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A MAGAZINE
VOLUME
II
NUMBER
8
OF
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NEIGHBORLINESS
DECEMBER 14, 1913
PRICE FIVE CENTS
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1
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THE -MODERN DRAMA AS A _ OCIAL FORCE*
S
By
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NORMAN HAPGOOD
1 ,:
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CROSS the ocean they have a real
of the plays of that time were either sen- the responsibility of the father to h~ illecensor, and it is not necessary to timentality without sense, like this one, or gitimate child.)
It is extraordinarily important that we
depend upon the mayor or the po- pretty stories of a girl and a boy, with
lice to tell us if it is right for the· some not too serious obstacles before should win this fight, and win it good and
more enlightened members of the com- them, who in the end were married and hard. Democracy is an exciting thing, but
munity to see a play like "Damaged lived happily ever after. They were all allowed to go in the wrong direction it can
Goods." In England the censor is a man done by one pattern. · Now the drama is a
be made comfortable and commonplace instead.
Let us go in the right direction,
who never goes great constructive and expressive force.
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the theatre,
One name must stand out in any survey realize all our possibilities, and we shall
And
t '.;.,.,i.; - ·. ·. .
j but to wi:.-om of the cl;lange, and that is the name of Hen- have great geniuses and great art.
1
the drama will do this for us if we see th:at
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all plays must rik Ibsen. (Applause.)
It is seldom that
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sent berore a great ma:q can mean as much to a differ- it treats or the real. Do this for t he drama,
-• tliey
can
be ent civilization as to his own. Ibsen can • and you will find that it is as enriching and
valuable and proud a possession as the na,.
produced. Miss
never be to th·e masses of the American _
_
Morgan in · her people what he might have been had he tion has.
poem compared been an American ; but he showed a wonf..:~t,~ •·. _· ·~ :· - , t
~
~VIr. Bennett. to derfully superior mind and technique in
._:'f•_: } ~.- . _ J_ hn the Bap- approaching the problems of his day, and· THE MESSAGE OF "DAMAGED GOODS."
o
By Richard Bennett.
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-·_- t1st.
In Eng- others have followed him.
In Spain we
t}.i-_':"',·.-_ '~/-;? ,,-.,; - --: land . John cant had Echegaray ; in Germany, Hauptmann
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HERE is a great big clamor going
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Baptist
and Sudermann. In France the influence,
on around this country by a lot of
' ·:~:- · .. . ~?!!;!
· - - ~-' ~ / appear
on the though not so strong or direct, was felt.
prudes, hypocrites and criminally
' stage - except And in England the entire drama was made
igncrant people, against the teachin a dress-suit, over. The "tea - cup drama" disappeared, ing of sex hygiene. I wonder why! Sex
singing in an and we have a series of men now iri Eng- hygiene: morally clean : isn't it terrible
oratorio.
But land and in this country that have made that anyone should object td' being morally,
even in Eng- this one of the notable dramatic eras of all
• physically clean, and
land there is a growing sentiment in favor time.
(The speaker illustrated this by
should object to his
of a drama free to express itself as a so- speaking of the work of St.:aw and Galsworchildren's
b e in g
cial force.
thy, and the new one-act plays of Barrie.)
taught, or should obIn talking about the drama as a social
We can't have a great stage unless it
ject to taking the
force, I don't want to narrow it to the one represents the genius of its time. It may
teaching himself or
moral question which is agitating this be a comic genius, as with Moliere in
allowing it to be incity today. The drama is the greatest gen- France; but our people are serious.
We
troduced by our mederal social agent of any of the arts.
It is · are the first great real democracy that has
ical men or our mer..
the one art which- in a short space or time ever existed, and we have many problems.
of the church?
is capable of expressing the highest fli-ghts One of them is that over wh:ich all Boston
But the tea ching
or the human imagination and bringing all is now stirred up.
We have been comis going · on-it is
kinds or people together, just as religion pelled to realize that even in America the
going on if I have to
does. I was startled at first by Mr. Cole- drama is the expression of the ideas or
start it myself in
man's prayer, but then I remembered that grown people, and not a toy for children.
every town I go into
the drama started in religion and that even A singular thing is that· this complaint
where they haven 't
today It finds its highest expression at against frank speaking is always aimed at
it.
(The
speaker
Oberammergau. No play of recent years serious plays. (The ·speaker then said that
then announced a
'.has left a more profound stamp on my Mr. Bennett' s fight was already won. but
plan by which he
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will instruct the men
+h"t " nnthp,- nl av. " The Guilty Man." was
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land and in this country that have made
this one of the notable dramatic eras of all
time.
(The speaker illustrated this by
speaking of the work of St.aw and Galswor•
thy, and the new one-act plays of Barrie.)
We can't have a great stage unless it
represents the genius of its time. It may
be a comic genius, as yith Moliere in
France; but our people are serious.
We
are the first great real democracy that has
ever existed, and we have many problems.
One of them is that over wh·i ch all Boston
is now stirred up.
We have been compelled to realize that even in America the
drama is the expression of the ideas of
grown people, and not a toy for children.
A singular thing is that this complaint
against frank speaking is always aimed at
serious plays. (The speaker then said that
Mr. Bennett's fight was already won, but
that another play, "The Guilty Man," was
going through the same struggle in New
York and probably would have to · elsewhere also. He gave the plot, hinging on
THE
PRAYER.
With thankful hearts, we acknowledge, 0 God, the satisfaction given by
the drama, the helpfulness afforded by
the stage, and the ministering service
rendered by the players who entertain,
·i nform and, uplift the ·multitude. We
have
received
much· from these
sources and have given little in return.
Grant us, we pray, a serious mind and
a .sense of personal responsibility in
our attitude toward the theatre. May
we shun the evil in it and support the
good. Do Thou uphold every playwright, manager and player who is
striving to uplift his fellow man and
give them the backing of all men and
women who love righteousness and who
work for the coming of the Kingdom.
· Amen.
*The speeches and tbe questions and answt!rs
reported by ~Iiriam .Allen de Ford.
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But
even in England there is a growing sentiment in favor
of a drama free to express itself as a soeial force.
In talking about the drama as a social
force, I don't want to narrow it to the one
moral question which is agitating this
city today. The drama is the greatest general social agent of any of the arts.
It is
the one art which· in a short space of time
is - apable of expressing the highest flights
c
of the human imagination and bringing all
kinds of ~ together, just as religion
does. I waii~
led at first by Mr. Coleman's prayer, but then I remembered that
the drama started in religion and that eve·n
today it finds its highest expression at
Oberammergau. No play of recent years
!has .left a more profound stamp on my
mind than "Everyman."
That wonderful
sermon and picture and story expressed all
lluman life and thought.
If you don't take th·e drama this way, if
you don't realize those opportunities and
possibilities and get the genius of the nation to working them out; if you take a
hostile attitude and try to keep the drama
from expressing what the nation is thinking about; then you will bring about the
very evil you seek to avoid.
That happened in England when the Puritan conscience was uppermost. It boycotted· and
suppressed the theatre; anq the result was
the only genuinely licentious stage England has ever had.
If th·e people in this·
country who are trying to stifle expression
on the stage were the majority, the result
would be an outbreak of some form of indecency.
Some ten years ago the American stage
did not express very much. "\Vhat it did
express is represented by "Rip Van Winkle," a marvellous perfori:nance, but the
play itself a picture of a drunkard, with the
audience invited to think what a splendid
fellow he was, and how hard his family
was in not liking to have him drunk. Most
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that anyone should object to being morally,
• physically clean, and
should object to his
c]Jildren's
b e in g
taught, or should object to taking the
teaching himself or
allowing it to be introduced by our medical men or our men
of the church?
But the teaching
is going on-it is
going on if I have to
start · it myself in
every town I go into
where they haven't
it.
(The
speaker
then announced a
plan by which he
and Mrs. Bennett will instruct the men
and women of the audiences, respectively,
on sex hygiene after two matine_ performe
ances of the play.)
A man said to me a while ago, "Mr. Bennett, Brieux's motive is unquestioned, but I
never knew you had any thought on this
subject. ·when did you enter into this?"
I said, "I guess I have fought my way into
this as into all my other ideas-I have entered into it because I can't stand the rotten conditions which have been handed
down to us and which govern the society of
today." (Applause.) "But," said he, "do
you realize th-at you may do a little good
with your play, but you are going to go
· through the country wrecking homes?"
Those homes would be wrecked anyhowthey have been wrecked.
If we had · a
street in a slum district full of unsanitary
tenements, we could not build new ones
until we had torn the old ones down.
So
if there are rotten conditions in families,
let us uproot the families and start new
ones. ·
.
How many parents in this audience have
not constituted themselves liars in the eyes
of their children? Th·e majority of us have
·-lied in answer to :the. first question of our
children regarding" the · fundamental facts
. (Continued on Page 4.)
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II
FORD HALL FOLKS
2
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THE QUESTIONS
Q: Will you kindly give your opinion
of Shakespeare's " The Merchant of Venice" ?
A: All I can say in a short space is that
I think it is one of his best plays from two
points of view-plot and acting parts.
Q (Mr. Brown) : The churches teach
good and evil in an abstract way, but in
such plays as " Damaged Goods" we get
action and reaction and result; and in such
cases does not the drama .go beyond the
church?
A : Personally, I like to confine mysel!
to what I am sure of. I am sure both have
done a great deal of good and are going
to do more
Q (Mr. Brown) : Do not scenes of violent crime act as a stimulant to young
minds?
A: It depends on how it is done.
The
murder of Banquo and Duncan by Macbeth
never inspired anyone to murder.
Q: What is your opinion of William
Winter's criticism of the present day
stage?
A : I think it is piffle. (Applause.)
Q: Since
you have
criticised
the
dramatic critic, why do you not criticise
the editor who is responsible for him?
A : I am perfectly willing to divide the
responsibility- between them and the public, which I hope soon will demand something better.
Q : Are there any plays depicting the
unjust economic system between labor and
capital?
A: There has been a stream of them,
from Hauptmann's "The Weavers" to
Charles Rann Kennedy. But the best !}laywrights make such discussions a part of a
genuine presentation of life.
Q: Has the modern problem play, like
"The Sec~ :VIrs. Tanqueray," an uplifting influence on the community?
A: I think the problem play has a very
uplifting influence, and that particular
nlav was a nionPPr i n thP fipln
A: I think that usually genius is humble, but sometimes you have genius in a
person w ho has also the spirit · of paltry
vanity, and that is Shaw.
Q: What do you think of pfays dealing
with the problem of assimilation ?.
A: The only one I know is "The Melting Pot," and that is a winning. but not a
great, play.
Q: What do you think of Ibsen'is
" Ghosts"?
A: I think it is an over-protest.
Q: As between " The Follies of 1913"
and " Damaged Goods," which ·would you
prefer your daughter to see?
A:
If there is any one in the audience
who would prefer his daughter to see the
" Follies," let him speak up!
Q: Is "Belladonna" a moral play?
A.: I h·a ven't seen it.
Q : Isn't " The Fight" likely to have a
bad effect on young girls?
A: I can't judge as to that particular
play, as I haven't seen it, but for the plays
we have been considering I should answer
in the negative.
Q : Why do you say you haven't any
scale for weighing the church against the
drama?
A: Because it is true. •
Q: What will be the effect of the enfranchisement of women on th·e social evil?.
A:
The enfranchisement of womenthe setting free of their ideals so that they
can work effectively in the communitvwill have many great ad vantages, none
greater than the raising of the sexual
standard.
Q: Dq.n't the economic conditions of today prevent a poor man from seeing plays
like " Damaged Goods." playing in a high
class theatre at high prices?
