American Dramatists Series 
 
 
 v 
 
Gopight N° 
 
 CfiHOUGHT DEPOSIT 
 
American Dramatists Series 
 
 THE CROWNING 
 
 A Playin Four Acts 
 
 WILLIAM WILEY SCOTT 
 
 
 BOSTON 
 THE GORHAM PRESS 
 
 MCMXVIII 
 
Copyright, 1919, by William W. Scott 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 
 Made in the United States of America 
 The Gorham Press, Boston, U.S.A. 
 
 \ \V 
 
 v. 
 
 'Ci.D 52797 
 
 •wfl V 
 
ANNOUNCEMENT 
 
 The soul of man was never created. It has an 
 existence without a beginning, is indestructible, and 
 will exist forever. Its dwelling abode, the body, 
 alone was created. The soul of man was dwelling 
 in the realms of Peace before it entered this abode. 
 
 Peace sues in the temporal courts for her right 
 to rule the soul of man, basing her title upon pre- 
 temporal sovereignty. 
 
 All war has its inception in an unscrupulous few 
 agitating public opinion. Peace alleges, in the Court 
 of Public Opinion, that the soul of man is her sub- 
 ject, was pure and peaceful when it entered the 
 world, and that she has a right to set up her king- 
 dom here and rule over it. She is opposed at court 
 by Greed and others, who deny her authority. She 
 further alleges that the soul is peaceable in its orig- 
 inality, but its nature is contaminated by temporal 
 affairs and is thus set at strife. 
 
 In the trial court Reason incurs the displeasure 
 of the Court, and is thrown into prison and Peace 
 loses her suit. 
 
 Though placed in chains. Peace, at the second 
 term of court, renews her suit. 
 
 At this time Lie comes into the Court of Public 
 Opinion and demands war, stating the country is 
 threatened by an enemy. Greed demands the head 
 of Reason and war is declared. 
 
4 ANNOUNCEMENT 
 
 Thus is shown the great danger of the hasty de- 
 cisions of the Court of Public Opinion. 
 
 Here is where "Honest Toil" gets a hand in war. 
 He knows little or nothing of the issues, but meekly 
 says "I obey" — and obeys. He calls the sons of 
 Toil together and sets them to killing each other. 
 
 So long as Toil is willing to have his sons kill 
 each other there will be war. Human nature can- 
 not be changed. Build a thousand Hagues and fill 
 them with a thousand theories and you will yet 
 have the same old Jealousy and the same old Greed 
 among pampered rulers of nations, who want to 
 even up old scores and forcibly take that which be- 
 longs to another, and as long as Toil will do the 
 fighting there will be war. 
 
 In Toil, and in Toil alone, rests the solution of 
 war. When Honest Toil wakes up to the full 
 realization of this horror of horrors, wakes up to 
 the fact that he is but the tool of Greed and Jeal- 
 ousy, he will stamp out war and stamp it out for- 
 ever. 
 
 "The Crowning's" effort is to show the toilers 
 their position in war, and to help them take a stand 
 on the side of Peace. 
 
 Ninety per cent of the earth's peoples are toilers. 
 While yet of different lands and different tongues, 
 they are toilers just the same. In the toiler lies 
 all power. When he will have put his seal of dis- 
 approval upon war it will be a thing of history, and 
 the world will be at peace. For this and other 
 great purposes Honest Toil is fast mustering his 
 sons under one united banner. During the last 
 twenty- five years there has been a greater growth 
 
ANNOUNCEMENT 5 
 
 of unionism than in all the previous history of man- 
 kind. This but points to the time which must 
 come within the next quarter of a century, when it 
 will be as impossible for any nation to start war 
 as it would be for it to grapple the planets from 
 the firmament. Why? Because Honest Toil will 
 have broken the chains from the hands of Peace 
 and seated her upon the throne of the human heat. 
 
 Author. 
 
THE PLOT 
 
 ACT I 
 
 Peace sues in the Court of Public Opinion for 
 the right to rule man. 
 
 Her suit is opposed by Greed and others. 
 
 Peace brings up as her witnesses Love, Mercy, 
 Honor and Reason. 
 
 Greed brings to his aid Avarice, Jealousy, blander 
 and Lie. 
 
 Peace loses her suit and is ordered placed in chains 
 
 by the Court. , ^ . • j 
 
 Reason criticises the Court of Public Opinion and 
 is ordered thrown into a dungeon with the sentence 
 of death over his head. 
 
 ACTH 
 
 Peace renews her suit in the Court of Public 
 
 Opinion. . , 
 
 She is again opposed by the same parties,— Cjreed 
 
 and others. . 
 
 Greed's counsel sways the Court against Feace, 
 and the Court grants an application for war. 
 
 Reason is beheaded, and the Court declares war 
 over his bleeding head. ^ 
 
 Honest Toil is ordered to gather his sons and 
 proceed to battle. 
 
THE PLOT 
 
 ACT III 
 
 The battle Is raging, when Peace enters the field 
 and pleads with Honest Toil to stop his sons from 
 slaying each other. The wreck of war is shown on 
 the battlefield. The Red Cross is seen removing 
 the dead and wounded. The little daughter of 
 Reason persuades Toil to stop the war. 
 
 ACT IV 
 
 Greed and Avarice discuss the results of war In 
 their private room. The Court convenes and Peace 
 wins her suit to the throne in the heart of man. 
 
 Toil breaks the bonds that bind Peace and crowns 
 her In the heart of man. 
 
 The sons of Toil disarm. 
 
Order of Appearance of the Characters 
 
 1 Avarice i Peace 
 
 2 Greed 2 Honor 
 
 3 Jealousy 3 Love 
 
 4 Slander 4 Mercy 
 
 5 Lie 5 Reason 
 
THE CROWNING 
 
 ACT I 
 
 Stage Setting 
 
 Time — Present. 
 
 Place — Public Hall or High Court Room. 
 
 His Majesty, the High Court of Public Opin- 
 ion, occupies a throne, above which, in crescent 
 form, effected by electric lighting device, are writ- 
 ten the words — "Throne of Power," — beneath 
 which are written the words — "Public Opinion." 
 
