MaxHalbe’sJUGEND*andWedekind’sFRUHLING’SERWACHEN**aredramaswhichhavedisseminatedradicalthoughtinanaltogetherdifferentdirection。TheytreatofthechildandthedenseignoranceandnarrowPuritanismthatmeettheawakeningofnature。ParticularlythisistrueofFRUHLING’SERWACHEN。Youngboysandgirlssacrificedonthealtaroffalseeducationandofoursickeningmoralitythatprohibitstheenlightenmentofyouthastoquestionssoimperativetothehealthandwell-beingofsociety，——theoriginoflife，anditsfunctions。Itshowshowamother——andatrulygoodmother，atthat——keepsherfourteen-year-olddaughterinabsoluteignoranceastoallmattersofsex，andwhenfinallytheyounggirlfallsavictimtoherownignorance，thesamemotherseesherdaughterkilledbyquackmedicines。Theinscriptiononhergravestatesthatshediedofanaemia，andmoralityissatisfied——
*YOUTH。
**THEAWAKENINGOFSPRING——
ThefatalityofourPuritanichypocrisyinthesemattersisespeciallyilluminedbyWedekindinsofarasourmostpromisingchildrenfallvictimstosexignoranceandtheutterlackofappreciationonthepartoftheteachersofthechild’sawakening。
Wendla，unusuallydevelopedandalertforherage，pleadswithhermothertoexplainthemysteryoflife:
\"Ihaveasisterwhohasbeenmarriedfortwoandahalfyears。I
myselfhavebeenmadeanauntforthethirdtime，andIhaven’ttheleastideahowitallcomesabout……Don’tbecross，Mother，dear！WhomintheworldshouldIaskbutyou？Don’tscoldmeforaskingaboutit。Givemeananswer——Howdoesithappen？——YoucannotreallydeceiveyourselfthatI，whoamfourteenyearsold，stillbelieveinthestork。\"
Werehermotherherselfnotavictimoffalsenotionsofmorality，anaffectionateandsensibleexplanationmighthavesavedherdaughter。
Buttheconventionalmotherseekstohideher\"moral\"shameandembarrassmentinthisevasivereply:
\"Inordertohaveachild——onemustlove——theman——towhomoneismarried……Onemustlovehim，Wendla，asyouatyouragearestillunabletolove——Nowyouknowit！\"
HowmuchWendla\"knew\"themotherrealizedtoolate。Thepregnantgirlimaginesherselfillwithdropsy。Andwhenhermothercriesindesperation，\"Youhaven’tthedropsy，youhaveachild，girl，\"theagonizedWendlaexclaimsinbewilderment:\"Butit’snotpossible，Mother，Iamnotmarriedyet……Oh，Mother，whydidn’tyoutellmeeverything？\"
WithequalstupiditytheboyMorrisisdriventosuicidebecausehefailsinhisschoolexaminations。AndMelchior，theyouthfulfatherofWendla’sunbornchild，issenttotheHouseofCorrection，hisearlysexualawakeningstampinghimadegenerateintheeyesofteachersandparents。
ForyearsthoughtfulmenandwomeninGermanyhadadvocatedthecompellingnecessityofsexenlightenment。MUTTERSCHUTZ，apublicationspeciallydevotedtofrankandintelligentdiscussionofthesexproblem，hasbeencarryingonitsagitationforaconsiderabletime。ButitremainedforthedramaticgeniusofWedekindtoinfluenceradicalthoughttotheextentofforcingtheintroductionofsexphysiologyinmanyschoolsofGermany。
Scandinavia，likeGermany，wasadvancedthroughthedramamuchmorethanthroughanyotherchannel。LongbeforeIbsenappearedonthescene，Bjornson，thegreatessayist，thunderedagainsttheinequalitiesandinjusticeprevalentinthosecountries。Buthiswasavoiceinthewilderness，reachingbutthefew。NotsowithIbsen。
HisBRAND，DOLL’SHOUSE，PILLARSOFSOCIETY，GHOSTS，andANENEMYOF
THEPEOPLEhaveconsiderablyunderminedtheoldconceptions，andreplacedthembyamodernandrealviewoflife。OnehasbuttoreadBRANDtorealizethemodernconception，letussay，ofreligion，——religion，asanidealtobeachievedonearth；religionasaprincipleofhumanbrotherhood，ofsolidarity，andkindness。
Ibsen，thesupremehaterofallsocialshams，hastorntheveilofhypocrisyfromtheirfaces。Hisgreatestonslaught，however，isonthefourcardinalpointssupportingtheflimsynetworkofsociety。