A: Yes, but the whole thing will be in
movi n g pictures s oon. ( :.\Ir. Bennett.) : Is
it pride that keeps you out of a 50 cent
seat in m y theatre ?
O·
nn
Y nn
knn,v
:1nv
nl::lv
t h .-, t
,·r ill
they object to plays like
"Damaged
Goods ?"
A: I am afraid that is true of a large
part of the male half of- the human race.
The men complain where the women applaud because people always object to hav- ing a pri vilege taken away from them, and
because they have been accustomed from
bo yhood to think of sex in a smutty way.
Q : Why, when all the people are think--irig of this thing, are we so afraid to facethe truth and the facts ?
A: vVe are less and less afraid every
year.
Q : Do you think that the moral effect of
such a play as " Damaged Goods '' is last-ino-?
A_-: I certainly do. I believe that suet:
plays are helping the feminist movement
to stamp out prostitution as a ·business.
(Applause.)
Q (Mr. Hogan): I should like to know
if under a state where Socialism would exist and profit be wiped out, prostitution
would not be wiped out also?
A : Socialism or any other method
which puts woman on a footing of equality with man will reduce prostitution. (Ap-·
plause.)
Q: If it is true that a majority of the
men and women of Ameri~
e little
knowledge of the drama as a great art,
why would it not be wise to teach it in the·
high sctools?
A : It is being taught, more and more,
and in a way they can understand, and the·
little children are being grouped together
and put to acting fine plays.
Q: Hasn't the theatre done more for the
abolishment of slavery, by playing " Uncle
Tom's Cabin" than the Church?
A: I -can't deal in these comparisons; I
am afraid of them.
Q : Will you give the name of a play
that deals witt· white slavery?
A : " The Fight,'' " The Lure," "Any
Night," "Ourselv es."
Q (Mr. Ballou): If " Damaged Goods"
is to have such a wonderful effect on the
young -mind, don't you think it should be
produced in a lo wer priced theatre, where
it will reach the people w ho need the information? (Applause.)
IBy G;
'
VEN
do I
Las1
very
·nasty. We
the hall WO
the place
were able ,
teen minut
thought it ·
had. Cert:
speaker anc
for Ford H:
E
j
Miss Edit
effectively :
evening in
a deep inte:
There are 1
take up a t
for the sak,
Mr. Balloi
in •his earru
man who "ll
Goods" cou
with more :i:
finally gave
one. It was
dignation cc
1
Conundru1
Hogan wan1
asks a quei
show, or do,
ous, or can'1
I
Most of m
unnecessaril
asked a qi;
moral reput:
stood his !
came out of
in g by '.l drc
..
,-
<·
church'!
A: Personally, I like to confine myself
to what I am sure of. I am sure both have
done a great deal of good and are going
to do more
Q (Mr. Brown): Do not scenes of violent crime act as a stimulant to young
minds?
A: It depends on how it is done.
The
murder of Banquo and Duncan by Macbeth
never inspired anyone to murder.
Q: What is your opinion of William
Winter's criticism of the present day
stage?
A: I think it is piffle. (Applause.)
Q: Since
you have
criticised the
dramatic critic, why do you not criticise
the editor who is responsible for him?
A : I am perfectly willing to divide the
responsibility· between th·em and the public, which I hope soon will demand something better.
Q: Are there any plays depicting the
unjust economic system between labor and
capital?
A: There has been a stream of them,
from Hauptmann's "The Weavers" to
Charles Rann Kennedy. But the best playwrights make such discussions a part of a
genuine presentation of life.
Q: Has the modern problem play, like
"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray," an uplifting influence on the community?
A: I think the problem play has a very
uplifting · influence, and that particular
play was a pioneer in the field.
Q: What do you think of Tolstoi's "The
Kreutzer Sonata" ?
A: My: opinion, given with the utmost
humility, is that it is the expression of a
great mind become morbid.
Q: Will the drama transform or eliminate from human nature the innate quality
of selfishness?
A: I think that is a pretty large order
to give the drama.
Q: Won't the young people be unduly
and too early interested in sex by its free
discussion?
A: I think not. In my youth the young
people talked about it in a smutty manner.
Discussing it frankly would do away with:
that condition.
Q : How can we expect the police, who
are in league with · vice, to censor plays
like "Mrs. Warren's Profession"?
A : You all know the answer : we can't.
Q : Is the working agreement recently
effected between the syndicate and the
Shuberts going to affect freedom in producing plays outside of that group ?
A: One of the things that held back the
American drama was monopoly. Then the
split came and gave opportunity to adventurous playwrights.
But soon two tneatres were being erected in towns that
could support only one, and that has led to
the present agreement. If it lives up to
its present terms, very well; but there is
danger that the drama may again be set
back seriously.
Q:· What do you think of Shaw's criticism of Shakespeare?
w.: . -i.~
.
UCL
H
._,.._,...._.
and "Damaged Goods," which -would you
prefer your daughter to see?
A: If there is anyone in the audience
who would prefer his daughter to see the
"Follies," let him speak up!
Q: Is "Belladonna" a moral play?
A.: I haven't seen it.
Q:
Isn't "The Fight" likely to have a.
bad effect on young girls?
A: I can't judge as to that particular
play, as I haven't seen it, but for the plays
we have been considering I should answer
in the negative.
Q : Why do you say you haven't any
scale for weighing the church against the
drama?
A: Because it is true.
Q: What will be the effect of the enfranchisement of women on tb:e social evil?
A: The enfranchisement of womenthe setting free of their ideals so that they
can work effectively in the communitywill have many great advantages, none
greater than the raising of the sexual
standard.
Q : Don't the economic conditions of today prevent a poor man from seeing plays
like "Damaged Goods," playing in a high
class theatre at high prices?
A : Yes, but the whole thing will be in
moving pictures soon. ( Mr. Bennett.) : Is
it pride that keeps you out of a 50 cent
seat in my theatre?
Q:
Do you know any play that will
teach the working people to keep what.
they create?
A : I don 't think plays can go ahead of
the best intelligence of the community,
and that problem has not yet been solved.
Q
(Mrs. Hoffman): What effect have
the moving pictures on our children who
go to see th·e m so much?
A: The only bad effect I have seen is
the lack of continued attention. On the
·o ther hand they are reaching millions who
never before had anything to feed their
minds.
Q: What do you think of Ibsen' s Nora?
A: Nora is an event in history. The
feminist movement, first heralded by her,
is the biggest movement of our time.
Q: Isn't sex something too delicate to
tandle anywhere but in the family?
A : That isn't the choice that is present. It is a choice between having light
as we can get it or no light at all.
Q:
Couldn't "Damaged Goods" and
plays of that sort carry out their purpose
without being so outspoken?
A: No; exactly what is unhealthy is
this idea that when we speak about sex we
have got to feel embarrassed.
Q: Did not Ibsen go too far in abolishing some points in the tech·nique of the
drama?
A : Because Ibsen did a thing with superb result doesn't mean that everyone has
to do_1 tp.e same thing, and everyone
doesn't. .·
Q (Miss Rogolsky) : Isn 't it because
people don 't want to know the truth that
(Applause.)
Q (Mr. Hogan) : I should like to know
if under a state where Socialism would exist and profit be wiped out, prostitution
would not be wiped out also?
A : Socialism or any other method
which puts woman on a footing of equal-·
ity with man will reduce prostitution. (Applause.)
Q : If it is true that a majority of the
men and women of America have little
knowledge of the drama as a great art,
why would it not be wise to teach it in the
high sc1·o ols?
A: It is being taught, more and more,
and in a way they can understand, and the·
little children are being gTouped together
and put to acting fine plays.
Q : Hasn't the theatre done more for the
abolishment of slavery, by playing "Uncle
Tom' s Cabin" than the Church ?
A : I can't deal in these comparisons; I
am afraid of them.
Q : Will you give the name of a play
that deals wit1· white slavery?
A: "The Fight,'' "The Lure," "Any
Night," "Ourselves."
Q (Mr. Ballou ): If "Damaged Goods"
is to have such a wonderful effect on the
young mind, don't you think it should be
produced in a lower priced theatre, where
it will reach the people who need the information? (Applause.)
A (Mr. Bennett.): It is impossible for
any man to dictate in what theatre his
play shall be produced. We were turned
out of every theatre in New York. Then
Rockefeller, Jr., t errible man, offered us the
vestry of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church,
which I refused. Finally, after I got
Mayor Gaynor's approval, I secured a theatre on condition that I would produce it
in all the theatres of this booking concern.
When I get out of the clutches of that
crowd I am going to produce it in the 25
cent theatres. (Applause.)
Q : Isn't sex hygiene too serious a subject to be taught in t1-e grammar schools?
A : Certanly it would be better taugt.t
in the homes, if they were very, very wise;
otherwise in the schools, if we had ideal
teachers. It is a case where experts disagree.
Q: In view of the fact that actors are
well known to be people of loose morals,
are they the people to teach us?
A (Mr. Bennett.) : Stand up. What is
your work ?-! am a clerk.-Then I stand
100 . per cent. for the actors and you 100
per cent. for tt·e clerks. I am a moral
man; are you?-Yes, sir.-vVhat do you
know of actors ?-! know only what I read
in the newspapers.-! thought so. Actors
are as moral as clerks or newspaper men.
If what you said were so, I should say they
were unfit not only to teach but to exist.
Q (Same.) : I should like Mr. Hapgood's
opinion.
A : Even if it were .true, it would be no
reason why they should not express moral
(Continued on page 4.)
Miss Edith R. .l\JaY, •
effectively assists lVIr.
evening in the sale o
a deep interest in eve
There are not many ·
take up a task like th
for the sake of helpin
*
Mr. Ballou certainlJ
in his earnest plea i:
man who wanted to
Goods" could not bf
with more popular pr
finally gave an answ•
one. It was a fine di
dignation completely
*
Conundrum : vVha
Hogan want to raisi
asks a question? I
show, or does he jm
ous, or can't he helJ
*
Most of us though
unnecessarily hard ,
asked a question
moral reputation of
stood his ground
came out of the enc
ing by adroitly tn
to Mr. Hapgood, w
answer.
*
It is great fun wl:
some unexpected c;
ringing voice calls
one who has arisen
all on his own acco
discipline or order.
get so absorbed in
they do not observe
which we conduct 1
have you noticed 1:
· at least, it was a
loose? Perhaps th
that new freedom
much.
*
I have been glad
men in various par
I have noted botl:
their thorou gh-goi:
ing that the fines
not at all depend
development upo1
blood. Without cl
tion they enter ir
zest. and show t
consideration and
hall.
*
l\Ir. Richard Be
the Ford Hall lVI
Century Club wa,
He told me he hac
for a month as tl
platform last Sur
'WWfi"-7
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FORD HALL FOLKS
"Damaged
of a large
Lman race.
;vomen ap-·
ect to hav- them, and.
>med from
1tty way.
are think- ·
:1id to face
:raid every
-al effect of
ls" is last-
L
that suet:
movement
business.
ke to know1 would exprostitution
~r method
g of equal-·
tution. (Ap-1rity of the
have little
great art,
ch it in the
and more,
.nd, and t he·
ed together
oore for the
ying "Uncle
>
1parisons; I
e of a play
,ure," ·
"Any
.ged Goods"
,ffect on the
.t should be
eatre, where
need the inopossible for
thea tre his
were turned
York. Then
ff or~r1 n~
the
AS IT LOOKS TO ME
By GEORGE W. COLEMAN, Director of the Ford Hall Meetings
3
business men. · The Lancaster AdYertisers'
Club, an organiza tion less than a year old,
made itse1f responsible for all the arrangements for both these meetings, and did it so
thoroughly and completely as to leave nothing to be desired.