 The stage in this act portrays a hall of justice, 
 or the Court Room. The Court's seat is upon an 
 elevated throne or platform, around which runs a 
 railing or "bar." To the immediate left and slight- 
 ly forward of the throne, outside the railing, is 
 placed a book table, at the outside of which are five 
 chairs facing the throne. At the back and above 
 each seat is a banner with the respective speakers' 
 names inscribed thereon. 
 
 Same arrangement of chairs and tables on the 
 right. A space of two feet should separate the table 
 and the railing of the throne. A few law books are 
 placed on the table to the left; a single book — the 
 Bible — on the table to the right. 
 
 In front and slightly to the right, on a lower 
 II 
 
12 THE CROWNING . . 
 
 elevation, is placed the snow-white seat of this con- 
 troversy — the throne of the human heart. This 
 seat is perfectly white, formed in the shape of and 
 representing a heart. 
 
 The stage is lighted brilliantly. The curtain 
 rises to low, plaintive music, which ceases as the 
 first speaker arises to address the Court. The Court 
 and all characters are seated in the following order, 
 beginning nearest the throne, when the curtain rises. 
 On the Left — ^Avarice, Greed, Jealousy, Slander 
 and Lie. 
 
 On the Right — Peace, Honor, Love, Mercy and 
 Reason. 
 Dress — 
 
 Avarice is dressed in golden brown. 
 
 Greed is dressed in yellow, with large dollar 
 
 ($) marks all over his clothing. 
 Jealousy is dressed in green. 
 Slander is dressed in lavender. 
 Lie is dressed in black. 
 Avarice, Greed and Lie are represented by male 
 characters. 
 
 Jealousy and Slander by female. 
 Dress — 
 
 Peace is dressed in white. 
 Honor in blue. 
 Mercy in cream. 
 Love in cream and white. 
 Reason in scarlet. 
 Peace, Mercy and Love are represented by fe- 
 male characters. 
 
 Honor and Reason, by male. 
 
 At either side of the Court stands an orderly 
 
ACT I 13 
 
 or "courtier." These are dressed in the customary 
 court dress. They stand at attention with staff in 
 hand. 
 
 The hairdress of all above characters should be 
 white or gray, producing antique effect. 
 
 Each speaker arises when addressing the Court 
 and remains standing until answered by opposite 
 speaker, and then resumes his seat only when the 
 opposite speaker is through speaking and the weight 
 of his argument seems to bear him back to his seat 
 as the third speaker arises to his defense. 
 
 All dialogue should be pronounced in a clear, 
 emphatic tone, not too rapidly except for emphasis. 
 
 Reason. ''In the holy name of Peace, this queen 
 of queens, Oh venerable Court of Public Opinion, 
 we pray thee establish her at rule in the heart of 
 man." 
 
 Greed. "Thy Supreme Highness, the Royal 
 Court of Public Opinion, we pray Thy Authority 
 establish not at government over the heart of man 
 a ruler whose title bears not the Great Seal of 
 our Ancient Creeds." 
 
 Avarice. "And I, too, would hear the testament 
 of this usurper who would threat our sweet and 
 ancient custom to worship at the throne of Power." 
 
 Peace. "Calm thyself. Greed ; Avarice, thy con- 
 science ill bestirs thee. Ancient Authority to rule 
 that which in man is immortal? And my title to 
 that seat (pointing to seat) thou wouldst call to 
 question? Then thou wouldst call to question my 
 very own! Ancient Authority, speakest thou; Ay! 
 thou faileth in whole to grasp a part in understand- 
 ing. Ere the soul of man was called to these vul- 
 
14 THE CROWNING 
 
 gar limits which so pleaseth thee to call 'Time,' 
 these spirits were of me and commanded by my 
 gentle guide. Ay! my title wouldst thou deny? 
 Deny then the morn to the day, and heritage her 
 own acclaimed possessions. Before the worlds were 
 was I, my sovereignty their heritage. Sweetly sang 
 they to harmonious chords, ere, through the portals 
 of flesh, on natal morn, they mis-wandered into the 
 realms of Time. Deniest thou their purity when 
 first they crossed the threshold of Time, then mayst 
 thou deny my right to rule. It is the corroding 
 touch of Time that soils the purity of the soul, and 
 fills it with poisons and venom. In Time's realm 
 the soul lingers but a moment, sickens and returns. 
 Yet with it still my right it is, I crave to be. Of 
 better ease would I make its journey; ay, smooth the 
 way of return. To thee, O Power, we carry our 
 petition to rule these whom are but our own. They 
 we would yet guide in the pleasant paths as of 
 yore, before the worlds were young. As of all 
 they are, all are one, yet set to strife in weakness 
 of understanding. With a blindness before their 
 eyes they see not each other, neither know they what 
 they do. Their guidance wants but my gentle moni- 
 tion. Betime the nations so rudely act, with weapon 
 in hand, it were better they were not armed at all. 
 That higher attribute of man, social culture, sub- 
 ordinated to fear, the moral coward arms against his 
 neighbors, causing them to arm against him; so, of 
 fear, the nations arm, one and all. Is there virtue 
 in fear? Let shame answer! Man fearing man? 
 Nay, it is the arm; take it away. Well may justice 
 trembling stand, as though its course run, viewing 
 
ACT I 15 
 
 enactures of shame when the supreme statute of 
 the land is the biggest gun and the orator of the 
 day is a tongue of flame." 
 
 Avarice. "Thy Worship, hear these strange words 
 and such manner of witness. Deign we lend ear to 
 such carping? Material things, we call for mate- 
 rial things; we care not for the shadow, give us 
 the substance, that our hearts may fill and swell, 
 and leap as the roe. Pass to us, my bosom friend. 
 Greed and I, the scepter to rule the heart of man, 
 that all may go well. We more serenely would 
 speak of Time. 'Tis in her environs we profit great- 
 ly, even though we elevate man by practice at the 
 sword. Is it not of his own delight that he would 
 thus practice? See how quickly he leaps when my 
 friend, Greed, but points the chance. Be there not 
 gain in each conflict, else why go they to war? 
 What of it though we. face the charge that Time 
 has set to covet the souls of man, do we not greatly 
 glory and multiply in our gain? Has not Time 
 also set the different units of man about the sev- 
 eral parts of earth, and drawn her own battle plans? 
 Has not Ancient Custom set up her venerable laws?" 
 