First，thelieuponwhichreststhelifeoftoday；second，thefutilityofsacrificeaspreachedbyourmoralcodes；third，pettymaterialconsideration，whichistheonlygodthemajorityworships；
andfourth，thedeadeninginfluenceofprovincialism。ThesefourrecurastheLEITMOTIFinIbsen’splays，butparticularlyinPILLARS
OFSOCIETY，DOLL’SHOUSE，GHOSTS，andANENEMYOFTHEPEOPLE。
PillarsofSociety！Whatatremendousindictmentagainstthesocialstructurethatrestsonrottenanddecayedpillars，——pillarsnicelygildedandapparentlyintact，yetmerelyhidingtheirtruecondition。
Andwhatarethesepillars？
ConsulBernick，attheveryheightofhissocialandfinancialcareer，thebenefactorofhistownandthestrongestpillarofthecommunity，hasreachedthesummitthroughthechanneloflies，deception，andfraud。Hehasrobbedhisbosomfriend，Johann，ofhisgoodname，andhasbetrayedLonaHessel，thewomanheloved，tomarryherstep-sisterforthesakeofhermoney。Hehasenrichedhimselfbyshadytransactions，undercoverof\"thecommunity’sgood，\"andfinallyevengoestotheextentofendangeringhumanlifebypreparingtheINDIANGIRL，arottenanddangerousvessel，togotosea。
ButthereturnofLonabringshimtherealizationoftheemptinessandmeannessofhisnarrowlife。Heseekstoplacatethewakingconsciencebythehopethathehasclearedthegroundforthebetterlifeofhisson，ofthenewgeneration。Buteventhislasthopesoonfallstotheground，asherealizesthattruthcannotbebuiltonalie。Attheverymomentwhenthewholetownispreparedtocelebratethegreatbenefactorofthecommunitywithbanquetpraise，hehimself，nowgrowntofullspiritualmanhood，confessestotheassembledtownspeople:
\"Ihavenorighttothishomage……Myfellow-citizensmustknowmetothecore。Thenleteveryoneexaminehimself，andletusrealizethepredictionthatfromthiseventwebeginanewtime。Theold，withitstinsel，itshypocrisy，itshollowness，itslyingpropriety，anditspitifulcowardice，shallliebehinduslikeamuseum，openforinstruction。\"
WithADOLL’SHOUSEIbsenhaspavedthewayforwoman’semancipation。
Noraawakensfromherdoll’sroletotherealizationoftheinjusticedoneherbyherfatherandherhusband，HelmerTorvald。
\"WhileIwasathomewithfather，heusedtotellmeallhisopinions，andIheldthesameopinions。IfIhadothersIconcealedthem，becausehewouldnothaveapproved。Heusedtocallmehisdollchild，andplaywithmeasIplayedwithmydolls。ThenIcametoliveinyourhouse。Yousettledeverythingaccordingtoyourtaste，andIgotthesametasteasyou，orIpretendedto。WhenI
lookbackonitnow，Iseemtohavebeenlivinglikeabeggar，fromhandtomouth。Ilivedbyperformingtricksforyou，Torvald，butyouwouldhaveitso。Youandfatherhavedonemeagreatwrong。\"
InvainHelmerusestheoldphilistineargumentsofwifelydutyandsocialobligations。Norahasgrownoutofherdoll’sdressintofullstatureofconsciouswomanhood。Sheisdeterminedtothinkandjudgeforherself。Shehasrealizedthat，beforeallelse，sheisahumanbeing，owingthefirstdutytoherself。Sheisundauntedevenbythepossibilityofsocialostracism。Shehasbecomescepticalofthejusticeofthelaw，thewisdomoftheconstituted。Herrebellingsoulrisesinprotestagainsttheexisting。Inherownwords:\"I
mustmakeupmymindwhichisright，societyorI。\"
Inherchildlikefaithinherhusbandshehadhopedforthegreatmiracle。Butitwasnotthedisappointedhopethatopenedhervisiontothefalsehoodsofmarriage。ItwasratherthesmugcontentmentofHelmerwithasafelie——onethatwouldremainhiddenandnotendangerhissocialstanding。
WhenNoraclosedbehindherthedoorofhergildedcageandwentoutintotheworldanew，regeneratedpersonality，sheopenedthegateoffreedomandtruthforherownsexandtheracetocome。
Morethananyotherplay，GHOSTShasactedlikeabombexplosion，shakingthesocialstructuretoitsveryfoundations。