*
VEN those who kno w our work best
do not estimate it at its full power.
Last Sunday evening there was a
very heavy rain and the going was
nasty. We thought that this time surely
the hall would not be full. Instead of that,
the place was crowded so early that we
were able to begin the meeting nearly fifteen minutes ahead of tim·e . Mr. Dreier
thought it was the greatest night we ever
had. Certainly the reaction between the
speaker and the audience was unusual, even
for Ford Hall.
E
*
*
*
Miss Edith R. May, who so generously and
effectively assists Mr. London every Stmday
evening in the sale of the magazine, takes
a deep interest in every phase of our work.
There are not many who voluntarily would
take up a task like that and stick to it just
for the sake of helping along a good cause.
*
*
*
Mr. Ballou certainly made a winning fight
in his earnest plea in behalf of the young
man who wanted to know why " Damaged
Goods" could not be played in a theatre
with more popular prices. And Mr. Bennett
finally gave an answer that satisfied everyone. It was a fine display of wholesome indignation completely answered.
*
*
*
*
*
Conundrum: What is it that makes Mr.
Hogan want to raise a row every time he
asks a question ? Doesn't he get a fair
show, or does he just love to be obstreperous, or can't he help it anyway?
*
Most of us thought that Mr. Bennett was
unnecessarily hard on the young man who
asked a question involving the general
moral reputation of actors. The questioner
stood his ground bravely, howe ver, and
came out of the encounter with banners fl ying by adroitly transferring t he question
to ~rr. Hapgood, who gave a satisfactory
answer.
*
*
*
It is gr eat fun when all of a sudden from
some un expected rt narter of th e house a
,} - ~~
/
So .John D. Ro ckefeller, .Tr., offer ed t he
ves try or the Fitth A1·E:n ue b aptist Church
to ~Ir. Bennett in case he fa ile d to secure
a theatre for t he production of .. Damaged
Goods"? I wasn't so far wrong, t hen, when
as a Baptist deacon, I urged all my young
friends in Boston to go to the Tremont
Theatre and see it played. Not that young
Rockefeller sets the fa s hi on in Baptis t circles, but that it is gratifying t o be in such
distinguished com pany.
*
*
In my mail tliis morning is a letter from
Lewis ton, Me., t elling of the formation of a
committee to in vestigate the possibilities of
an open forum for that city, and asking for ·
more information. There is a movement on
in Braintree, Mass., to unite all the churches
in an open forum movement. A similar
mo vement, already in operation in Xewton,
:VIass., is making splendid progress.
THE
GOOD
GRAY POET OUR
NEXT SUNDAY.
TOPIC
*
*
*
There was a time when vValt vVhitman
::-rorman Hapgood can make a worth-while
wandered about th e streets of Boston in
talk with about the least appar ent effort of
t he fl es h a nd a t t ended concer ts and lecany man I know. As I s tudy him his
tures and the theatre just as any journalist
readiness is ·due to two things,
long-time · does no w. I ca n fancy his being sent to
familiarity with his subject, a nd an absolute
·•cover" a Ford Hall meeting and presentindifference as t o the art of s peaking. He
ing the world, in the paper next morning,
puts his whole mind into the thing he wants
wi t h an unforgettab le picture of th e great
to sa y, and never troubles himself at all as
human s pectacle up here on the hill with
to the form of expression. He cares a great its urgent throb of life a nd its indomitable
deal about saying what h e really thinks,
passion for the ideal. Of all the men who
a nd cares not at all about making clever might come to us to talk a bout W hitman
phrases.
Prof. Zueblin can probably tell us best of
*
*
*
this wonderful old man who loved men and
Mr. Wolf, manager for A. Shuman & Co.,
women and little children, and, who lookgot his first experience of Ford Hall last ing on a thousand manifestations of life,
Sunday night, coming in as a guest of Mr. pronounced them all good. " Walt WhitThomas Dreier. It is very interesting to
man, Prophet and Democrat," is to be i\'.Ir.
watch the effect our work has upon a man
Zueblin's topic.
who comes upon it suddenly for the first
time. Most of us have gotten so used to it
we take a good deal of it as a matter of
Other Meetings
course. Mr. ·wolf's face indicated a keen response to everything that was going on.
Wells Memorial Institute, · Tuesday, December 15, at 8 I>- m ., Better Houses for
*
*
"
The seeds of our Ford Hall idea are vVorking People, by H enry Sterling.
Sunday Commons, at Huntington Chamsprouting up in the most surprising places
all over the country. At Lancaster, Penn., bers Hall, Sunday, December 21, at 3.3 0 p.
I was amazed at the audience that turned m. Dr. Charles Fleischer , leader.
Public Library, Thursday, December 18,
out to hear the story of our work. The
meeting was held in the Court House, seat- at 8 p. m., The Tem ple of Peace ; Art and
Scenery in Piedmont, by Cav. L. Melano
ing nearly a thousand, and every seat was
taken and many stood all through a program Rossi. Sunday, December 21, at 3.30 p. ni.,
that lasted two hours. In t he aud ience were How to Listen to Music, by Arthur M.
business men, college professors and work- Curry.
School of Social Science, a t Lorimer
ing men with their wi\·es a nd daughters.
Hall, }Ionday, December 15 , a t 8 p_ m., The
It was declared to be t he mos t representaCampaign for Pure Food ; The Story of An
tiYe a udienc e that had ever gathered in the
Inves tigation in Boston. by H. P . Cassidy ;
city. The fo llo wing noon I was gi\·en a
YV l , ~t \ V P~tfiP lrl ni r1
h,- n~-u
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io- e more for then
, playing "Uncle
y
rnrch ?
1e comparisons; I
I
[ name of ~a play
very?
he Lure" "Any
b amaued, Goods"
"'
.
rful effect on the
1ink it should be
ed theatre, where
r ho need the ins
I is
impossible forwhat theatre his
f We were tu:z:ned
New York. Then
1an, offered us the
1e Baptist Church,
:lly, after I got
~ I secured a the. would produce it
, booking concern.
i clutches of that
>duce it in the 25
i.)
too serious a subgrammar schools?
I be better taugt.t
I
•
e very, very wise;
( if we had ideal
1Vhere experts dis-
I
ct
actors
that
are
of loose morals,
iach us?
!:.and up. What is
rk.-Then I stand
:tors and you 100
f I am a moral
ir.-What do you
t only what I read
10ught so. Actors
,r newspaper men.,
, I should say they
ach but to exist.
like Mr. Hapgood's
~
r
:ue, it would be no
·not express moral
,page 4.)
L
~
-(/tI:ft\:
~1~}\{·?
"
time. Most of us have gotten so used to it
we take a good deal of it as a matter of
course. Mr. Wolf's face indicated a keen resppnse to everything that was going on.
*
*
*
Conundrum: vVhat is it that makes llfr.
Hogan want to raise a row every time he
asks a question ? Doesn't he get a fair
show, or does he just love to be obstreperous, or can't he help it anyway?
*
*
*
*
Most of us thought that Mr. Bennett was
unnecessarily hard on the young man who
asked a question involving the general
moral reputation of actors. The questioner
stood his ground bravely, ho wever, and
came out of the encounter with banners fl ying by adroitly transferring the -question
to Mr. Hapgood, who gave a satisfactory
answer.
* * *
It is great fun when all of a sudden from
some unexpected quarter of the house a
ringing voice calls our attention to someone who has arisen to make a little speech
all on his own account, quite oblivious of all
discipline or order. I suppose these people
get so absorbed in what is going on that
they do not observe at all th·e method under
which we conduct the question period. And
have you noticed lately, the last t wo times.
at least, it was a woman who thus broke
loose? Perhaps this ii;; a little eruption of
that new freedom we are hearing about so
much.
*
*
Ford Hall Folks
Edi ted b,• Thomas Dreier.
UBLISHED weekly b,· the Ford
Hail Associates, whose work
is to create, assemble, and
'listribute ideas that will help
men and institutions grow more
helpful in serving society, and which
will promote "peace on earth, good
will toward men." It is tf.:ie official
publication of the Ford Hall Meetings, -.Yhich are held, under the direction of George W. Coleman, every
Sunday c;yening during the Ii10nths of
Oct ober to l\lay, in Ford Hall, Ashbur ton Place, Boston, Massachusetts.
All bu~iness communications should
be sent to Miss Mary C. Crawford,
Treasurer Ford Building, Boston,
and all comm uni ~ations intended for
the editor to The Thomas Dreier Service, University Press, Cambridge,
Mass. Subscription Price: $1.50 . for
26 numbers.
' ·
P
*
I have been glad to note additional colored
men in various parts of the audience of late.
I have noted both their intelligence and
their thorou gh-going complexions, indicating that the finest type of colored men is
not at all dependent for its progress and
development upon an infusion of white
blood. Without claiming any special attention they enter into everything with great
zest, and show themselves as worthy of
consideration and respect as anyone in the
hall.
*
*
*
The seeds of our Ford Hall idea are
sprouting up in the most surprising places
all over the country. At Lancaster, Penn.,
I was amazed at the audience that turned
out to hear the story of our work. The
meeting was held in the Court House, seating nearly a thousand, and every seat was
taken and many stood all through a program
that lasted two hours. In the audience were
business men, college professors and working men with their wives and daughters.
It was declared to be the most representative· audience that had ever gathered in the
city. The following noon I was giYen a
luncheon by the advertising and business
men of the cit>·, over which the l\Iayor of
the city presided. And here again was
preached the Ford Hall gospel as applied to
*
Mr. Richard Bennett's characterization of
the Ford Hall Meetings as a Twenty-first
Century Club was a rather clever ban rnot.
He told me he hadn 't had so good a vacation
for a month as that he had with us on our
platform last Sunday night.
Other Meetings
Wells Memorial Institute, Tuesday, December 15, at 8 p. m., Better Houses for
,Vorking People, by Henry Sterling.
Sunday Commons, at Huntington Chambers Hall, Sunday, December 21, at 3.30 p.
m. Dr. Charles Fleischer, leader.
Public Library, Thursday, December 18,
at 8 p_ m., The Temple of Peace; Art and
Scenery in Piedmont, by Cav. L . lVIelano
Rossi. Sunday, December 21, at 3.30 p. ni.,
How to Listen to Music, by Arthur M.
Curry.
School of Social Science, at Lorimer
Hall, Monday, December 15, at 8 P. m., The
Campaign for Pure Food ; The Story of An
Investigation in Boston, by H. P. Cassidy;
What Westfield Did, by Dr. H. B. Allyn.
.
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10c.
Boston Equal Suffrage Association for
Good Government at Faneuil Hall, Tuesday, December 16, at 7.30 p. m. "Why th!c)
Wage Earning ,Voman Wants the Vote,"
by Miss Anna Murdock, teacher; Miss An,nie Malloy, telephone operator; Miss Rose
Scott, shirtwaist maker ; Mrs. · Wakeman,
demonstrator ; Miss Annie Burke, textile
worker ; Miss Margaret Fitzgerald, saleswoman ;
Mrs. Philip Davis,
garment
worker. Music- by pupils of the Boston
Music School Settlement.
_
{
-•·i_.-1{
f
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~{ r
THE SOCIALIST PARTY of BOSTON
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21st
AT 3 PM.
FRANKLIN UNION HALL, Berkeley and Appleton Sts.
THERESA MALKIEL. of New York
Will Speak on "CHILO LABOR: THE SOCIAL EVIL"
1('.-11
t
r
ADMISSION FREE
ADVERTISING
A space of this size--one inch high and
two and one-half inches wide-can be had
for advertising purposes for one dollar per
issue. For information regarding advertis~
ing apply to Jacob London, Room 707, Ford
Bui:ding, Boston, Mass.