 Mercy. "Thy Worship, I, too, am a subject of 
 Peace. To her worthy claims would lend my life. 
 Her protection I crave with an innermost longing. 
 The wisdom of her rule consumes me with a halo 
 that is warmed by the touch of Divinity. Her pow- 
 er is supreme among angels, devils at her tread 
 tremble. Yea! even the bane of war seeks a solace 
 in sympathy. Ah, can it be that damnable custom 
 so warps reason and snarls the fiber of conscience 
 that the will trunkles an evil as a thing of glee? 
 
i6 THE CROWNING 
 
 Life, that fount from which springs endless change, 
 is held by divine canon to be a property exempt from 
 traffic, and he who would mortgage in bond, sell 
 to slaughter and brand with death, stands charged 
 at the eternal bar of justice with a major crime 
 whose penalty is hell's most hideous reckoning. 
 Eternity insufficient, croaching upon time, unseen 
 demons haste to tear away the bars from conscience, 
 and, vulture-like feast upon the cankerous soul. 
 Mental sentries chilled with fear the wretched vic- 
 tim cries his crime aloud." 
 
 Jealousy. Thy noble Worship, hear not the 
 prayer of fair Mercy. Her silken tongue would 
 call down the gods to wreck our ancient altars, that 
 we worship not at thy throne. To rule the heart 
 of man, — I the right and lay my claim." 
 
 Love. *'Thy words, oh Jealousy, sting me to 
 the heart. Ruled thou the heart of man, life would 
 be a flame of bitterness consuming beauty all, earth 
 a blackened waste. Temperance weeps when fools 
 rush in; to public weal give there a heed. Crazed 
 with madness passion leads but to ruin." 
 
 Lie. "Your great and noble Worship, I would 
 humbly come to thee with the important informa- 
 tion that our glorious country at this moment is 
 threatened by a secret enemy. My emissaries are 
 in all lands, secretly gathering the enemies' plots and 
 intrigues. They would take us at their advantage, 
 steal upon us as a thief, and overthrow our insti- 
 tutions and make of our people slaves. Why then 
 listen to the idle prattle of Peace, Love and Mercy 
 when our shores are thus threatened?" 
 
 The Court. ''Has the enemy a just complaint?" 
 
ACT I 17 
 
 Lie. "He has not, your Worship. He threats 
 our soldiers who are taking his country by con- 
 quest; ay, conquest the noblest of all titles." 
 
 The Court. "Call hither Honest Toil to receive 
 my commands." 
 
 (Honest Toil appears, dressed as ordinary la- 
 borer.) 
 
 The Court. "Honest Toil, our possessions are 
 threatened. Our pride and dignity must not be 
 lowered. Start the factories of arms and muni- 
 tions of war. Call thy sons together by legion and 
 in their hands place the sword. We must be pre- 
 pared." 
 
 Toil. "I obey." 
 
 (With a low and humble bow Toil retires to 
 obey orders.) 
 
 Peace. "Again plead I the right to that throne. 
 These sons of Toil thou wouldst call together and 
 set to destruction are my subjects. Thy orders but 
 mislead and blind them. Thou art, oh Court of 
 Public Opinion, vilely influenced by these vipers, 
 Lie, Jealousy and Greed. Those thou wouldst call 
 enemies are but other noble sons of Honest Toil, 
 blindly urged on by other members of that wicked 
 family — Lie, Jealousy and Greed. Knowest thou 
 not that in Honest Toil thou but set brother to 
 kill brother? Enemies sayest thou? There are no 
 enemies; let the name die; 'tis but the act of man 
 prodded from the heart by Jealousy and Greed. 
 They fever the brain and blind understanding." 
 
 Jealousy. "Your Worship, this flighty one at- 
 tests herself to perjury, and we demand that she be 
 thrown in chains before she traitors our courageous 
 
i8 THE CROWNING » 
 
 armies and betrays our glorious country to ruin." 
 The Court. "I command the service of Honest 
 Toil." (Toil appears.) 
 
 The Court. "Honest Toil, this one among us 
 appears to be a stranger and an evil person. I 
 command thee to place her in chains." 
 
 (Toil chains the hands and arms of Peace.) 
 Love. "Knowest thou not thee violate the divine 
 rights of Peace? Those heavenly gifts accorded her 
 by the gods before the worlds were? She it is who 
 gives me strength, life and light through all my 
 years. Oh mighty Court, hear my prayer. Grant 
 Peace her rightful seat in the heart of man. With 
 her dethronement death cuts me down, I bleed and 
 die." 
 
 Slander. "Your Worship, these pretenders are 
 without a history, a record or a great name. Their 
 origin is questionable, low and base. Dignity would 
 not stoop to their association. Let us haste to the 
 higher things of Court." 
 
 Reason. "Still thy vile words. Slander. Thy 
 slimy tongue hisses venom of a reptile that blights 
 and withers the name of decency. Were thee wiser 
 thy counsel in silence thou wouldst keep. And thou, 
 too, oh Public Opinion, calm thyself. Thou art 
 goaded on by Greed, and thy brain is much over- 
 heated by Jealousy and Lie. Hark to the counsel 
 of Reason, and let thy action be guided in the 
 ways of wisdom. If another have a grievance it is 
 wise to weigh his claim. The great law of jus- 
 tice is to give as thou wouldst receive. This law 
 drives away the clouds of doubt and grief. In all 
 its way there Is a breadth to wisdom; a depth with- 
 al, a foundation immutable. When the family of 
 
ACT I 19 
 
 man, tree-like, suffers a branch, it mourns a loss 
 of vitality in the whole. Double fool is he who 
 would call down the lightning to wither a member 
 of this family of branches and damage the flow of 
 life in the whole. Prosper not the nations to great- 
 er thrift by lifting higher the life of each the other .^ 
 Hark the difference in the music of commerce and 
 the din of war. Angels sang at the birth of 
 Charity." 
 
 Greed. "We rise to a point of order. It is 
 nowhere written in all the history of our ancient 
 custom where this intruder, Reason, were permit- 
 ted to criticise thy Worship's dictates. With an 
 outlandish impudence he would chasten even thy 
 holy Worship. We demand that his just dues be 
 served him in a prison cell, and we pray thy Wor- 
 ship that on the morrow, at the hour of Court, 
 as a warning to the future that such manner of in- 
 sult be never again repeated, thou, oh Court, require 
 his head, severed from his body, brought before this 
 august body of councillors on a golden platter. Let 
 us feast our eyes upon the last of such a wretch, that 
 our hearts may be filled with happiness and sweet 
 contentment." 
 
