laws will not help him any. His place is in a hos- 
 pital or an asylum. He will have to have his head fixed. The 
 person who can not control himself in regard to liquor, can not 
 control himself regarding any other vice. As far as I am con- 
 cerned, I am through with spending my time and energy with 
 effects. From now on I shall deal with causes." 
 
 (Martin) — "I see by the papers this morning that they are 
 beginning to discover the famous 'Blind Pigs.' ' 
 
 (Father Don) — "Yes, I must say, your prophecy came 
 true." 
 
 (Martin) — "And -the one benefit the State might derive is 
 in extracting money from them in the form of fines. I hope 
 they realize that they can not close them up, for if they close one 
 in one part of the town, three new ones will spring up in another 
 part. This has been true in other states where they have pro- 
 hibition." 
 
 (Father Don) — "Well, after all, by our mistakes we learn." 
 
 (Martin) — "This mistake could have been easily avoided 
 if the campaign committee of the California Dry Federation 
 were not composed of people who already were intoxicated 
 with religion, and by having these kind of jags, they could not 
 think clearly and see the consequences of their actions. Tell 
 me, what is the difference between a person becoming intoxicated 
 on relision, whether that religion be Baptist, Salvation Army, 
 or Holy Rollers, and the person who gets intoxicated on 
 liquor?" 
 
 (Father Don) — "Well, what is it?" 
 
27 
 
 (Martin) — "The difference is this; a person having a liquor 
 jag will recover from its effects in a few hours, well, probably 
 a day, but a person with a religious jag may never get over the 
 effects. For myself, if I were to chocse between the two, give 
 me the beer." 
 
 (Father Don) — "But you do not drink at all." 
 
 (Martin) — "I knew it, but I am supposed to be a free- 
 born American citizen, and should I desire it, why shourd I be 
 prevented?" 
 
 (Father Don) — "Perhaps it is better for your health." 
 
 (Martin) — "That is my business. Many people believe in 
 being vegetarians and refrain from eating meats, which accord- 
 ing to good authority is bad for the health. You would think 
 it absurd for me to advocate the passage of a law that would 
 compel these people to eat meat on the grounds that they were 
 starving themselves to death. Now, I also believe that a black 
 suit would look better on you than the gray suit you have on. 
 Let us pass a law to compel you to wear black suits instead of 
 the color you would prefer. In other words, it is merely a 
 proposal by some people to destroy the liberty of others, to tell 
 them what to wear, what to eat and what to drink." 
 
 (Bell rings, Catharine opens the door and Mrs. Bevarde 
 enters. She is dressed somewhat simpler this time.) 
 
 (Martin) — "Why, how do you do, Mrs. Bevarde!" 
 (They shake hands) "How are you getting along?" 
 
 (Catharine) — "Yes, auntie, tell us how you spend your time 
 now." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "I am very busy now with political work; 
 I have been elected president of the Women's Civic Club." 
 
 (Martin) — "Yes, this is the club which has been so active 
 in the last Prohibition campaign and has been a great factor in 
 making the State of California dry." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Yes, the women of this State should be 
 proud of the good they have accomplished." 
 
 (Martin) — "Yes, oh, yes, proud of their ignorance." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Mr. Lightstone! Really, you are not 
 a drinking man, and I can not see why you should be so much 
 opposed to Prohibition." 
 
 (Martin) — "You women, more than anybody else should 
 
28 
 
 be concerned with matters that affect your home, your children, 
 and your family. If you claim to be Christians, you ought to 
 help better the conditions of the poor, give them a little more 
 food to eat, a better place to sleep, and better living conditions. 
 Instead of that, you are wasting your time in dealing with a 
 problem you don't know anything about. There are over 
 500,000 people killed and maimed annually on all railroads, 
 shops, mills, mines and factories, because of the lack of safety 
 appliances and the greed of their employers, and do you women 
 shed any tears over this? Thousands of people die an early 
 death because of one great curse to the human race, and that 
 curse is not liquor; it is tuberculosis. They die because of the 
 lack of pure food, pure air, and the opportunity to live right. 
 Do you women shed any tears over this? No! No! You are 
 too busy shouting * 'Liquor, liquor," and then when you win 
 one campaign you spend the balance of your time seeing that it 
 doesn't go wet again, and when it is wet, you spend your time 
 trying to make it dry, forgetting your home, your babes and 
 your families. I can see some reason for you and your kind, 
 who have been brought up amongst the rich, to take up this 
 fight merely as pastime. Playing whist is not so much in style 
 now; politics has become the style for society in California, but 
 the vast majority of women who are living from hand to mouth 
 because their husbands do not get a decent living wage, that 
 they should take a hand in this fight is a monument to an ignorant 
 society." 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Martin Lightstone! You are insulting 
 the women of California." 
 
 (Martin) — "If by telling the truth I am insulting anybody, 
 then they will remain insulted." 
 
 (Catharine) — "Now don't start any arguments!" 
 
 (Father Don) — "We won't settle matters here, and I should 
 advise Mrs. Bevarde to read some books and inform herself 
 on the subject, as I have done; then she will have the ques- 
 tion settled in her own mind." 
 
 (Catharine) — "When I come to think of it, do you know 
 this reminds me of the time we were all together in my father's 
 house, discussing Prohibition. At that time Father Don ar- 
 gued with Martin, and then do you remember what happened?" 
 
29 
 
 (Father Don) — "There is no use of recalling these sad in- 
 cidents. (Addressing Mrs. Bevarde.) What has ever be- 
 come of this fellow, George Hart, whom Catharine was so 
 much in love with?" (Smiling.) 
 
 (Mrs. Bevarde) — "Oh, he married shortly after Catha- 
 rine was married and is now divorced again." 
 
 (Martin) — "There certainly was a long successive string of 
 sad events those days." 
 
 (Catharine) — "What has ever become of that Italian 
 family?" 
 
 (Martin) — "I left them here in despair; poor Tony died; 
 I lost my money, and went ragged for about three months, 
 roaming around the country, and when I came back I heard 
 that Mr. Foster very kindly gave her the large sum of $25.00 
 for her husband's life." 
 
 (Father Don) — "Twenty-five dollars! " 
 
 (Martin) — "And if you left it to a judge and jury to de- 
 cide, his life would not have been worth anything. Nowadays 
 it is millions that count, and not human life." 
 
 (Catharine) — "This is a queer world!" 
 
 (Martin) — "It is not queer to some people. It is easily un- 
 derstood. We only need a thinking people who know their 
 interests and we will remedy these conditions. We only need 
 people who are not lured away in fighting super-structures. 
 When the time comes that the human race is educated to devote 
 their lives in solving real problems, problems that concern every 
 man, woman and child living under the sun; when we will spend 
 our energy in fighting greed and make way for a time when 
 there will be real opportunity for all equality and human 
 brotherhood, then, and then only, will this world cease to be a 
 queer world." 
 
 End of Act III. Curtain. 
 
LIBRARY ur 
 
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