-
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THE
•
FORD HALL FOLKS
4
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~
: ~- •. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
TORSON.
Part. I.
H.
S.
VIC-
they would stealthily allow me to take
home certain books that wete not generally permitted to be taken out. These I often would study till the early morning
hours.
(To be co; :cluded.)
!\Iy birthplace was Mitau, Courland, one
o! the Baltic provinces of the Russian li:mWHAT RICHARD BEIJNETT THINKS OF
1>ire. I spent there the first nine and a
us.
\
half years of my life. During that time
1 acquired a considerable amount of BibliAfter the exhilarating experience of last
cal information, as well as some knowledge
Sunday night :11 r. benr,ett said:
,of German. My grandfather, who was a
··Atter seeing and fee lmg the responsiveteacher by profession. had begun to in- n€ss oi a Ford Hall audience tonight, I feel
:struct me in both.
·when he had left for· that here at la5t is a ·forum' of the peo-this country I was 7 years old. Before his
ple, by the people, and for the people-a
,departure he entrusted my further educa- forum in its true and biggest sense, a t:orum
tion to a lifelong friend of his-a grand.
which comes nearer to the original Roman
noble, old patriarchal Jew, ·whose inspiring idea than any other institution in America
way of teaching and whose wonderful per- of which I am cognizant.
sonality I'll never, neYer forget. To him
. ··r wish that every community in America
·more than to anybody else, excepting my had a Ford Hall , and enjoyed the benefit of
father and mother, I attribute most of what
weekly Ford Hall meetings. It would mean
'is good in me. In my later life, after sad
finer standards of citizenship and finer
experiences. his image kept alive the last
citizens. "
spark of hope that was in extreme danger
of being extinguished.
· THE HUNGER OF FORD HALL FOLKS.
When we came to this country we settled in Brooklyn, N. Y. I started to go to
"Two things commanded my attention at
public school, and continued my religious Ford Hall," said Mr. Edwin H . 'Nolf, genstudies with grandfather. A year and a
eral manager for more than a quarter of a .
1lalf after our arrival the terrible crisis of century of onP. of New York's most success1893 occurred. Father could find no work ful retail clothing stores, who was at last
·and had to shovel snow for 50c 'a day. We Sunday·s meeting. ''The first was the
were altogether six children, and four of tunger for knowledge displayed by those
'them younger than I was. So I had to give who asked quest.ions, and the second was
up my studies and go to work in a tailor- the wonderful executive ability of Mr.
b.g shop under very unsatisfactory condi- Coleman.
,tions-18 hours a day at $1.50 per week.
· '"The eagerness with · which the people
·You <'an well understand the bitter sad- looked forward to nEw knowledge, the
ness of my soul at that time, owing to such keenness of mind manil ested in· the quality
·unbearably hard work and to the deplor- of the questions asl,ed, the aliveness of
:able conditions at home. It was then, both speakers and listeners impressed me
young as I was, that I became a Socialist, greatly. And Mr. Coleman's wonderful ex·and have been one ever since. Well do I ecutive ability, his power of
cutting
remember how, in my childish innocence through to the essentials, and his very evi:and inexperience, I · often thought, while dent wish to give everybody the squarest
distributing circulars for Socialist mass kind of a square deal compelled me to pay
meetings and similar gatherings, that the him the tribute one business man wishes
Social Revolution would mean but a day
to pay to a master of an art .
,or two of struggle. I've learned better
"So long as such wonderful melting pots
-since ; I know now that substantial and in- as Ford Hall exis t-mental melting pots, I
trinsic change is a matter of slow and con- should call them-America is safe. I found
nnuous growth.
in Ford Hall the 'highest type of religious
All trades have their slack periods. but expression. and wi th it I found nourishing
·the tailoring trade more so than any other food for the intellect. If a foreigner were
-at least five months in the year. and this to a sk for an expression nf thP trnP .\ n,o,...
at ciiffP.rPnt i nto,.., • ...,1,...
i
Q: What do you think of the 5-cent vau- de ville theatres?
A:
Just what I said I did of the
" movies. "
Q : Is there any call for a play like
"Hindle Wakes ?"
A : That is in a different class from
these plays we haYe been discussing, and
I do not think from merely reading it I can
criticize it, but I should be among the radicals if it were produced here. and advocate
the expression of any ideas of sex liberty
whatsoever upon the stage_
.;
j
3
i
:1
1
·1
I
'1
I
THE MESSAGE OF "DAMAGED GOODS."
(Continued from Page 1.)
of life. We have destroyed in them their
first ideal of life, until they think we must be
right and there is something wrong in sex
and in speaking of sex ; and so we go on,
generation after generation, a nation of
liars!
All that Brieux asks in this play is a
cleaner, higher, broader life for mankind.
He asks that WE\ make it by convention,
not by law, impossible for the fit to mate
with the unfit, the well with: the sickly,
and produce further sickness.
Alcohol,
syphilis and gonorrhrea have actually
raised our tax rate, and cost millions o!
dollars every year, but show me a politician who has ever proposed spendin g a
single dollar to prevent these conditions!
That is the kind of truth "Damaged Goods"
wants to bring before the co'untry.
Hatred expressed in words and sent into
the mind of another sows hatred there. And
always that which we invest comes back to ·
us with inter est.
A good man is one who is fit mentally and
physically to _perform efficiently • the work
demanded of him by the position he holds.
If
Friends Who Are Coming·
-I
I
Dec. 21-Prof. Charles Zueblin, " Walt
Whitman, Prophet and Democrat."
Dec. 2S-Rev. iillyn K. Foster of Worcester, "Can Religion Be ~fade Scientific?"
Jan. 4-Dr. Stanton Coit of London, " The
E thics of ::.l'larria2: ~nr1 n; "'"'"" ..
0
-◄
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1
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"is good in me. In my later life, atter sau
tiner s tan aa ru ~ u, l,.a : 11".. CU~UJ.,P
experiences. bis image kept alive the last . citizens. "
spark of hope tha t was in extreme danger
THE HUNGER O F FORD HALL F OL KS.
of being extinguished.
"\Vhen we came to this country we set"Two things commanded my attention- at
tled -in Brooklyn, N. Y. I started to go to
publi c school, and continued my religious Ford Hall," said Mr. Edwin H . Wolf, genstudres with grandfather. A year and a eral manager for more than a quarter of a.
llalf ~fter our arrival the terrible crisis of century of one of New York's most success1893 occurred. Father could find no work ful retail clothing stores, who was at last
·and h ad to shovel snow for 50c a day. We Sunday's meeting. "The first was the
were altogether six children, and four of t.·unger for knowledge displayed by those
-them younger than I was. So I bad to give who asked quest.ions, and the second was
-up my studies and go to work in a tailor- the wonderful executive ability of Mr.
'ing shop under very unsatisfactory condi- Coleman.
,t ions-18 hours a day at $1.50 per week.
· "The eagerness with · which the people
·You c>an well understand the bitter sad- looked forward to new knowledge, the
·ness of my soul at that time, owing to such keenness of mind manii ested in the ·quality
·unbearably hard work and to the deplor- of the questions asked, the aliveness of
:able conditions at home. It was then, both speakers and· listeners impressed me
-young as I was, that I became a Socialist, greatly. And Mr. Coleman's wonderful ex-and have been one ever since. Well do I ecutive ability, his power of
cutting
Temember how, in my childish innocence through to the essentials, and his very eviand inexperience, I often thought, while dent wish to give everybody the· squarest
distributing circulars for Socialist mass kind _ a square deal compelled me to pay
of
meetings and similar gatherings, that the . him the tribute one business man wishes
Social Re:volution would mean but a day to pay to a master of an art.
or two of struggle. I've learned better
"So long as such wonderful melting pots
·since; I know now that substantial and in- as Ford Hall exis t-mental melting pots, I
;trinsic change is a matter of slow and con- should call them- America is safe. I found
:tinuous growth.
in Ford Hall the ·highest type of religious
All trades have their slack periods, but expression. and with· it I found nourishing
the tailoring trade more so than any other food for the intellect. If a foreigner were
--at least five months in the year, and this to ask for an expression of the true Amer-at different •intervals. In my case it had ican spirit in material form, I should say
-one advantage, I could continue my studies. that a Ford Hall meeting might be offered
·so I attenqed night school, and later night as America's truest representative."
:High Schoell, but this did not amount to
much, for the night school gatherings then
THE QUESTI O N S.
meant little more than insults by ruffiians
(Continued from Page 2.)
or the women teachers and of the foreign
---:especially Jewish-pupils. Many a time teachings. My opinion is that stage peothe superintendent was obliged to turn out ple have a good deal less hypocrisy than
the lights and to disperse the noisy gather- others. In view of th·eir temptations they
show as high a standard morally as any
ing.
·
.So I de~ded to study all by and for my- other class.
Q (l\Iiss Smith): I should like you and
·- :se1L Not having the necessary facilities
M,:-. Bennett both to tell me who you think
· th·e refor at !Jome, I started in looking for
··them elsewhere. And then I discovered is the greatest American dramatist and
· another great educational factor of my what is his masterpiece?
A: A generation ago I should have said
· 1ife-the branch of the Brooklyn Public
· Library at Montrose a venue. corner of Hum- James A. Herne and "Margaret Fleming."
Today there are too many to say. (Mr.
. boldt street. Having nothing to do-for
Bennett): I say ~ed _ heldon and " SalvaS
-w·ork was not to be obtained-and less
',:ban little to eat, I would spend there al- tion Nell."
Q:
What is your attitude toward
most all day and the better part of the
evening. Well do I remember the strange. "Bought and Paid For?"
A: My attitude is not that of most peothough 1:riendly glances of the attendants
.- there were an elderly lady, a young lady ple. I consider it a well-constructed play
.-and a gentleman. As I used to .remain with a good m0ral but of commonplace
-there till they would close up, and as, dur- texture.
Q : What do you think of " Salvation
'ing the later evening hours, I was the only
· -visitor present, the librarians used to give . Nell" and of the work of the Salvation
·· ·
-up a good deal of their time to me in an- Army?
A: · I admire the play and I think very
,swering questions and in referring me to .
qf
1
th·e proper reference books. Very often . highly._,;. the work of the Salvation Army.
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cleaner, higher, broader life for mankind.
He asks that w~ make it by convention,
not by law, impossible for the fit to mate
with the unfit, the well with· the sickly,
and produce further sickness.
Alcohol,
syphilis and gonorrhrea have actually
raised our tax rate, and cost millions or
dollars every year, but show me a politician who has ever proposed spending a
single dollar to prevent these conditions!
That is the kind of truth "Damaged Goods"
wants to bring before the country.
Hatred expressed in words and sent into
the mind of another sows hatred there. And
always that which we invest comes back to
us with interest.
A good man is one who is fit mentally and
physically to _
perform efficiently the work
demanded of him by the position he holds.
[[
Friends Who Are Comin;:--,
Dec. 21-Prof. Charles Zueblin, '·Walt
Whitman, Prophet and Democrat."
Dec. 28-Rev_ Allyn K . Foster of Worcester, "Can Religion Be i\'lade Scientific?"
Jan. 4-Dr. Stanton Coit of London, "The
Ethics of Marriage and Divo_rce."
Jan. 11-Symvos ium, "What Is the Matter
With Our Public Schools ?'' ::-Iiss Margaret
Slatter y of Fitchburg and others to be announced.
Jan. l 8-Bisl1op .Charles Williams of Michigan, " Why I Work for the Single Tax,"
Jan. 25-Dr. Albion Woodbury Small of
Chicago University.