 The Court. "By order of this august Court of 
 Public Opinion thy request is hereby granted. On 
 the morrow the head of Reason shall be brought be- 
 fore this body of wise councillors as a token that 
 forever afterwards his insolence shall not disturb 
 our wise deliberations in times of stress and trou- 
 ble. My laws have stood supreme for ages, they 
 shall not be violated by this impostor. Reason. Duty 
 guards; Reason to the prison cell." 
 
 (The two guards who have thus far stood by the 
 
20 THE CROWNING 
 
 Court step quickly forward, and seizing Reason 
 violently they bind him with cords and drag him 
 from the stage. While this is being done, Love 
 and Mercy step quickly to the seat of Human Heart 
 and drape it in black. All this while the stage lights 
 are dimming darker and the curtain goes down. As 
 the lights begin to dim when the Court has ordered 
 the guards to bind Reason, the Devil (a character 
 dressed in red to represent the devil) appears from 
 the left bearing a tray of wine, and serves a glass 
 each to Avarice, Greed, Jealousy, Slander and Lie.) 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
ACT II 
 
 Time — Court hour the following day. 
 
 Place — Same Hall — Temple of Public Opinion. 
 
 The same scenery is used throughout this act, 
 except the table on left. In place of the long table 
 two small wine tables are used. The throne, tables 
 and entire setting are moved farther back from the 
 footlights. To the left of the room there is ar- 
 ranged a small council or private room, with front 
 exposure. Curtain rises with Greed and Jealousy 
 seated at a wine table in this council room, the 
 main hall empty. Greed and Jealousy are plotting 
 to bring about a general war in order that Jealousy 
 may satisfy some grievance and Greed make a big 
 lot of money as the result of conditions of war. 
 
 Greed. "Yea, fair Jealousy, thou hast spoken 
 wisely. Can we but sway the Court to our cause 
 and bring about a general and glorious war, thou 
 canst send Toil and his sons of labor against thine 
 enemies and reap sweet vengeance. Thy beautiful 
 pride shall shine as never before, when thine ene- 
 mies are at thy feet humble in the dust of humilit}\ 
 Let Toil and his sons slay their workingmen, and 
 cut off their proud support. Destroy their sustenance 
 and their laboring men and the world is ours. Our 
 faithful Toil and his sons have never deserted us in 
 our cause for war, especially when we get a favor- 
 
 21 
 
22 THE CROWNING 
 
 able decision from our favorite Court of Public 
 Opinion. But mark ye fair Jealousy, mark ye well, 
 we must keep Toil well away from that dangerous 
 character, Reason. The cause of war is ruined for- 
 ever if Reason and Toil get acquainted. Thy hap- 
 piness, dear Jealousy, would go down in ignoble dis- 
 aster, and my great prosperity which I have en- 
 joyed for lo, these many wars in which we have 
 had fools kill each other, would end in ruin and 
 cease forever." 
 
 Jealousy. "Be of good cheer, Greed, brace thy- 
 self with another glass of wine. Didst thou not 
 call for the head of Reason on yesterday, and didst 
 not the right royal and generous Court of Public 
 Opinion set this day on which to grant thy re- 
 quest? Then thou this day revert his memory to 
 that word of promise. The royal word of Public 
 Opinion is supreme law. Yea, thy wish shall be 
 granted this day. Let not trouble enter thy brain. 
 Greed, that we win our suit for war, fear not. Re- 
 member our noble servant, ay, I should say our 
 noble attorney, in fact, at law, the great Mr. Lie. 
 He hath made for himself a famous record in the 
 trial courts for war. 'Tis his beautiful eloquence 
 that hath ever swung the Court to our favor. Upon 
 his priceless pleading we rest our cause. Ay, again 
 I say — Greed, grasp cheer. Our Mr. Lie fails not 
 to win in the Court of Public Opinion. Swaj^ed 
 easily that Court as a reed in the wind, and has 
 few moral supports to hold it up. Forsooth this 
 Court amuseth me overmuch, his manner of spew- 
 ing out spleen for wisdom." 
 
 Greed. "Hark! the bell, the hour draws to hand, 
 proceed to Court." 
 
ACT II 23 
 
 The Court enters preceded by the same two 
 guards, who stand at attention while the Court 
 ascends to his seat and then resume their places at 
 right and left of the throne. Love and Mercy 
 enter unattended, resuming their former places. 
 Next to enter is Greed, taking plenty of time to seat 
 himself, looking scornfully at Love and Mercy. 
 Jealousy now enters on the arm of Lie. Honor next 
 enters from the other side. Last of all Slander 
 comes moping in and takes her seat. Toil now 
 appears, but on the opposite side of throne from 
 where he appeared in Act I. In the same attire, 
 but now with a sw^ord buckled on, he remains stand- 
 ing at the elbow of Greed. Reason does not appear 
 in this or any subsequent Act. 
 
 The order of entry of the above characters should 
 be slow and deliberate, as representing the ap- 
 proach to the question of war. 
 
 Lie rises first, addressing the Court with much 
 gusto. 
 
 Lie. "May it please thy ancient and noble Wor- 
 ship, thou whom hast held in the scales of justice 
 the destiny of many nations, we come to thee to 
 plead for war. We proudly point thy Worship to 
 the great fact that war builds up a country, in^ 
 creases its glory, and makes of its subjects heroes. 
 At this very hour the dignity of thy realm is en- 
 croached by an enemy. Diplomacy faileth, to treat 
 fairly they scorn. They will not grant our de- 
 mands. Grant us the sword with them to deal." 
 
 Mercy. "Your Worship, I pray thou consider 
 ere thou wouldst extend the sword. Wherever the 
 sword hath written its hand it hath condemned it- 
 self. War breeds war, seeds sown in blood, reaped 
 
24 THE CROWNING 
 
 in death. There are centuries unborn with their 
 hosts of souls whose silent voices cry from the 
 Womb of Time — 'Stay the hand of war.' Patented 
 to such vastness in volume of worth in its authori- 
 tive diction, and sanctified to such divinity of mis- 
 sion, life is guarded by the jealous eye of Deity 
 and hungered for in hell. Woe is to him, bloody 
 woe, who snaps that flame ! War, thy name is mur- 
 der! Even upon the grounds sacred to hope, hon- 
 esty holds the key to happiness. A dearth of prin- 
 ciple brings poverty to the soul. 'Tis charity that 
 marks man from devil!" 
 