InDOLL’SHOUSEthejustificationoftheunionbetweenNoraandHelmerrestedatleastonthehusband’sconceptionofintegrityandrigidadherencetooursocialmorality。Indeed，hewastheconventionalidealhusbandanddevotedfather。NotsoinGHOSTS。
Mrs。AlvingmarriedCaptainAlvingonlytofindthathewasaphysicalandmentalwreck，andthatlifewithhimwouldmeanutterdegradationandbefataltopossibleoffspring。Inherdespairsheturnedtoheryouth’scompanion，youngPastorManderswho，asthetruesaviorofsoulsforheaven，mustneedsbeindifferenttoearthlynecessities。Hesentherbacktoshameanddegradation，——toherdutiestohusbandandhome。Indeed，happiness——tohim——wasbuttheunholymanifestationofarebelliousspirit，andawife’sdutywasnottojudge，but\"tobearwithhumilitythecrosswhichahigherpowerhadforyourowngoodlaiduponyou。\"
Mrs。Alvingborethecrossfortwenty-sixlongyears。Notforthesakeofthehigherpower，butforherlittlesonOswald，whomshelongedtosavefromthepoisonousatmosphereofherhusband’shome。
Itwasalsoforthesakeofthebelovedsonthatshesupportedthelieofhisfather’sgoodness，insuperstitiousaweof\"dutyanddecency。\"Shelearned，alas！toolate，thatthesacrificeofherentirelifehadbeeninvain，andthathersonOswaldwasvisitedbythesinsofhisfather，thathewasirrevocablydoomed。This，too，shelearned，that\"weareallofusghosts。Itisnotonlywhatwehaveinheritedfromourfatherandmotherthatwalksinus。Itisallsortsofdeadideasandlifelessoldbeliefs。Theyhavenovitality，buttheyclingtousallthesameandwecan’tgetridofthem……Andthenweare，oneandall，sopitifullyafraidoflight。WhenyouforcedmeundertheyokeyoucalledDutyandObligation；whenyoupraisedasrightandproperwhatmywholesoulrebelledagainstassomethingloathsome；itwasthenthatIbegantolookintotheseamsofyourdoctrine。Ionlywishedtopickatasingleknot，butwhenIhadgotthatundone，thewholethingravelledout。AndthenIunderstoodthatitwasallmachine-sewn。\"
Howcouldasocietymachine-sewn，fathomtheseethingdepthswhenceissuedthegreatmasterpieceofHenrikIbsen？Itcouldnotunderstand，andthereforeitpouredthevialsofabuseandvenomuponitsgreatestbenefactor。ThatIbsenwasnotdauntedhehasprovedbyhisreplyinANENEMYOFTHEPEOPLE。
InthatgreatdramaIbsenperformsthelastfuneralritesoveradecayinganddyingsocialsystem。Outofitsashesrisestheregeneratedindividual，theboldanddaringrebel。Dr。Stockman，anidealist，fullofsocialsympathyandsolidarity，iscalledtohisnativetownasthephysicianofthebaths。Hesoondiscoversthatthelatterarebuiltonaswamp，andthatinsteadoffindingreliefthepatients，whoflocktotheplace，arebeingpoisoned。
Anhonestman，ofstrongconvictions，thedoctorconsidersithisdutytomakehisdiscoveryknown。Buthesoonlearnsthatdividendsandprofitsareconcernedneitherwithhealthnorprinciples。Eventhereformersofthetown，representedinthePEOPLE’SMESSENGER，alwaysreadytoprateoftheirdevotiontothepeople，withdrawtheirsupportfromthe\"reckless\"idealist，themomenttheylearnthatthedoctor’sdiscoverymaybringthetownintodisrepute，andthusinjuretheirpockets。
ButDoctorStockmancontinuesinthefaithheentertainsforhastownsmen。Theywouldhearhim。Buthere，too，hesoonfindshimselfalone。Hecannotevensecureaplacetoproclaimhisgreattruth。
Andwhenhefinallysucceeds，heisoverwhelmedbyabuseandridiculeastheenemyofthepeople。Thedoctor，soenthusiasticofhistownspeople’sassistancetoeradicatetheevil，issoondriventoasolitaryposition。Theannouncementofhisdiscoverywouldresultinapecuniarylosstothetown，andthatconsiderationinducestheofficials，thegoodcitizens，andsoulreformers，tostiflethevoiceoftruth。Hefindsthemallacompactmajority，unscrupulousenoughtobewillingtobuilduptheprosperityofthetownonaquagmireofliesandfraud。Heisaccusedoftryingtoruinthecommunity。Buttohismind\"itdoesnotmatterifalyingcommunityisruined。Itmustbelevelledtotheground。Allmenwholiveuponliesmustbeexterminatedlikevermin。You’llbringittosuchapassthatthewholecountrywilldeservetoperish。\"