Feb. 1-Alexander Irvine of Xew York.
Feb. 8:_Prof. Edward A. Steiner, "The
Inter-National i\'lind and the Inter-Racial
Heart_"
Feb. 15-Symposium , " Breeding Men."
Speakers to be announced. .
Feb. 22-Charles Brandon Booth, "The
Case for the Prisoner. "
March 1-Leslie "\nllis Sprague of Chicago.
March 8-Symvosimn, on "Journalism."
A. J. Philpott of the Boston Glob e and others
to be announced.
March 15-Rev. Harn· Ward, "The Challenge of Sociaiism to Chri;;,tianity."
March 22-Rev. Frank 0 . Hall of New
York, "The Moral Law."
March 29-John Cowper Po"l"l·ys of England, "The Econo m ic Aspects of Woman
Suffra2:e."
April 5-l\fan- ·Church Terre,~:- "Uncle
Sam and the Sons of H am ."
April 12-Dr. Thomas C. Hall of New
York.
April 19-Prof. Walter Rauschenbusch.
12:
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A MAGAZINE
VOLUME
II
NUMBER
8
OF
w
~
NEIGHBORLINESS
DECEMBER 14, 1913
PRICE FIVE CENTS
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1
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THE -MODERN DRAMA AS A _ OCIAL FORCE*
S
By
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NORMAN HAPGOOD
1 ,:
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CROSS the ocean they have a real
of the plays of that time were either sen- the responsibility of the father to h~ illecensor, and it is not necessary to timentality without sense, like this one, or gitimate child.)
It is extraordinarily important that we
depend upon the mayor or the po- pretty stories of a girl and a boy, with
lice to tell us if it is right for the· some not too serious obstacles before should win this fight, and win it good and
more enlightened members of the com- them, who in the end were married and hard. Democracy is an exciting thing, but
munity to see a play like "Damaged lived happily ever after. They were all allowed to go in the wrong direction it can
Goods." In England the censor is a man done by one pattern. · Now the drama is a
be made comfortable and commonplace instead.
Let us go in the right direction,
who never goes great constructive and expressive force.
'j'"'=.;;"" ,- ""7 •.""'."- - :._- r:---·::- , ,_•."'.". . _
_--....,.....,, to
the theatre,
One name must stand out in any survey realize all our possibilities, and we shall
And
t '.;.,.,i.; - ·. ·. .
j but to wi:.-om of the cl;lange, and that is the name of Hen- have great geniuses and great art.
1
the drama will do this for us if we see th:at
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all plays must rik Ibsen. (Applause.)
It is seldom that
f. • ,~lt,."'r• : , - . --..
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J be
sent berore a great ma:q can mean as much to a differ- it treats or the real. Do this for t he drama,
-• tliey
can
be ent civilization as to his own. Ibsen can • and you will find that it is as enriching and
valuable and proud a possession as the na,.
produced. Miss
never be to th·e masses of the American _
_
Morgan in · her people what he might have been had he tion has.
poem compared been an American ; but he showed a wonf..:~t,~ •·. _· ·~ :· - , t
~
~VIr. Bennett. to derfully superior mind and technique in
._:'f•_: } ~.- . _ J_ hn the Bap- approaching the problems of his day, and· THE MESSAGE OF "DAMAGED GOODS."
o
By Richard Bennett.
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-·_- t1st.
In Eng- others have followed him.
In Spain we
t}.i-_':"',·.-_ '~/-;? ,,-.,; - --: land . John cant had Echegaray ; in Germany, Hauptmann
,,,~
t~e
HERE is a great big clamor going
; .-:~
·---:
Baptist
and Sudermann. In France the influence,
on around this country by a lot of
' ·:~:- · .. . ~?!!;!
· - - ~-' ~ / appear
on the though not so strong or direct, was felt.
prudes, hypocrites and criminally
' stage - except And in England the entire drama was made
igncrant people, against the teachin a dress-suit, over. The "tea - cup drama" disappeared, ing of sex hygiene. I wonder why! Sex
singing in an and we have a series of men now iri Eng- hygiene: morally clean : isn't it terrible
oratorio.
But land and in this country that have made that anyone should object td' being morally,
even in Eng- this one of the notable dramatic eras of all
• physically clean, and
land there is a growing sentiment in favor time.
(The speaker illustrated this by
should object to his
of a drama free to express itself as a so- speaking of the work of St.:aw and Galsworchildren's
b e in g
cial force.
thy, and the new one-act plays of Barrie.)
taught, or should obIn talking about the drama as a social
We can't have a great stage unless it
ject to taking the
force, I don't want to narrow it to the one represents the genius of its time. It may
teaching himself or
moral question which is agitating this be a comic genius, as with Moliere in
allowing it to be incity today. The drama is the greatest gen- France; but our people are serious.
We
troduced by our mederal social agent of any of the arts.
It is · are the first great real democracy that has
ical men or our mer..
the one art which- in a short space or time ever existed, and we have many problems.
of the church?
is capable of expressing the highest fli-ghts One of them is that over wh:ich all Boston
But the tea ching
or the human imagination and bringing all is now stirred up.
We have been comis going · on-it is
kinds or people together, just as religion pelled to realize that even in America the
going on if I have to
does. I was startled at first by Mr. Cole- drama is the expression of the ideas or
start it myself in
man's prayer, but then I remembered that grown people, and not a toy for children.
every town I go into
the drama started in religion and that even A singular thing is that· this complaint
where they haven 't
today It finds its highest expression at against frank speaking is always aimed at
it.
(The
speaker
Oberammergau. No play of recent years serious plays. (The ·speaker then said that
then announced a
'.has left a more profound stamp on my Mr. Bennett' s fight was already won. but
plan by which he
min,i th.-, ,... " Ti"'.,..,..._ ••.....,. ....... , .
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will instruct the men
+h"t " nnthp,- nl av. " The Guilty Man." was
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land and in this country that have made
this one of the notable dramatic eras of all
time.
(The speaker illustrated this by
speaking of the work of St.aw and Galswor•
thy, and the new one-act plays of Barrie.)
We can't have a great stage unless it
represents the genius of its time. It may
be a comic genius, as yith Moliere in
France; but our people are serious.
We
are the first great real democracy that has
ever existed, and we have many problems.
One of them is that over wh·i ch all Boston
is now stirred up.
We have been compelled to realize that even in America the
drama is the expression of the ideas of
grown people, and not a toy for children.
A singular thing is that this complaint
against frank speaking is always aimed at
serious plays. (The speaker then said that
Mr. Bennett's fight was already won, but
that another play, "The Guilty Man," was
going through the same struggle in New
York and probably would have to · elsewhere also. He gave the plot, hinging on
THE
PRAYER.
With thankful hearts, we acknowledge, 0 God, the satisfaction given by
the drama, the helpfulness afforded by
the stage, and the ministering service
rendered by the players who entertain,
·i nform and, uplift the ·multitude. We
have
received
much· from these
sources and have given little in return.
Grant us, we pray, a serious mind and
a .sense of personal responsibility in
our attitude toward the theatre. May
we shun the evil in it and support the
good. Do Thou uphold every playwright, manager and player who is
striving to uplift his fellow man and
give them the backing of all men and
women who love righteousness and who
work for the coming of the Kingdom.
· Amen.
*The speeches and tbe questions and answt!rs
reported by ~Iiriam .Allen de Ford.
."'};
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-.10•._,.._....,.
But
even in England there is a growing sentiment in favor
of a drama free to express itself as a soeial force.
In talking about the drama as a social
force, I don't want to narrow it to the one
moral question which is agitating this
city today. The drama is the greatest general social agent of any of the arts.
It is
the one art which· in a short space of time
is - apable of expressing the highest flights
c
of the human imagination and bringing all
kinds of ~ together, just as religion
does. I waii~
led at first by Mr. Coleman's prayer, but then I remembered that
the drama started in religion and that eve·n
today it finds its highest expression at
Oberammergau. No play of recent years
!has .left a more profound stamp on my
mind than "Everyman."
That wonderful
sermon and picture and story expressed all
lluman life and thought.
If you don't take th·e drama this way, if
you don't realize those opportunities and
possibilities and get the genius of the nation to working them out; if you take a
hostile attitude and try to keep the drama
from expressing what the nation is thinking about; then you will bring about the
very evil you seek to avoid.
That happened in England when the Puritan conscience was uppermost. It boycotted· and
suppressed the theatre; anq the result was
the only genuinely licentious stage England has ever had.
If th·e people in this·
country who are trying to stifle expression
on the stage were the majority, the result
would be an outbreak of some form of indecency.
Some ten years ago the American stage
did not express very much. "\Vhat it did
express is represented by "Rip Van Winkle," a marvellous perfori:nance, but the
play itself a picture of a drunkard, with the
audience invited to think what a splendid
fellow he was, and how hard his family
was in not liking to have him drunk. Most
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that anyone should object to being morally,
• physically clean, and
should object to his
c]Jildren's
b e in g
taught, or should object to taking the
teaching himself or
allowing it to be introduced by our medical men or our men
of the church?
But the teaching
is going on-it is
going on if I have to
start · it myself in
every town I go into
where they haven't
it.
(The
speaker
then announced a
plan by which he
and Mrs. Bennett will instruct the men
and women of the audiences, respectively,
on sex hygiene after two matine_ performe
ances of the play.)
A man said to me a while ago, "Mr. Bennett, Brieux's motive is unquestioned, but I
never knew you had any thought on this
subject. ·when did you enter into this?"
I said, "I guess I have fought my way into
this as into all my other ideas-I have entered into it because I can't stand the rotten conditions which have been handed
down to us and which govern the society of
today." (Applause.) "But," said he, "do
you realize th-at you may do a little good
with your play, but you are going to go
· through the country wrecking homes?"
Those homes would be wrecked anyhowthey have been wrecked.
If we had · a
street in a slum district full of unsanitary
tenements, we could not build new ones
until we had torn the old ones down.
So
if there are rotten conditions in families,
let us uproot the families and start new
ones. ·
.
How many parents in this audience have
not constituted themselves liars in the eyes
of their children? Th·e majority of us have
·-lied in answer to :the. first question of our
children regarding" the · fundamental facts
. (Continued on Page 4.)
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II
FORD HALL FOLKS
2
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THE QUESTIONS
Q: Will you kindly give your opinion
of Shakespeare's " The Merchant of Venice" ?
A: All I can say in a short space is that
I think it is one of his best plays from two
points of view-plot and acting parts.
Q (Mr. Brown) : The churches teach
good and evil in an abstract way, but in
such plays as " Damaged Goods" we get
action and reaction and result; and in such
cases does not the drama .go beyond the
church?
A : Personally, I like to confine mysel!
to what I am sure of. I am sure both have
done a great deal of good and are going
to do more
Q (Mr. Brown) : Do not scenes of violent crime act as a stimulant to young
minds?
A: It depends on how it is done.
The
murder of Banquo and Duncan by Macbeth
never inspired anyone to murder.
Q: What is your opinion of William
Winter's criticism of the present day
stage?
A : I think it is piffle. (Applause.)
Q: Since
you have
criticised
the
dramatic critic, why do you not criticise
the editor who is responsible for him?
A : I am perfectly willing to divide the
responsibility- between them and the public, which I hope soon will demand something better.
Q : Are there any plays depicting the
unjust economic system between labor and
capital?
A: There has been a stream of them,
from Hauptmann's "The Weavers" to
Charles Rann Kennedy. But the best !}laywrights make such discussions a part of a
genuine presentation of life.
Q: Has the modern problem play, like
"The Sec~ :VIrs. Tanqueray," an uplifting influence on the community?