 Lie. ''Words of danger, your Worship, words 
 of danger. At purpose this wicked Mercy would 
 destroy noble manhood, reduce courage to a weak- 
 ling, stifle ambition, and place man at the will of 
 savagery. Let the records of the past bear witness. 
 It is not written that war has ever crushed out the 
 wrong and cowardly, and raised man to a higher 
 and nobler station? Shall we disgrace the heroes of 
 the past and from the scrolls of fame erase their 
 sacred names?" 
 
 Honor. "Empty words, your Worship, empty 
 words; they savor much of vanity. Far nobler the 
 courage born of mercy than the pomp of ambition 
 that levies tribute in death. Has not man to man 
 each a sacred part inviolate? Each his due, touch 
 not, ay, rather respect and extend therein protec- 
 tion. In this true heroes are born whose fame 
 can never die. The hero of war is but a moment's 
 span, the hero of peace immortal. Each lending 
 help to the other, grant the peoples of the earth 
 their allotted part and dispute no more. Therein 
 
ACT II 25 
 
 is man raised to a happier state, and not in war's 
 vain claim to empty dignity. Shall their dust suf- 
 fer again? Wouldst thou build a higher plane 
 upon the dead? No, there is no higher plane in 
 war. None but the savage and the brute, unlearned 
 in wisdom's ways, covet and seize the rightful share 
 belonging to another. Conquer thyself if thou 
 wouldst close the mouth of thine enemy's cannon. 
 Yea, tarnished is thy name, oh Pride, when cor- 
 roded with the blood of a fellow-man. Humanity 
 loves a ruler, a peer to look up to and follow, re- 
 posing trust; a sub-god, collector of fear and hom- 
 age. It has ever been thus. Puny the difference 
 whether patterned in law or in birth, the right to 
 rule attaches the very soul of trust. Within the 
 law or without, it differs not; greater the woe, 
 doubly told, to him who ravishes that holy of holies, 
 the corporate right of power to sway the destiny of 
 a nation. All crime is a common article in the 
 scales of justice, weighed to retribution according to 
 bulk. Wretch of wretches is he who sells a nation 
 to satisfy ambition! Happy his soul were life long 
 enough or even death potent to purge away the 
 blood, the tears and moans, but alas, Sharon's 
 course is set too swiftly toward the shores of the 
 burning sands." 
 
 Jealousy. "Hear not this prating. Honor, your 
 Worship, he but weaves an airy fabrication to wrap 
 himself therein. He loves not truth." 
 
 Honor. "Truth, oh Jealousy, sayest thou? Truth 
 is the enemy of war. Truth but needs release from 
 her century-fixed cell, the bars of custom broken 
 down. With prison guards about Truth, fame 
 
26 THE CROWNING 
 
 • 
 
 gained, sickens in the gaining, withers and dies. Old 
 forms that were, in hatred vile, old theories, customs 
 and habits in ignorance breed ; incubators of oppres- 
 sion, hatcheries of despots, loving darkness to color 
 their deeds, will crumble to earth and go everlasting- 
 ly down. Hark the stroke in yonder tower; mark 
 well that knell; 'tis the despot's life ebbing to the 
 flow of the school bell. The hand of Prudence 
 rings." 
 
 (At this point the devil gets busy, serving wine 
 to his side of the hall. All drink, including Hon- 
 est Toil, Love and Mercy looking on.) 
 
 Slander. "Hear Honor not, your noble Wor- 
 ship, he bears himself badly of repute." 
 
 Mercy. ''Still thy tongue, Slander; of thee is 
 naught of good." 
 
 Lie. "I again most profoundly appeal thy Wor- 
 ship, let these trifling babbles cease. Grant us war. 
 Thy name has been blasphemed. Thine enemies call 
 thee a weakling and a knave." 
 
 Court. ''Lie, thou movest me much. My inner- 
 most passions thou stirrest greatly with thy words." 
 
 Greed. "Wouldst it please thy august Worship, 
 one little trifle I would call to thy memory." 
 
 Court. "Speak on. Greed." 
 
 Greed. "On the yesterday thou gavest this coun- 
 cil in promise the head of Reason." 
 
 Court. "Spoken in good time. Greed, thy will 
 greatly pleases this Court." (Turning to Toil) 
 "Toil, repair to the dungeon and bring hither the 
 head of Reason." 
 
 (Toil retires, Love and Mercy kneel at the draped 
 throne of the human heart. Peace, who has not 
 before appeared in this Act, enters, her hands yet 
 
ACT II 27 
 
 in chains and draped in a veil of mourning, she 
 kneels pleading at the throne of power. The devil 
 gets busy with the wine.) 
 
 Peace. "I pray thy Worship, thou, oh Court of 
 Public Opinion, who ruleth in these great halls of 
 power, spare the sword. Grant not war to Greed 
 and Lie. Where the herald brain of man? Chaffy 
 stuff! Murder honorable? Blandishment of 
 vanity! Seasoned quiblets! Pride! Destruction! 
 Fob on it! Where falls heaviest the iron hand of 
 war? At the mansion's portal? Nay! 'tis at the 
 cabin door." 
 
 (A shot fired in back, and Toil appears with 
 a platter upon which is the head of Reason, — a 
 plaster replica, headdress and all, of the original 
 Reason. He places it on a stand before the Court, 
 who becomes greatly excited, jumping to his feet, 
 shoving Peace to one side, drawing his sword and 
 raising it above his head, he thus speaks:) 
 
 Court. "By the royal authority of the great 
 Court of Public Opinion, and over the bleeding 
 head of Reason, I declare war. Honest Toil, 
 gather thy sons together and hie thee to the battle- 
 field." 
 
 (Toil draws his sword, and waving it above his 
 head he thus addresses the Court:) 
 
 Toil ''In the name of patriotism, thy com- 
 mands shall be obeyed." 
 