DoctorStockmanisnotapracticalpolitician。Afreeman，hethinks，mustnotbehavelikeablackguard。\"Hemustnotsoactthathewouldspitinhisownface。\"Foronlycowardspermit\"considerations\"ofpretendedgeneralwelfareorofpartytooverridetruthandideals。\"Partyprogrammeswringthenecksofallyoung，livingtruths；andconsiderationsofexpediencyturnmoralityandrighteousnessupsidedown，untillifeissimplyhideous。\"
TheseplaysofIbsen——THEPILLARSOFSOCIETY，ADOLL’SHOUSE，GHOSTS，andANENEMYOFTHEPEOPLE——constituteadynamicforcewhichisgraduallydissipatingtheghostswalkingthesocialburyinggroundcalledcivilization。Nay，more；Ibsen’sdestructiveeffectsareatthesametimesupremelyconstructive，forhenotmerelyunderminesexistingpillars；indeed，hebuildswithsurestrokesthefoundationofahealthier，idealfuture，basedonthesovereigntyoftheindividualwithinasympatheticsocialenvironment。
Englandwithhergreatpioneersofradicalthought，theintellectualpilgrimslikeGodwin，RobertOwen，Darwin，Spencer，WilliamMorris，andscoresofothers；withherwonderfullarksofliberty——Shelley，Byron，Keats——isanotherexampleoftheinfluenceofdramaticart。
Withincomparativelyafewyears，thedramaticworksofShaw，Pinero，Galsworthy，RannKennedy，havecarriedradicalthoughttotheearsformerlydeafeventoGreatBritain’swondrouspoets。ThusapublicwhichwillremainindifferentreadinganessaybyRobertOwen，onPoverty，orignoreBernardShaw’sSocialistictracts，wasmadetothinkbyMAJORBARBARA，whereinpovertyisdescribedasthegreatestcrimeofChristiancivilization。\"Povertymakespeopleweak，slavish，puny；povertycreatesdisease，crime，prostitution；infine，povertyisresponsibleforalltheillsandevilsoftheworld。\"
Povertyalsonecessitatesdependency，charitableorganizations，institutionsthatthriveofftheverythingtheyaretryingtodestroy。TheSalvationArmy，forinstance，asshowninMAJOR
BARBARA，fightsdrunkenness；yetoneofitsgreatestcontributorsisBadger，awhiskeydistiller，whofurnishesyearlythousandsofpoundstodoawaywiththeverysourceofhiswealth。BernardShaw，therefore，concludesthattheonlyrealbenefactorofsocietyisamanlikeUndershaft，Barbara’sfather，acannonmanufacturer，whosetheoryoflifeisthatpowderisstrongerthanwords。
\"Theworstofcrimes，\"saysUndershaft，\"ispoverty。Alltheothercrimesarevirtuesbesideit；alltheotherdishonorsarechivalryitselfbycomparison。Povertyblightswholecities；spreadshorriblepestilences；strikesdeadtheverysoulofallwhocomewithinsight，sound，orsmellofit。Whatyoucallcrimeisnothing；amurderhere，atheftthere，ablownowandacursethere:whatdotheymatter？Theyareonlytheaccidentsandillnessesoflife；therearenotfiftygenuineprofessionalcriminalsinLondon。Buttherearemillionsofpoorpeople，abjectpeople，dirtypeople，ill-fed，ill-clothedpeople。Theypoisonusmorallyandphysically；theykillthehappinessofsociety；theyforceustodoawaywithourownlibertiesandtoorganizeunnaturalcrueltiesforfeartheyshouldriseagainstusanddragusdownintotheirabyss……Povertyandslaveryhavestoodupforcenturiestoyoursermonsandleadingarticles；theywillnotstanduptomymachineguns。Don’tpreachatthem；don’treasonwiththem。Killthem……Itisthefinaltestofconviction，theonlyleverstrongenoughtooverturnasocialsystem……Vote！Bah！Whenyouvote，youonlychangethenameofthecabinet。Whenyoushoot，youpulldowngovernments，inauguratenewepochs，abolisholdorders，andsetupnew。\"
NowonderpeoplecaredlittletoreadMr。Shaw’sSocialistictracts。
Innootherwaybutinthedramacouldhedeliversuchforcible，historictruths。AndthereforeitisonlythroughthedramathatMr。