A: I think the problem play has a very
uplifting influence, and that particular
nlav was a nionPPr i n thP fipln
A: I think that usually genius is humble, but sometimes you have genius in a
person w ho has also the spirit · of paltry
vanity, and that is Shaw.
Q: What do you think of pfays dealing
with the problem of assimilation ?.
A: The only one I know is "The Melting Pot," and that is a winning. but not a
great, play.
Q: What do you think of Ibsen'is
" Ghosts"?
A: I think it is an over-protest.
Q: As between " The Follies of 1913"
and " Damaged Goods," which ·would you
prefer your daughter to see?
A:
If there is any one in the audience
who would prefer his daughter to see the
" Follies," let him speak up!
Q: Is "Belladonna" a moral play?
A.: I h·a ven't seen it.
Q : Isn't " The Fight" likely to have a
bad effect on young girls?
A: I can't judge as to that particular
play, as I haven't seen it, but for the plays
we have been considering I should answer
in the negative.
Q : Why do you say you haven't any
scale for weighing the church against the
drama?
A: Because it is true. •
Q: What will be the effect of the enfranchisement of women on th·e social evil?.
A:
The enfranchisement of womenthe setting free of their ideals so that they
can work effectively in the communitvwill have many great ad vantages, none
greater than the raising of the sexual
standard.
Q: Dq.n't the economic conditions of today prevent a poor man from seeing plays
like " Damaged Goods." playing in a high
class theatre at high prices?
A: Yes, but the whole thing will be in
movi n g pictures s oon. ( :.\Ir. Bennett.) : Is
it pride that keeps you out of a 50 cent
seat in m y theatre ?
O·
nn
Y nn
knn,v
:1nv
nl::lv
t h .-, t
,·r ill
they object to plays like
"Damaged
Goods ?"
A: I am afraid that is true of a large
part of the male half of- the human race.
The men complain where the women applaud because people always object to hav- ing a pri vilege taken away from them, and
because they have been accustomed from
bo yhood to think of sex in a smutty way.
Q : Why, when all the people are think--irig of this thing, are we so afraid to facethe truth and the facts ?
A: vVe are less and less afraid every
year.
Q : Do you think that the moral effect of
such a play as " Damaged Goods '' is last-ino-?
A_-: I certainly do. I believe that suet:
plays are helping the feminist movement
to stamp out prostitution as a ·business.
(Applause.)
Q (Mr. Hogan): I should like to know
if under a state where Socialism would exist and profit be wiped out, prostitution
would not be wiped out also?
A : Socialism or any other method
which puts woman on a footing of equality with man will reduce prostitution. (Ap-·
plause.)
Q: If it is true that a majority of the
men and women of Ameri~
e little
knowledge of the drama as a great art,
why would it not be wise to teach it in the·
high sctools?
A : It is being taught, more and more,
and in a way they can understand, and the·
little children are being grouped together
and put to acting fine plays.
Q: Hasn't the theatre done more for the
abolishment of slavery, by playing " Uncle
Tom's Cabin" than the Church?
A: I -can't deal in these comparisons; I
am afraid of them.
Q : Will you give the name of a play
that deals witt· white slavery?
A : " The Fight,'' " The Lure," "Any
Night," "Ourselv es."
Q (Mr. Ballou): If " Damaged Goods"
is to have such a wonderful effect on the
young -mind, don't you think it should be
produced in a lo wer priced theatre, where
it will reach the people w ho need the information? (Applause.)
IBy G;
'
VEN
do I
Las1
very
·nasty. We
the hall WO
the place
were able ,
teen minut
thought it ·
had. Cert:
speaker anc
for Ford H:
E
j
Miss Edit
effectively :
evening in
a deep inte:
There are 1
take up a t
for the sak,
Mr. Balloi
in •his earru
man who "ll
Goods" cou
with more :i:
finally gave
one. It was
dignation cc
1
Conundru1
Hogan wan1
asks a quei
show, or do,
ous, or can'1
I
Most of m
unnecessaril
asked a qi;
moral reput:
stood his !
came out of
in g by '.l drc
..
,-
<·
church'!
A: Personally, I like to confine myself
to what I am sure of. I am sure both have
done a great deal of good and are going
to do more
Q (Mr. Brown): Do not scenes of violent crime act as a stimulant to young
minds?
A: It depends on how it is done.
The
murder of Banquo and Duncan by Macbeth
never inspired anyone to murder.
Q: What is your opinion of William
Winter's criticism of the present day
stage?
A: I think it is piffle. (Applause.)
Q: Since
you have
criticised the
dramatic critic, why do you not criticise
the editor who is responsible for him?
A : I am perfectly willing to divide the
responsibility· between th·em and the public, which I hope soon will demand something better.
Q: Are there any plays depicting the
unjust economic system between labor and
capital?
A: There has been a stream of them,
from Hauptmann's "The Weavers" to
Charles Rann Kennedy. But the best playwrights make such discussions a part of a
genuine presentation of life.
Q: Has the modern problem play, like
"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray," an uplifting influence on the community?
A: I think the problem play has a very
uplifting · influence, and that particular
play was a pioneer in the field.
Q: What do you think of Tolstoi's "The
Kreutzer Sonata" ?
A: My: opinion, given with the utmost
humility, is that it is the expression of a
great mind become morbid.
Q: Will the drama transform or eliminate from human nature the innate quality
of selfishness?
A: I think that is a pretty large order
to give the drama.
Q: Won't the young people be unduly
and too early interested in sex by its free
discussion?
A: I think not. In my youth the young
people talked about it in a smutty manner.
Discussing it frankly would do away with:
that condition.
Q : How can we expect the police, who
are in league with · vice, to censor plays
like "Mrs. Warren's Profession"?
A : You all know the answer : we can't.
Q : Is the working agreement recently
effected between the syndicate and the
Shuberts going to affect freedom in producing plays outside of that group ?
A: One of the things that held back the
American drama was monopoly. Then the
split came and gave opportunity to adventurous playwrights.
But soon two tneatres were being erected in towns that
could support only one, and that has led to
the present agreement. If it lives up to
its present terms, very well; but there is
danger that the drama may again be set
back seriously.
Q:· What do you think of Shaw's criticism of Shakespeare?
w.: . -i.~
.
UCL
H
._,.._,...._.
and "Damaged Goods," which -would you
prefer your daughter to see?
A: If there is anyone in the audience
who would prefer his daughter to see the
"Follies," let him speak up!
Q: Is "Belladonna" a moral play?
A.: I haven't seen it.
Q:
Isn't "The Fight" likely to have a.
bad effect on young girls?
A: I can't judge as to that particular
play, as I haven't seen it, but for the plays
we have been considering I should answer
in the negative.
Q : Why do you say you haven't any
scale for weighing the church against the
drama?
A: Because it is true.
Q: What will be the effect of the enfranchisement of women on tb:e social evil?
A: The enfranchisement of womenthe setting free of their ideals so that they
can work effectively in the communitywill have many great advantages, none
greater than the raising of the sexual
standard.
Q : Don't the economic conditions of today prevent a poor man from seeing plays
like "Damaged Goods," playing in a high
class theatre at high prices?
A : Yes, but the whole thing will be in
moving pictures soon. ( Mr. Bennett.) : Is
it pride that keeps you out of a 50 cent
seat in my theatre?
Q:
Do you know any play that will
teach the working people to keep what.
they create?
A : I don 't think plays can go ahead of
the best intelligence of the community,
and that problem has not yet been solved.
Q
(Mrs. Hoffman): What effect have
the moving pictures on our children who
go to see th·e m so much?
A: The only bad effect I have seen is
the lack of continued attention. On the
·o ther hand they are reaching millions who
never before had anything to feed their
minds.
Q: What do you think of Ibsen' s Nora?
A: Nora is an event in history. The
feminist movement, first heralded by her,
is the biggest movement of our time.
Q: Isn't sex something too delicate to
tandle anywhere but in the family?
A : That isn't the choice that is present. It is a choice between having light
as we can get it or no light at all.
Q:
Couldn't "Damaged Goods" and
plays of that sort carry out their purpose
without being so outspoken?
A: No; exactly what is unhealthy is
this idea that when we speak about sex we
have got to feel embarrassed.
Q: Did not Ibsen go too far in abolishing some points in the tech·nique of the
drama?
A : Because Ibsen did a thing with superb result doesn't mean that everyone has
to do_1 tp.e same thing, and everyone
doesn't. .·
Q (Miss Rogolsky) : Isn 't it because
people don 't want to know the truth that
(Applause.)
Q (Mr. Hogan) : I should like to know
if under a state where Socialism would exist and profit be wiped out, prostitution
would not be wiped out also?
A : Socialism or any other method
which puts woman on a footing of equal-·
ity with man will reduce prostitution. (Applause.)
Q : If it is true that a majority of the
men and women of America have little
knowledge of the drama as a great art,
why would it not be wise to teach it in the
high sc1·o ols?
A: It is being taught, more and more,
and in a way they can understand, and the·
little children are being gTouped together
and put to acting fine plays.
Q : Hasn't the theatre done more for the
abolishment of slavery, by playing "Uncle
Tom' s Cabin" than the Church ?
A : I can't deal in these comparisons; I
am afraid of them.
Q : Will you give the name of a play
that deals wit1· white slavery?
A: "The Fight,'' "The Lure," "Any
Night," "Ourselves."
Q (Mr. Ballou ): If "Damaged Goods"
is to have such a wonderful effect on the
young mind, don't you think it should be
produced in a lower priced theatre, where
it will reach the people who need the information? (Applause.)
A (Mr. Bennett.): It is impossible for
any man to dictate in what theatre his
play shall be produced. We were turned
out of every theatre in New York. Then
Rockefeller, Jr., t errible man, offered us the
vestry of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church,
which I refused. Finally, after I got
Mayor Gaynor's approval, I secured a theatre on condition that I would produce it
in all the theatres of this booking concern.
When I get out of the clutches of that
crowd I am going to produce it in the 25
cent theatres. (Applause.)
Q : Isn't sex hygiene too serious a subject to be taught in t1-e grammar schools?
A : Certanly it would be better taugt.t
in the homes, if they were very, very wise;
otherwise in the schools, if we had ideal
teachers. It is a case where experts disagree.
Q: In view of the fact that actors are
well known to be people of loose morals,
are they the people to teach us?
A (Mr. Bennett.) : Stand up. What is
your work ?-! am a clerk.-Then I stand
100 . per cent. for the actors and you 100
per cent. for tt·e clerks. I am a moral
man; are you?-Yes, sir.-vVhat do you
know of actors ?-! know only what I read
in the newspapers.-! thought so. Actors
are as moral as clerks or newspaper men.
If what you said were so, I should say they
were unfit not only to teach but to exist.
Q (Same.) : I should like Mr. Hapgood's
opinion.
A : Even if it were .true, it would be no
reason why they should not express moral
(Continued on page 4.)
Miss Edith R. .l\JaY, •
effectively assists lVIr.
evening in the sale o
a deep interest in eve
There are not many ·
take up a task like th
for the sake of helpin
*
Mr. Ballou certainlJ
in his earnest plea i:
man who wanted to
Goods" could not bf
with more popular pr
finally gave an answ•
one. It was a fine di
dignation completely
*
Conundrum : vVha
Hogan want to raisi
asks a question? I
show, or does he jm
ous, or can't he helJ
*
Most of us though
unnecessarily hard ,
asked a question
moral reputation of
stood his ground
came out of the enc
ing by adroitly tn
to Mr. Hapgood, w
answer.
*
It is great fun wl:
some unexpected c;
ringing voice calls
one who has arisen
all on his own acco
discipline or order.
get so absorbed in
they do not observe
which we conduct 1
have you noticed 1:
· at least, it was a
loose? Perhaps th
that new freedom
much.