 (Toil turns about and takes a step as though to 
 proceed to carry out this order, when he beholds, 
 suspended in front of and above him — in electric 
 letters — the words — "Thou shalt not kill.") 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
ACT III 
 
 Time — Month later 
 Place — Battlefield 
 
 In this act the scenery should represent a battle- 
 field after a battle. The scene is laid in an open 
 at the edge of a forest, showing a few trees of the 
 forest on one side of the battlefield. On the field 
 is seen the wreck of war — a mounted cannon with 
 one wheel shot away, guns strewn around, and four 
 or five dead soldiers. Anything suggestive of 
 wreckage, such as discarded equipment, may be used ; 
 however, the dead soldiers are very necessary. The 
 essential point is to convey as forcibly as possible the 
 wreckage of battle. Before the curtain rises the 
 sound of battle is heard in the distance. Many shots 
 of different tone are fired, lasting for tw^o or three 
 minutes. The bugle is heard giving orders. The 
 shots are more numerous at times, finally becoming 
 less frequent and tapering down to occasional shots, 
 ceasing entirely as the curtain begins to ascend. The 
 soldiers are scattered over the field as though just 
 shot down. The time of battle is in the evening 
 twilight and the lights are quite dim, remaining so 
 throughout the act. The curtain rises slowly to low, 
 sad strains. On the rise of the curtain the devil, fork 
 in hand, accompanied by Death with a scythe, is seen 
 28 
 
ACT III 29 
 
 crossing the field at a distance. Toil is seen directing 
 the removal of the bodies by the Red Cross. This 
 work, taking some time, is accompanied by a low 
 dirge by the orchestra. The intent here is to por- 
 tray actual field work after a battle. A first aid 
 nurse is seen attending a wounded soldier. As the 
 last body is being removed the music ceases, and 
 Peace, heavily draped in mourning, hands yet 
 chained together, appears, and kneeling before Toil 
 with uplifted hands thus speaks: 
 
 Peace. "Oh Toil, thou for ages has executed 
 the blackest plots of kings and rulers and hast 
 sold thy sons in slaughter. But for thee, this earth 
 would not be reddened with the life-blood of these 
 forms. Toil, 'tis thy well-meant but mighty arm 
 that strikes the dagger blow that sends death and 
 famine through the land. The shame be upon thine 
 own head. No war drum could beat nor cannon roar 
 wouldst thou but say *No.' Thy masters. Greed 
 and Jealousy, twan demons, feed thee with mad- 
 ness and cloud thy brain with anger. They pour 
 out thy soul and drink as wine. Of this infamy 
 thy sons know^ not the right or wrong; they are 
 driven in hordes to slaughter their kind. I am thy 
 true friend, oh Toil, hear Peace. Who marks 
 down the price of human flesh as tainted meat to 
 be torn into dirty chunks and thrown upon the 
 sullen ground.'' Is the life-blood of man a filthy 
 swill, a thing of gross and slime, fit only to fat the 
 worms of earth? Is the heart of man a pouch of 
 poison to thus be poured to such reckless waste? 
 Is this the vulgar worth of it all? Words, words! 
 Ye everlasting gods give me words! — Slashed, 
 
30 THE CROWNING 
 
 crushed, ripped, torn, mangled, strangled, murdered ! 
 Yes, that's it! By the eternal heavens — murdered! 
 Where the mother's loving prayer, tear and tender 
 care that nursed that babe to manhood's pride? Is 
 this the end of her joy and pride, — a platter of hash 
 fitten for hell? Tell me, oh saints of grace, does 
 man do this thing clamoring for the sanction of 
 heaven? Ah, fallen angel, the depth of that plunge 
 that carried man from Mercy! 'Tis in thee, oh 
 Toil, only in thee, that man can rise again. The 
 toilers of man mark the standard of the land." 
 
 Toil. "Peace, be still. Is it not the dignity of 
 my country I defend? The gods above I pray to 
 lead my armies." 
 
 Peace. "Slander not the gods with such wricked 
 manner of prayer, thou but revealest the weakness 
 of thine own heart. Wouldst thou measure the 
 will of the gods by thine own sordid desires? Spare 
 heaven the disgrace; ask not the gods to play at 
 man's wicked game of war. There is in man that 
 property called self; that set aside, and the true 
 worth of the object assured, the soul seeks the will 
 of God: this is the essence of prayer. Hell's pur- 
 suit ends where self is left off. Oh would to high 
 Jehovah that that thing we call blessing were of 
 its glitter stripped and in its nude set upon the 
 proper pedestal, that golden statue we call content- 
 ment. Thus man could dissever the false from the 
 true. It is waste that breeds want; he who would 
 squander life is King of Prodigals." 
 
 Toil. "Knowest thou not that we are sur- 
 rounded by enemies?" 
 
 Peace. "Enemies are but imaginary beings con- 
 
ACT III 31 
 
 jured up by a diseased brain. Those beings over 
 there that thou art shooting down are thy fellow 
 laborers, led on like thyself by falsehood, driven 
 like dogs under the leash of fear." 
 
 Toil. "Peace, thy face Is comely and fair to 
 look upon; thy eyes would seem to bespeak a noble 
 heart; perchance thy ways of merit bear, ay, this 
 I know not. I beseech thee. Peace, entreat me not. 
 The ancient law of custom hath set man's arbitra- 
 ment In the sword; in this Is gained both justice 
 !\nA vengeance." 
 
 Peace. **The sweetness of vengeance but turns 
 to gall; he who seeks It seeks his own peril. He 
 who cuts away the flow of life, as a tree hewn down 
 before it gains Its fruitage, will live to suffer in his 
 own want and sicken at the memory of that which 
 he can never restore. From thy brain, oh Toil, 
 cast this cloud of error, and break the chains that 
 bind my hands. Give back my throne, oh Toil, in 
 the heart of man ; I build my cities beautiful in the 
 land ; In me my children are happy and valorous, 
 and their hand lifted strong to heaven. Authority 
 Is the product of necessity, intent to public weal; 
 the level of ruler is the station of servant. Gilded 
 with power, forgetting his sphere, the servant oft 
 becomes master, even to oppression. Sick indeed 
 is that land whose ruler values not temperance. 
 Servant master, master servant, power perverted, 
 over-ruled, under-served, Peace in chains, the world 
 staggers crazlly on." 
 
 (At this juncture, with Peace still kneeling to 
 Toil, a little girl, shabbily dressed, is seen slowly 
 approaching Toil.) 
 