Shawisarevolutionaryfactorinthedisseminationofradicalideas。
AfterHauptmann’sDIEWEBER，STRIFE，byGalsworthy，isthemostimportantlabordrama。
ThethemeofSTRIFEisastrikewithtwodominantfactors:Anthony，thepresidentofthecompany，rigid，uncompromising，unwillingtomaketheslightestconcession，althoughthemenheldoutformonthsandareinaconditionofsemi-starvation；andDavidRoberts，anuncompromisingrevolutionist，whosedevotiontotheworkingmanandthecauseoffreedomisatwhiteheat。Betweenthemthestrikersarewornandwearywiththeterriblestruggle，andareharassedanddrivenbytheawfulsightofpovertyandwantintheirfamilies。
ThemostmarvellousandbrilliantpieceofworkinSTRIFEisGalsworthy’sportrayalofthemob，itsfickleness，andlackofbackbone。OnemomenttheyapplaudoldThomas，whospeaksofthepowerofGodandreligionandadmonishesthemenagainstrebellion；
thenextinstanttheyarecarriedawaybyawalkingdelegate，whopleadsthecauseoftheunion，——theunionthatalwaysstandsforcompromise，andwhichforsakestheworkingmenwhenevertheydaretostrikeforindependentdemands；againtheyareaglowwiththeearnestness，thespirit，andtheintensityofDavidRoberts——allthesepeoplewillingtogoinwhateverdirectionthewindblows。Itisthecurseoftheworkingclassthattheyalwaysfollowlikesheepledtoslaughter。
Consistencyisthegreatestcrimeofourcommercialage。Nomatterhowintensethespiritorhowimportanttheman，themomenthewillnotallowhimselftobeusedorsellhisprinciples，heisthrownonthedustheap。Suchwasthefateofthepresidentofthecompany，Anthony，andofDavidRoberts。Tobesuretheyrepresentedoppositepoles——polesantagonistictoeachother，polesdividedbyaterriblegapthatcanneverbebridgedover。Yettheysharedacommonfate。
Anthonyistheembodimentofconservatism，ofoldideas，ofironmethods:
\"Ihavebeenchairmanofthiscompanythirty-twoyears。Ihavefoughtthemenfourtimes。Ihaveneverbeendefeated。Ithasbeensaidthattimeshavechanged。Iftheyhave，Ihavenotchangedwiththem。Ithasbeensaidthatmastersandmenareequal。Cant。Therecanbeonlyonemasterinahouse。IthasbeensaidthatCapitalandLaborhavethesameinterests。Cant。Theirinterestsareaswideasunderasthepoles。Thereisonlyonewayoftreatingmen——withtheironrod。Mastersaremasters。Menaremen。\"
Wemaynotlikethisadherencetoold，reactionarynotions，andyetthereissomethingadmirableinthecourageandconsistencyofthisman，norishehalfasdangeroustotheinterestsoftheoppressed，asoursentimentalandsoftreformerswhorobwithninefingers，andgivelibrarieswiththetenth；whogrindhumanbeingslikeRussellSage，andthenspendmillionsofdollarsinsocialresearchwork；whoturnbeautifulyoungplantsintofadedoldwomen，andthengivethemafewpaltrydollarsorfoundaHomeforWorkingGirls。Anthonyisaworthyfoe；andtofightsuchafoe，onemustlearntomeethiminopenbattle。
DavidRobertshasallthementalandmoralattributesofhisadversary，coupledwiththespiritofrevolt，andthedepthofmodernideas。He，too，isconsistent，andwantsnothingforhisclassshortofcompletevictory。
\"Itisnotforthislittlemomentoftimewearefighting，notforourownlittlebodiesandtheirwarmth；itisforallthosewhocomeafter，foralltimes。Oh，men，fortheloveofthemdon’tturnupanotherstoneontheirheads，don’thelptoblackenthesky。Ifwecanshakethatwhite-facedmonsterwiththebloodylipsthathassuckedthelivesoutofourselves，ourwives，andchildren，sincetheworldbegan，ifwehavenottheheartsofmentostandagainstit，breasttobreastandeyetoeye，andforceitbackwardtillitcryformercy，itwillgoonsuckinglife，andweshallstayforeverwhereweare，lessthantheverydogs。\"