*
I have been glad
men in various par
I have noted botl:
their thorou gh-goi:
ing that the fines
not at all depend
development upo1
blood. Without cl
tion they enter ir
zest. and show t
consideration and
hall.
*
l\Ir. Richard Be
the Ford Hall lVI
Century Club wa,
He told me he hac
for a month as tl
platform last Sur
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FORD HALL FOLKS
"Damaged
of a large
Lman race.
;vomen ap-·
ect to hav- them, and.
>med from
1tty way.
are think- ·
:1id to face
:raid every
-al effect of
ls" is last-
L
that suet:
movement
business.
ke to know1 would exprostitution
~r method
g of equal-·
tution. (Ap-1rity of the
have little
great art,
ch it in the
and more,
.nd, and t he·
ed together
oore for the
ying "Uncle
>
1parisons; I
e of a play
,ure," ·
"Any
.ged Goods"
,ffect on the
.t should be
eatre, where
need the inopossible for
thea tre his
were turned
York. Then
ff or~r1 n~
the
AS IT LOOKS TO ME
By GEORGE W. COLEMAN, Director of the Ford Hall Meetings
3
business men. · The Lancaster AdYertisers'
Club, an organiza tion less than a year old,
made itse1f responsible for all the arrangements for both these meetings, and did it so
thoroughly and completely as to leave nothing to be desired.
*
VEN those who kno w our work best
do not estimate it at its full power.
Last Sunday evening there was a
very heavy rain and the going was
nasty. We thought that this time surely
the hall would not be full. Instead of that,
the place was crowded so early that we
were able to begin the meeting nearly fifteen minutes ahead of tim·e . Mr. Dreier
thought it was the greatest night we ever
had. Certainly the reaction between the
speaker and the audience was unusual, even
for Ford Hall.
E
*
*
*
Miss Edith R. May, who so generously and
effectively assists Mr. London every Stmday
evening in the sale of the magazine, takes
a deep interest in every phase of our work.
There are not many who voluntarily would
take up a task like that and stick to it just
for the sake of helping along a good cause.
*
*
*
Mr. Ballou certainly made a winning fight
in his earnest plea in behalf of the young
man who wanted to know why " Damaged
Goods" could not be played in a theatre
with more popular prices. And Mr. Bennett
finally gave an answer that satisfied everyone. It was a fine display of wholesome indignation completely answered.
*
*
*
*
*
Conundrum: What is it that makes Mr.
Hogan want to raise a row every time he
asks a question ? Doesn't he get a fair
show, or does he just love to be obstreperous, or can't he help it anyway?
*
Most of us thought that Mr. Bennett was
unnecessarily hard on the young man who
asked a question involving the general
moral reputation of actors. The questioner
stood his ground bravely, howe ver, and
came out of the encounter with banners fl ying by adroitly transferring t he question
to ~rr. Hapgood, who gave a satisfactory
answer.
*
*
*
It is gr eat fun when all of a sudden from
some un expected rt narter of th e house a
,} - ~~
/
So .John D. Ro ckefeller, .Tr., offer ed t he
ves try or the Fitth A1·E:n ue b aptist Church
to ~Ir. Bennett in case he fa ile d to secure
a theatre for t he production of .. Damaged
Goods"? I wasn't so far wrong, t hen, when
as a Baptist deacon, I urged all my young
friends in Boston to go to the Tremont
Theatre and see it played. Not that young
Rockefeller sets the fa s hi on in Baptis t circles, but that it is gratifying t o be in such
distinguished com pany.
*
*
In my mail tliis morning is a letter from
Lewis ton, Me., t elling of the formation of a
committee to in vestigate the possibilities of
an open forum for that city, and asking for ·
more information. There is a movement on
in Braintree, Mass., to unite all the churches
in an open forum movement. A similar
mo vement, already in operation in Xewton,
:VIass., is making splendid progress.
THE
GOOD
GRAY POET OUR
NEXT SUNDAY.
TOPIC
*
*
*
There was a time when vValt vVhitman
::-rorman Hapgood can make a worth-while
wandered about th e streets of Boston in
talk with about the least appar ent effort of
t he fl es h a nd a t t ended concer ts and lecany man I know. As I s tudy him his
tures and the theatre just as any journalist
readiness is ·due to two things,
long-time · does no w. I ca n fancy his being sent to
familiarity with his subject, a nd an absolute
·•cover" a Ford Hall meeting and presentindifference as t o the art of s peaking. He
ing the world, in the paper next morning,
puts his whole mind into the thing he wants
wi t h an unforgettab le picture of th e great
to sa y, and never troubles himself at all as
human s pectacle up here on the hill with
to the form of expression. He cares a great its urgent throb of life a nd its indomitable
deal about saying what h e really thinks,
passion for the ideal. Of all the men who
a nd cares not at all about making clever might come to us to talk a bout W hitman
phrases.
Prof. Zueblin can probably tell us best of
*
*
*
this wonderful old man who loved men and
Mr. Wolf, manager for A. Shuman & Co.,
women and little children, and, who lookgot his first experience of Ford Hall last ing on a thousand manifestations of life,
Sunday night, coming in as a guest of Mr. pronounced them all good. " Walt WhitThomas Dreier. It is very interesting to
man, Prophet and Democrat," is to be i\'.Ir.
watch the effect our work has upon a man
Zueblin's topic.
who comes upon it suddenly for the first
time. Most of us have gotten so used to it
we take a good deal of it as a matter of
Other Meetings
course. Mr. ·wolf's face indicated a keen response to everything that was going on.
Wells Memorial Institute, · Tuesday, December 15, at 8 I>- m ., Better Houses for
*
*
"
The seeds of our Ford Hall idea are vVorking People, by H enry Sterling.
Sunday Commons, at Huntington Chamsprouting up in the most surprising places
all over the country. At Lancaster, Penn., bers Hall, Sunday, December 21, at 3.3 0 p.
I was amazed at the audience that turned m. Dr. Charles Fleischer , leader.
Public Library, Thursday, December 18,
out to hear the story of our work. The
meeting was held in the Court House, seat- at 8 p. m., The Tem ple of Peace ; Art and
Scenery in Piedmont, by Cav. L. Melano
ing nearly a thousand, and every seat was
taken and many stood all through a program Rossi. Sunday, December 21, at 3.30 p. ni.,
that lasted two hours. In t he aud ience were How to Listen to Music, by Arthur M.
business men, college professors and work- Curry.
School of Social Science, a t Lorimer
ing men with their wi\·es a nd daughters.
Hall, }Ionday, December 15 , a t 8 p_ m., The
It was declared to be t he mos t representaCampaign for Pure Food ; The Story of An
tiYe a udienc e that had ever gathered in the
Inves tigation in Boston. by H. P . Cassidy ;
city. The fo llo wing noon I was gi\·en a
YV l , ~t \ V P~tfiP lrl ni r1
h,- n~-u
n
J
·f
:
·\
- ..,.
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~
io- e more for then
, playing "Uncle
y
rnrch ?
1e comparisons; I
I
[ name of ~a play
very?
he Lure" "Any
b amaued, Goods"
"'
.
rful effect on the
1ink it should be
ed theatre, where
r ho need the ins
I is
impossible forwhat theatre his
f We were tu:z:ned
New York. Then
1an, offered us the
1e Baptist Church,
:lly, after I got
~ I secured a the. would produce it
, booking concern.
i clutches of that
>duce it in the 25
i.)
too serious a subgrammar schools?
I be better taugt.t
I
•
e very, very wise;
( if we had ideal
1Vhere experts dis-
I
ct
actors
that
are
of loose morals,
iach us?
!:.and up. What is
rk.-Then I stand
:tors and you 100
f I am a moral
ir.-What do you
t only what I read
10ught so. Actors
,r newspaper men.,
, I should say they
ach but to exist.
like Mr. Hapgood's
~
r
:ue, it would be no
·not express moral
,page 4.)
L
~
-(/tI:ft\:
~1~}\{·?
"
time. Most of us have gotten so used to it
we take a good deal of it as a matter of
course. Mr. Wolf's face indicated a keen resppnse to everything that was going on.
*
*
*
Conundrum: vVhat is it that makes llfr.
Hogan want to raise a row every time he
asks a question ? Doesn't he get a fair
show, or does he just love to be obstreperous, or can't he help it anyway?
*
*
*
*
Most of us thought that Mr. Bennett was
unnecessarily hard on the young man who
asked a question involving the general
moral reputation of actors. The questioner
stood his ground bravely, ho wever, and
came out of the encounter with banners fl ying by adroitly transferring the -question
to Mr. Hapgood, who gave a satisfactory
answer.
* * *
It is great fun when all of a sudden from
some unexpected quarter of the house a
ringing voice calls our attention to someone who has arisen to make a little speech
all on his own account, quite oblivious of all
discipline or order. I suppose these people
get so absorbed in what is going on that
they do not observe at all th·e method under
which we conduct the question period. And
have you noticed lately, the last t wo times.
at least, it was a woman who thus broke
loose? Perhaps this ii;; a little eruption of
that new freedom we are hearing about so
much.
*
*
Ford Hall Folks
Edi ted b,• Thomas Dreier.
UBLISHED weekly b,· the Ford
Hail Associates, whose work
is to create, assemble, and
'listribute ideas that will help
men and institutions grow more
helpful in serving society, and which
will promote "peace on earth, good
will toward men." It is tf.:ie official
publication of the Ford Hall Meetings, -.Yhich are held, under the direction of George W. Coleman, every
Sunday c;yening during the Ii10nths of
Oct ober to l\lay, in Ford Hall, Ashbur ton Place, Boston, Massachusetts.
All bu~iness communications should
be sent to Miss Mary C. Crawford,
Treasurer Ford Building, Boston,
and all comm uni ~ations intended for
the editor to The Thomas Dreier Service, University Press, Cambridge,
Mass. Subscription Price: $1.50 . for
26 numbers.
' ·
P
*
I have been glad to note additional colored
men in various parts of the audience of late.
I have noted both their intelligence and
their thorou gh-going complexions, indicating that the finest type of colored men is
not at all dependent for its progress and
development upon an infusion of white
blood. Without claiming any special attention they enter into everything with great
zest, and show themselves as worthy of
consideration and respect as anyone in the
hall.
*
*
*
The seeds of our Ford Hall idea are
sprouting up in the most surprising places
all over the country. At Lancaster, Penn.,
I was amazed at the audience that turned
out to hear the story of our work. The
meeting was held in the Court House, seating nearly a thousand, and every seat was
taken and many stood all through a program
that lasted two hours. In the audience were
business men, college professors and working men with their wives and daughters.
It was declared to be the most representative· audience that had ever gathered in the
city. The following noon I was giYen a
luncheon by the advertising and business
men of the cit>·, over which the l\Iayor of
the city presided. And here again was
preached the Ford Hall gospel as applied to
*
Mr. Richard Bennett's characterization of
the Ford Hall Meetings as a Twenty-first
Century Club was a rather clever ban rnot.
He told me he hadn 't had so good a vacation
for a month as that he had with us on our
platform last Sunday night.
Other Meetings
Wells Memorial Institute, Tuesday, December 15, at 8 p. m., Better Houses for
,Vorking People, by Henry Sterling.
Sunday Commons, at Huntington Chambers Hall, Sunday, December 21, at 3.30 p.
m. Dr. Charles Fleischer, leader.
Public Library, Thursday, December 18,
at 8 p_ m., The Temple of Peace; Art and
Scenery in Piedmont, by Cav. L . lVIelano
Rossi. Sunday, December 21, at 3.30 p. ni.,
How to Listen to Music, by Arthur M.