32 THE CROWNING 
 
 Toil. "How now, my little fairy, who art thou, 
 and why here on a field of battle? Whence comest 
 thou and what is thy name?" 
 
 Girl. "I am the little daughter of Reason. I 
 come from the home of Love." (Toil draws back 
 in terror.) "Love sent me here to forgive thee the 
 horrid crime of killing my father. I forgive thee. 
 Honest Toil, I forgive thee; Love said that thou 
 only obeyed the words of the Court of Public Opin- 
 ion, and knew not the terrible sin thou wert com- 
 mitting." 
 
 Toil. "Well, well, my little girl, thou art kind 
 of heart. But come, there are soldiers around here 
 and thou must be going. Lay not thy course in the 
 path of fate, that thy ways may be amended before 
 too late. Fate corrects no errors. Now run along." 
 (Girl makes no effort to go.) 
 
 Girl. "Art thou a soldier, Honest Toil?" 
 
 Toil. "Yes, yes, I am a soldier, now run along." 
 
 Girl. "Soldier; a soul stripped of self, a gem of 
 brightest hue, yet shedding thy luster upon an un- 
 holy cause." 
 
 Toil. "Come now, little fairy, thou must be 
 going. There is war here." 
 
 Girl. "I know there is war here. All little 
 children know there is war here. Their little ach- 
 ing hearts tell them there is war here; their little 
 hungry mouths tell them there is war here; their 
 little ragged bodies tell them there is war here; 
 their sick mothers tell them there is war here, the 
 empty chairs their fathers used to sit in tell them 
 there is war here. Why, oh Toil, dost thou make 
 little children suffer in war?" 
 
ACT III 33 
 
 Toil. "Come now, child, this is an ill place for 
 Reason's child; hie thee away, be gone." 
 
 Peace. *'Not the strong, perchance, in wisdom's 
 waj s best lead, but he of better thought. I will take 
 the child back to Love. The world hasn't passed 
 its school-boy days; the follies of youth still abound. 
 It will ever thus be so 'till heaven sends wisdom to 
 the masses and the nations of earth face around. 
 Come with me, my child." 
 
 (The child goes to Peace but both remain on the 
 stage. As the child steps to Peace, she addresses 
 Toil.) 
 
 Girl. ''Honest Toil, as I came I saw a wounded 
 soldier by the way. He suffers much. As I have 
 forgiven thee, will it not please thee to lend him 
 aid?" 
 
 Toil. "Thy will be done. Orderly, send out a 
 squad and bring hither the wounded soldier who 
 lies by the way." 
 
 The wounded soldier is dragged from among 
 the timber and placed upon the stage (spot-light). 
 The soldier bringing him in draws back in surprise 
 as he views the face of the wounded man, and ex- 
 claims : 
 
 Soldier. "This is one of the enemy I shot this 
 morning while scouting in the wood. For him my 
 heart is filled with sorrow. When he fell he smiled, 
 but ah, that sad, sad smile. 'Twill linger in my 
 memory 'til my dying day. He saw upon my coat 
 a union emblem, and turned his head with that 
 sad, sad smile. Though he lives in another land 
 we belong to the same union. May God forgive 
 me that which I have done." 
 
34 THE CROWNING 
 
 The wounded soldier struggles to his elbow, and 
 drawing from his pocket a card, exclaims: 
 
 Wounded Soldier. ''Yes, the same union. Here 
 is my card and with it my dying request. Take this 
 card to my wife and children and tell them I have 
 gone to join a union whose members do not kill 
 each other." 
 
 (Dropping back, he dies.) 
 
 CURTAIN 
 
ACT IV 
 
 Time — After the war 
 
 Place — Court of Public Opinion 
 
 In this act the same scenery is used as in Act 
 II. The arrangement of the throne, tables, chairs 
 and side room is the same. The curtain rises with 
 Greed and Avarice seated at a wine table in the 
 council or side room. With bottle and glasses be- 
 fore them they are discussing the results of the 
 war. 
 
 Avarice. "My heart doth leap with much joy, 
 my good friend Greed, to hear thee thus speak; 
 many millions of shekels thy gain, sayest thou?" 
 
 Greed. "Many millions, dear Avarice, many 
 millions. Didst thou not taste a difference, ay, even 
 in thy food?" 
 
 Avarice. "Quite so, friend Greed, quite so; but 
 pray what word from our good friend Mr. Lie? 
 Fareth he well?" 
 
 Greed. "Not so well, my Avarice, not so well. 
 Trouble hath overtaken our good Mr. Lie. For- 
 sooth he hath a merrily bad time explaining who 
 started the war." 
 
 Avarice. "This manner of news doth afflict me 
 much. I verily fear our good Mr. Lie will come 
 to some inglorious end. But I pray thee. Greed, 
 35 
 
36 THE CROWNING 
 
 • 
 say on; what glad tidings from our fair and lovely 
 Slander? Heareth thou from her?" 
 
 Greed. "Ay, with her happiness supreme; all is 
 well. As the mighty rivers run to fill the hungry 
 mouth of the ocean, so doth war pour out joy to 
 fill the great heart of Slander. As an artist her 
 excellence compromises belief. She hath painted 
 black the character of every nation on the earth." 
 
 Avarice. "And our great and true friend, the 
 right royal Lady Jealousy; heareth thou glad news 
 of her welfare?" 
 
 Greed. "Of the fair Lady Jealousy sad news I 
 bear, dear Avarice, sad news. It doth appear that 
 while riding in her royal carriage she became exposed 
 to a severe and chilling breeze of truth, and sickened 
 of a cold and is now bedridden and suffers much." 
 
 Avarice. "And our accomplished and accommo- 
 dating colleague, his Royal Highness, the Devil; 
 heareth thou of him?" 
 
 Greed. "A plenteous harvest reaped he, dear 
 Avarice, a plenteous harvest. Neither thou nor I, 
 dear Avarice, can surpass his thrift in war. With 
 a mighty shout hell roars with joy at those pregnant 
 words, 'We declare war.' " 
 
 Avarice. "And Pride; heareth thou of him?" 
 
 Greed. "At the beginning Pride rides well and 
 manly, but not long. He gives not of himself a 
 good accounting. His colors soon lower, and with 
 drooping spirits he sulks back to camp. War of 
 all, for Pride to play, is the least wise game." 
 