Itisinevitablethatcompromiseandpettyinterestshouldpassonandleavetwosuchgiantsbehind。Inevitable，untilthemasswillreachthestatureofaDavidRoberts。Willitever？Prophecyisnotthevocationofthedramatist，yetthemorallessonisevident。Onecannothelprealizingthattheworkingmenwillhavetousemethodshithertounfamiliartothem；thattheywillhavetodiscardallthoseelementsintheirmidstthatareforeverreadytoreconciletheirreconcilable，namelyCapitalandLabor。TheywillhavetolearnthatcharacterslikeDavidRobertsaretheveryforcesthathaverevolutionizedtheworldandthuspavedthewayforemancipationoutoftheclutchesofthat\"white-facedmonsterwithbloodylips，\"
towardsabrighterhorizon，afreerlife，andadeeperrecognitionofhumanvalues。
Nosubjectofequalsocialimporthasreceivedsuchextensiveconsiderationwithinthelastfewyearsasthequestionofprisonandpunishment。
Hardlyanymagazineofconsequencethathasnotdevoteditscolumnstothediscussionofthisvitaltheme。Anumberofbooksbyablewriters，bothinAmericaandabroad，havediscussedthistopicfromthehistoric，psychologic，andsocialstandpoint，allagreeingthatpresentpenalinstitutionsandourmodeofcopingwithcrimehaveineveryrespectprovedinadequateaswellaswasteful。Onewouldexpectthatsomethingveryradicalshouldresultfromthecumulativeliteraryindictmentofthesocialcrimesperpetratedupontheprisoner。Yetwiththeexceptionofafewminorandcomparativelyinsignificantreformsinsomeofourprisons，absolutelynothinghasbeenaccomplished。ButatlastthisgravesocialwronghasfounddramaticinterpretationinGalworthy’sJUSTICE。
TheplayopensintheofficeofJamesHowandSons，Solicitors。Theseniorclerk，RobertCokeson，discoversthatacheckhehadissuedforninepoundshasbeenforgedtoninety。Byelimination，suspicionfallsuponWilliamFalder，thejuniorofficeclerk。Thelatterisinlovewithamarriedwoman，theabused，ill-treatedwifeofabrutaldrunkard。Pressedbyhisemployer，asevereyetnotunkindlyman，Falderconfessestheforgery，pleadingthedirenecessityofhissweetheart，RuthHoneywill，withwhomhehadplannedtoescapetosaveherfromtheunbearablebrutalityofherhusband。
NotwithstandingtheentreatiesofyoungWalter，whoistouchedbymodernideas，hisfather，amoralandlaw-respectingcitizen，turnsFalderovertothepolice。
Thesecondact，inthecourt-room，showsJusticeintheveryprocessofmanufacture。ThesceneequalsindramaticpowerandpsychologicveritythegreatcourtsceneinRESURRECTION。YoungFalder，anervousandratherweaklyyouthoftwenty-three，standsbeforethebar。Ruth，hismarriedsweetheart，fullofloveanddevotion，burnswithanxietytosavetheyoungmanwhoseaffectionbroughtabouthispresentpredicament。TheyoungmanisdefendedbyLawyerFrome，whosespeechtothejuryisamasterpieceofdeepsocialphilosophywreathedwiththetendrilsofhumanunderstandingandsympathy。HedoesnotattempttodisputethemerefactofFalderhavingalteredthecheck；andthoughhepleadstemporaryaberrationindefenseofhisclient，thatpleaisbaseduponasocialconsciousnessasdeepandall-embracingastherootsofoursocialills——\"thebackgroundoflife，thatpalpitatinglifewhichalwaysliesbehindthecommissionofacrime。\"HeshowsFaldertohavefacedthealternativeofseeingthebelovedwomanmurderedbyherbrutalhusband，whomshecannotdivorce；oroftakingthelawintohisownhands。Thedefencepleadswiththejurynottoturntheweakyoungmanintoacriminalbycondemninghimtoprison，for\"justiceisamachinethat，whensomeonehasgivenitastartingpush，rollsonofitself……Isthisyoungmantobegroundtopiecesunderthismachineforanactwhich，attheworst，wasoneofweakness？Ishetobecomeamemberofthelucklesscrewsthatmanthosedark，ill-starredshipscalledprisons？……Iurgeyou，gentlemen，donotruinthisyoungman。
Forasaresultofthosefourminutes，ruin，utterandirretrievable，stareshimintheface……TherollingofthechariotwheelsofJusticeoverthisboybeganwhenitwasdecidedtoprosecutehim。\"
ButthechariotofJusticerollsmercilesslyon，for——asthelearnedJudgesays——\"thelawiswhatitis——amajesticedifice，shelteringallofus，eachstoneofwhichrestsonanother。\"
Falderissentencedtothreeyears’penalservitude。
Inprison，theyoung，inexperiencedconvictsoonfindshimselfthevictimoftheterrible\"system。\"TheauthoritiesadmitthatyoungFalderismentallyandphysically\"inbadshape，\"butnothingcanbedoneinthematter:manyothersareinasimilarposition，and\"thequartersareinadequate。\"
Thethirdsceneofthethirdactisheart-grippinginitssilentforce。Thewholesceneisapantomime，takingplaceinFalder’sprisoncell。
\"Infast-fallingdaylight，Falder，inhisstockings，isseenstandingmotionless，withhisheadinclinedtowardsthedoor，listening。Hemovesalittleclosertothedoor，hisstockingedfeetmakingnonoise。Hestopsatthedoor。Heistryingharderandhardertohearsomething，anylittlethingthatisgoingonoutside。Hespringssuddenlyupright——asifatasound——andremainsperfectlymotionless。
Then，withaheavysigh，hemovestohiswork，andstandslookingatit，withhisheaddown；hedoesastitchortwo，havingtheairofamansolostinsadnessthateachstitchis，asitwere，acomingtolife。Then，turningabruptly，hebeginspacinghiscell，movinghishead，likeananimalpacingitscage。Hestopsagainatthedoor，listens，and，placingthepalmsofhishandsagainstitwithhisfingersspreadout，leanshisforeheadagainsttheiron。Turningfromit，presently，hemovesslowlybacktowardsthewindow，holdinghishead，asifhefeltthatitweregoingtoburst，andstopsunderthewindow。Butsincehecannotseeoutofitheleavesofflooking，and，pickingupthelidofoneofthetins，peersintoit，asiftryingtomakeacompanionofhisownface。Ithasgrownverynearlydark。Suddenlythelidfallsoutofhishandwithaclatter——theonlysoundthathasbrokenthesilence——andhestandsstaringintentlyatthewallwherethestuffoftheshirtishangingratherwhiteinthedarkness——heseemstobeseeingsomebodyorsomethingthere。Thereisasharptapandclick；thecelllightbehindtheglassscreenhasbeenturnedup。Thecellisbrightlylighted。
Falderisseengaspingforbreath。
Asoundfromfaraway，asofdistant，dullbeatingonthickmetal，issuddenlyaudible。Faldershrinksback，notabletobearthissuddenclamor。Butthesoundgrows，asthoughsomegreattumbrilwererollingtowardsthecell。Andgraduallyitseemstohypnotizehim。
Hebeginscreepinginchbyinchnearertothedoor。Thebangingsound，travelingfromcelltocell，drawscloserandcloser；Falder’shandsareseenmovingasifhisspirithadalreadyjoinedinthisbeating，andthesoundswellstillitseemstohaveenteredtheverycell。Hesuddenlyraiseshisclenchedfists。Pantingviolently，heflingshimselfathisdoor，andbeatsonit。\"
FinallyFalderleavestheprison，abrokenticket-of-leaveman，thestampoftheconvictuponhisbrow，theironofmiseryinhissoul。
ThankstoRuth’spleading，thefirmofJamesHowandSoniswillingtotakeFalderbackintheiremploy，onconditionthathegiveupRuth。ItisthenthatFalderlearnstheawfulnewsthatthewomanheloveshadbeendrivenbythemercilesseconomicMolochtosellherself。She\"triedmakingskirts……cheapthings……Inevermademorethantenshillingsaweek，buyingmyowncotton，andworkingallday。Ihardlyevergottobedtillpasttwelve……
Andthen……myemployerhappened——he’shappenedeversince。\"Atthisterriblepsychologicmomentthepoliceappeartodraghimbacktoprisonforfailingtoreporthimselfasticket-of-leaveman。
Completelyoverwhelmedbytheinexorabilityofhisenvironment，youngFalderseeksandfindspeace，greaterthanhumanjustice，bythrowinghimselfdowntodeath，asthedetectivesaretakinghimbacktoprison。
Itwouldbeimpossibletoestimatetheeffectproducedbythisplay。