 Avarice. "Forget not the wine, friend Greed, let 
 thy heart to be of strong cheer, for again this 
 day the Court hath itself in session and the hour 
 draweth nigh." 
 
ACT IV 37 
 
 Greed. "Very true, friend Avarice, very true. 
 This day we again hail the great Court of Public 
 Opinion, but nay, dear Avarice, not the good old 
 cheer of those halcyon days long gone; ay, even now 
 my conscience bespeaketh me in much trembling 
 of our accounting." 
 
 Avarice. "Is not the Court yet our friend?" 
 
 Greed. "Changeable, dear Avarice, changeable. 
 In all the world there is found no Court which 
 taketh to itself to change more quickly or on less 
 provocation. Ay, to-day the fair Peace renews her 
 suit for the Court's affections, and I fear we bear 
 ourselves, good Avarice, in great want. Of the 
 able pleadings of the masterful Mr. Lie we are 
 shorn." 
 
 Avarice. "Good cheer, Greed, good cheer; the 
 demon Want his hand upon our rights shall never 
 lay. The bell strikes the hour." 
 
 (As the hour of Court is announced by the bell, 
 the Court, in all his gorgeousness, enters and 
 ascends the throne of Public Opinion. He is at- 
 tended by two guards, who take up their former 
 positions on his right and left. Greed and Avarice 
 first appear, and occupy their accustomed places. 
 Love and Mercy enter supporting Peace between 
 them, and lead her to the seat formerly occupied 
 by her. Peace's hands are still chained and her 
 head and shoulders draped in mourning. Love and 
 Mercy resume their former seats in Court. Next, 
 Honor is seen entering, accompanied by a myste- 
 rious person dressed as a woman in black, heavily 
 veiled. Honor resumes his former seat, while the 
 mysterious person takes the seat formerly occupied 
 by Reason, near the side of Peace. The little 
 
38 THE CROWNING 
 
 daughter of Reason now enters, walks to the throne 
 and kneels at the feet of the Court, and with up- 
 lifted hands she prays:) 
 
 Girl. "Oh, God, may this Court render, as he 
 would receive, justice to those who come before 
 him." 
 
 ( She then takes her seat at the feet of the Court. 
 Peace rises first.) 
 
 Peace. "Your Worship, I have come again to 
 this, the highest Court under the dome of Heaven, 
 to pray thee grant me in justice my rightful seat 
 in the heart of man. In the reign of Peace alone 
 is there true happiness. Ay, yonder planets would 
 leave their orbs had they not my laws. The heavens 
 are my witness and all nature swears to my title. 
 Grant my prayer, oh Court of Public Opinion, that 
 man's days may be happy in the land." 
 
 Greed. "Thy Worship, we would approach thee 
 on bended knees with the profoundest humility, only 
 to call thy gracious attention to the all-important 
 fact that there are other claimants to the seat in 
 the heart of man. Overtaken by sickness and 
 weighed down with melancholy, the fair damsels, 
 Jealousy and Slander, find themselves unable to 
 honor this Court with their gracious presence. We 
 pray thee postpone thy decision on this momentous 
 question 'til future time, when perchance oppor- 
 tunity may lend fair favor to these worthy claim- 
 ants." 
 
 Honor. "Thou, oh Court of Public Opinion, 
 who hath ruled in these halls of power for ages, 
 knowest this to be but a trick at law of Greed; at 
 the bar of justice he hath ever cried, 'Procrast, 
 
ACT IV 39 
 
 procrast.' Honor calls upon thee in the name of 
 unborn millions — grant the petition of Peace. The 
 guiding star of the universe points her to that seat. 
 Here are her witnesses, Merc}^ and Love, seraphims 
 from the gates of Paradise standing at thy feet 
 to swear for Peace. Ponder well, once and for- 
 ever, oh mighty Court. Fawn not at the tattle of 
 Greed's pleasant tale, 'tis but a phantom seen only 
 in a dream. Where the ear but in thee, oh Court, 
 that gives market to his chaffy pleading? Wrong 
 right wrong. ^ Nay, drop not thy soul to worship 
 at the feet of murder. A newer day is dawning, 
 oh Court, a brighter beam thwarts the morning 
 sky. Searching for its boundary lines the mind of 
 man discovered infinity, whose weird vastness stag- 
 gers, yet daunts not the will. Delving on in bound- 
 less obscurity, each day a jewel uncovered, each 
 day distance gained, anon will be reached that price- 
 less one, the brotherhood of man to man." 
 
 Court. "Be there under the heavens, among 
 men or devils, one strong enough to break those 
 chains and place Peace upon the throne? Be there 
 a protector mighty enough, who down the ages can 
 protect her sovereign right? If such there be, this 
 Court swears, by both Time and Eternity, this 
 crown she shall forever wear." 
 
 (The Court stands while making this speech, 
 and with his last word indicates a white crown 
 before him. As the Court ceases speaking, the lone, 
 black, mysterious person who has remained sitting 
 quiet all the while rises, and quickly throwing off 
 all disguise reveals Honest Toil. Stepping quickly 
 to Peace, Honest Toil breaks the chains that bind 
 
40 THE CROWNING 
 
 her hands, and tearing away the mourning about 
 her, he takes her by the arm and leads her to the 
 throne in the human heart and places her upon 
 it. (The throne has in the meantime been un- 
 draped by Love and Mercy.) Placing Peace in the 
 chair, Toil turns to the Court, who presents him 
 with the crown with these words:) 
 
 Court. "Thou, oh Toil, of all the world art 
 the only power that could break those chains. Thou, 
 oh Toil, of man or devil art the only hope of Peace 
 for the nations of earth. Guard well thy trust, oh 
 faithful Toil." 
 
 (Toil turns to Peace and places the crown upon 
 her head, and raising his hand to heaven he 
 swears:) 
 
 Toil. "May the gods rend asunder the heavens 
 and blot out yonder sun, and may they pour out 
 fire upon my head if I ever forget my loyalty to this, 
 the queen of queens, the hope of the world." 
 
 (As these words are being spoken by Toil, there 
 appear upon the stage craftsmen of different occu- 
 pations, throwing down their guns. Farmers, mer- 
 chants, sailors, etc. Characters in work dress cross 
 the stage, and throw down their guns as they pass 
 on as though going from war to their homes and 
 civil pursuits.) 
 
 CURTAIN