PerhapssomeconceptioncanbegainedfromtheveryunusualcircumstancethatithadprovedsopowerfulastoinducetheHomeSecretaryofGreatBritaintoundertakeextensiveprisonreformsinEngland。Averyencouragingsignthis，oftheinfluenceexertedbythemoderndrama。ItistobehopedthatthethunderingindictmentofMr。GalsworthywillnotremainwithoutsimilareffectuponthepublicsentimentandprisonconditionsofAmerica。Atanyrate，itiscertainthatnoothermodernplayhasbornesuchdirectandimmediatefruitinwakeningthesocialconscience。
Anothermodernplay，THESERVANTINTHEHOUSE，strikesavitalkeyinoursociallife。TheheroofMr。Kennedy’smasterpieceisRobert，acoarse，filthydrunkard，whomrespectablesocietyhasrepudiated。
Robert，thesewercleaner，istherealherooftheplay；nay，itstrueandonlysavior。Itishewhovolunteerstogodownintothedangeroussewer，sothathiscomrades\"can’avelightandair。\"
Afterall，hashenotsacrificedhislifealways，sothatothersmayhavelightandair？
Thethoughtthatlaboristheredeemerofsocialwell-beinghasbeencriedfromthehousetopsineverytongueandeveryclime。YetthesimplewordsofRobertexpressthesignificanceoflaboranditsmissionwithfargreaterpotency。
Americaisstillinitsdramaticinfancy。Mostoftheattemptsalongthislinetomirrorlife，havebeenwretchedfailures。Still，therearehopefulsignsintheattitudeoftheintelligentpublictowardmodernplays，eveniftheybefromforeignsoil。
TheonlyrealdramaAmericahassofarproducedisTHEEASIESTWAY，byEugeneWalter。
Itissupposedtorepresenta\"peculiarphase\"ofNewYorklife。Ifthatwereall，itwouldbeofminorsignificance。Thatwhichgivestheplayitsrealimportanceandvalueliesmuchdeeper。Itlies，first，inthefundamentalcurrentofoursocialfabricwhichdrivesusall，evenstrongercharactersthanLaura，intotheeasiestway——awaysoverydestructiveofintegrity，truth，andjustice。Secondly，thecruel，senselessfatalismconditionedinLaura’ssex。Thesetwofeaturesputtheuniversalstampupontheplay，andcharacterizeitasoneofthestrongestdramaticindictmentsagainstsociety。
Thecriminalwasteofhumanenergy，ineconomicandsocialconditions，drivesLauraasitdrivestheaveragegirltomarryanymanfora\"home\"；orasitdrivesmentoenduretheworstindignitiesforamiserablepittance。
Thenthereisthatotherrespectableinstitution，thefatalismofLaura’ssex。Theinevitabilityofthatforceissummedupinthefollowingwords:\"Don’tyouknowthatwecountnomoreinthelifeofthesementhantamedanimals？It’sagame，andifwedon’tplayourcardswell，welose。\"Womaninthebattlewithlifehasbutoneweapon，onecommodity——sex。Thataloneservesasatrumpcardinthegameoflife。
Thisblindfatalismhasmadeofwomanaparasite，aninertthing。
WhythenexpectperseveranceorenergyofLaura？Theeasiestwayisthepathmappedoutforherfromtimeimmemorial。Shecouldfollownoother。
Anumberofotherplayscouldbequotedascharacteristicofthegrowingroleofthedramaasadisseminatorofradicalthought。
SufficetomentionTHETHIRDDEGREE，byCharlesKlein；THEFOURTH
ESTATE，byMedillPatterson；AMAN’SWORLD，byIdaCroutchers，——allpointingtothedawnofdramaticartinAmerica，anartwhichisdiscoveringtothepeopletheterriblediseasesofoursocialbody。
Ithasbeensaidofold，allroadsleadtoRome。Inparaphrasedapplicationtothetendenciesofourday，itmaytrulybesaidthatallroadsleadtothegreatsocialreconstruction。Theeconomicawakeningoftheworkingman，andhisrealizationofthenecessityforconcertedindustrialaction；thetendenciesofmoderneducation，especiallyintheirapplicationtothefreedevelopmentofthechild；
thespiritofgrowingunrestexpressedthrough，andcultivatedby，artandliterature，allpavethewaytotheOpenRoad。Aboveall，themoderndrama，operatingthroughthedoublechannelofdramatistandinterpreter，affectingasitdoesbothmindandheart，isthestrongestforceindevelopingsocialdiscontent，swellingthepowerfultideofunrestthatsweepsonwardandoverthedamofignorance，prejudice，andsuperstition。
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