Curry.
School of Social Science, at Lorimer
Hall, Monday, December 15, at 8 P. m., The
Campaign for Pure Food ; The Story of An
Investigation in Boston, by H. P. Cassidy;
What Westfield Did, by Dr. H. B. Allyn.
.
l.>_t
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10c.
Boston Equal Suffrage Association for
Good Government at Faneuil Hall, Tuesday, December 16, at 7.30 p. m. "Why th!c)
Wage Earning ,Voman Wants the Vote,"
by Miss Anna Murdock, teacher; Miss An,nie Malloy, telephone operator; Miss Rose
Scott, shirtwaist maker ; Mrs. · Wakeman,
demonstrator ; Miss Annie Burke, textile
worker ; Miss Margaret Fitzgerald, saleswoman ;
Mrs. Philip Davis,
garment
worker. Music- by pupils of the Boston
Music School Settlement.
_
{
-•·i_.-1{
f
f ,:
~{ r
THE SOCIALIST PARTY of BOSTON
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21st
AT 3 PM.
FRANKLIN UNION HALL, Berkeley and Appleton Sts.
THERESA MALKIEL. of New York
Will Speak on "CHILO LABOR: THE SOCIAL EVIL"
1('.-11
t
r
ADMISSION FREE
ADVERTISING
A space of this size--one inch high and
two and one-half inches wide-can be had
for advertising purposes for one dollar per
issue. For information regarding advertis~
ing apply to Jacob London, Room 707, Ford
Bui:ding, Boston, Mass.
-
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THE
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FORD HALL FOLKS
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~
: ~- •. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
TORSON.
Part. I.
H.
S.
VIC-
they would stealthily allow me to take
home certain books that wete not generally permitted to be taken out. These I often would study till the early morning
hours.
(To be co; :cluded.)
!\Iy birthplace was Mitau, Courland, one
o! the Baltic provinces of the Russian li:mWHAT RICHARD BEIJNETT THINKS OF
1>ire. I spent there the first nine and a
us.
\
half years of my life. During that time
1 acquired a considerable amount of BibliAfter the exhilarating experience of last
cal information, as well as some knowledge
Sunday night :11 r. benr,ett said:
,of German. My grandfather, who was a
··Atter seeing and fee lmg the responsiveteacher by profession. had begun to in- n€ss oi a Ford Hall audience tonight, I feel
:struct me in both.
·when he had left for· that here at la5t is a ·forum' of the peo-this country I was 7 years old. Before his
ple, by the people, and for the people-a
,departure he entrusted my further educa- forum in its true and biggest sense, a t:orum
tion to a lifelong friend of his-a grand.
which comes nearer to the original Roman
noble, old patriarchal Jew, ·whose inspiring idea than any other institution in America
way of teaching and whose wonderful per- of which I am cognizant.
sonality I'll never, neYer forget. To him
. ··r wish that every community in America
·more than to anybody else, excepting my had a Ford Hall , and enjoyed the benefit of
father and mother, I attribute most of what
weekly Ford Hall meetings. It would mean
'is good in me. In my later life, after sad
finer standards of citizenship and finer
experiences. his image kept alive the last
citizens. "
spark of hope that was in extreme danger
of being extinguished.
· THE HUNGER OF FORD HALL FOLKS.
When we came to this country we settled in Brooklyn, N. Y. I started to go to
"Two things commanded my attention at
public school, and continued my religious Ford Hall," said Mr. Edwin H . 'Nolf, genstudies with grandfather. A year and a
eral manager for more than a quarter of a .
1lalf after our arrival the terrible crisis of century of onP. of New York's most success1893 occurred. Father could find no work ful retail clothing stores, who was at last
·and had to shovel snow for 50c 'a day. We Sunday·s meeting. ''The first was the
were altogether six children, and four of tunger for knowledge displayed by those
'them younger than I was. So I had to give who asked quest.ions, and the second was
up my studies and go to work in a tailor- the wonderful executive ability of Mr.
b.g shop under very unsatisfactory condi- Coleman.
,tions-18 hours a day at $1.50 per week.
· '"The eagerness with · which the people
·You <'an well understand the bitter sad- looked forward to nEw knowledge, the
ness of my soul at that time, owing to such keenness of mind manil ested in· the quality
·unbearably hard work and to the deplor- of the questions asl,ed, the aliveness of
:able conditions at home. It was then, both speakers and listeners impressed me
young as I was, that I became a Socialist, greatly. And Mr. Coleman's wonderful ex·and have been one ever since. Well do I ecutive ability, his power of
cutting
remember how, in my childish innocence through to the essentials, and his very evi:and inexperience, I · often thought, while dent wish to give everybody the squarest
distributing circulars for Socialist mass kind of a square deal compelled me to pay
meetings and similar gatherings, that the him the tribute one business man wishes
Social Revolution would mean but a day
to pay to a master of an art .
,or two of struggle. I've learned better
"So long as such wonderful melting pots
-since ; I know now that substantial and in- as Ford Hall exis t-mental melting pots, I
trinsic change is a matter of slow and con- should call them-America is safe. I found
nnuous growth.
in Ford Hall the 'highest type of religious
All trades have their slack periods. but expression. and wi th it I found nourishing
·the tailoring trade more so than any other food for the intellect. If a foreigner were
-at least five months in the year. and this to a sk for an expression nf thP trnP .\ n,o,...
at ciiffP.rPnt i nto,.., • ...,1,...
i
Q: What do you think of the 5-cent vau- de ville theatres?
A:
Just what I said I did of the
" movies. "
Q : Is there any call for a play like
"Hindle Wakes ?"
A : That is in a different class from
these plays we haYe been discussing, and
I do not think from merely reading it I can
criticize it, but I should be among the radicals if it were produced here. and advocate
the expression of any ideas of sex liberty
whatsoever upon the stage_
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THE MESSAGE OF "DAMAGED GOODS."
(Continued from Page 1.)
of life. We have destroyed in them their
first ideal of life, until they think we must be
right and there is something wrong in sex
and in speaking of sex ; and so we go on,
generation after generation, a nation of
liars!
All that Brieux asks in this play is a
cleaner, higher, broader life for mankind.
He asks that WE\ make it by convention,
not by law, impossible for the fit to mate
with the unfit, the well with: the sickly,
and produce further sickness.
Alcohol,
syphilis and gonorrhrea have actually
raised our tax rate, and cost millions o!
dollars every year, but show me a politician who has ever proposed spendin g a
single dollar to prevent these conditions!
That is the kind of truth "Damaged Goods"
wants to bring before the co'untry.
Hatred expressed in words and sent into
the mind of another sows hatred there. And
always that which we invest comes back to ·
us with inter est.
A good man is one who is fit mentally and
physically to _perform efficiently • the work
demanded of him by the position he holds.
If
Friends Who Are Coming·
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Dec. 21-Prof. Charles Zueblin, " Walt
Whitman, Prophet and Democrat."
Dec. 2S-Rev. iillyn K. Foster of Worcester, "Can Religion Be ~fade Scientific?"
Jan. 4-Dr. Stanton Coit of London, " The
E thics of ::.l'larria2: ~nr1 n; "'"'"" ..
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"is good in me. In my later life, atter sau
tiner s tan aa ru ~ u, l,.a : 11".. CU~UJ.,P
experiences. bis image kept alive the last . citizens. "
spark of hope tha t was in extreme danger
THE HUNGER O F FORD HALL F OL KS.
of being extinguished.
"\Vhen we came to this country we set"Two things commanded my attention- at
tled -in Brooklyn, N. Y. I started to go to
publi c school, and continued my religious Ford Hall," said Mr. Edwin H . Wolf, genstudres with grandfather. A year and a eral manager for more than a quarter of a.
llalf ~fter our arrival the terrible crisis of century of one of New York's most success1893 occurred. Father could find no work ful retail clothing stores, who was at last
·and h ad to shovel snow for 50c a day. We Sunday's meeting. "The first was the
were altogether six children, and four of t.·unger for knowledge displayed by those
-them younger than I was. So I bad to give who asked quest.ions, and the second was
-up my studies and go to work in a tailor- the wonderful executive ability of Mr.
'ing shop under very unsatisfactory condi- Coleman.
,t ions-18 hours a day at $1.50 per week.
· "The eagerness with · which the people
·You c>an well understand the bitter sad- looked forward to new knowledge, the
·ness of my soul at that time, owing to such keenness of mind manii ested in the ·quality
·unbearably hard work and to the deplor- of the questions asked, the aliveness of
:able conditions at home. It was then, both speakers and· listeners impressed me
-young as I was, that I became a Socialist, greatly. And Mr. Coleman's wonderful ex-and have been one ever since. Well do I ecutive ability, his power of
cutting
Temember how, in my childish innocence through to the essentials, and his very eviand inexperience, I often thought, while dent wish to give everybody the· squarest
distributing circulars for Socialist mass kind _ a square deal compelled me to pay
of
meetings and similar gatherings, that the . him the tribute one business man wishes
Social Re:volution would mean but a day to pay to a master of an art.
or two of struggle. I've learned better
"So long as such wonderful melting pots
·since; I know now that substantial and in- as Ford Hall exis t-mental melting pots, I
;trinsic change is a matter of slow and con- should call them- America is safe. I found
:tinuous growth.
in Ford Hall the ·highest type of religious
All trades have their slack periods, but expression. and with· it I found nourishing
the tailoring trade more so than any other food for the intellect. If a foreigner were
--at least five months in the year, and this to ask for an expression of the true Amer-at different •intervals. In my case it had ican spirit in material form, I should say
-one advantage, I could continue my studies. that a Ford Hall meeting might be offered
·so I attenqed night school, and later night as America's truest representative."
:High Schoell, but this did not amount to
much, for the night school gatherings then
THE QUESTI O N S.
meant little more than insults by ruffiians
(Continued from Page 2.)
or the women teachers and of the foreign
---:especially Jewish-pupils. Many a time teachings. My opinion is that stage peothe superintendent was obliged to turn out ple have a good deal less hypocrisy than
the lights and to disperse the noisy gather- others. In view of th·eir temptations they
show as high a standard morally as any
ing.
·
.So I de~ded to study all by and for my- other class.
Q (l\Iiss Smith): I should like you and
·- :se1L Not having the necessary facilities
M,:-. Bennett both to tell me who you think
· th·e refor at !Jome, I started in looking for
··them elsewhere. And then I discovered is the greatest American dramatist and
· another great educational factor of my what is his masterpiece?
A: A generation ago I should have said
· 1ife-the branch of the Brooklyn Public
· Library at Montrose a venue. corner of Hum- James A. Herne and "Margaret Fleming."
Today there are too many to say. (Mr.
. boldt street. Having nothing to do-for
Bennett): I say ~ed _ heldon and " SalvaS
-w·ork was not to be obtained-and less
',:ban little to eat, I would spend there al- tion Nell."
Q:
What is your attitude toward
most all day and the better part of the
evening. Well do I remember the strange. "Bought and Paid For?"
A: My attitude is not that of most peothough 1:riendly glances of the attendants
.- there were an elderly lady, a young lady ple. I consider it a well-constructed play
.-and a gentleman. As I used to .remain with a good m0ral but of commonplace
-there till they would close up, and as, dur- texture.
Q : What do you think of " Salvation
'ing the later evening hours, I was the only
· -visitor present, the librarians used to give . Nell" and of the work of the Salvation
·· ·
-up a good deal of their time to me in an- Army?
A: · I admire the play and I think very
,swering questions and in referring me to .
qf
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th·e proper reference books. Very often . highly._,;. the work of the Salvation Army.
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cleaner, higher, broader life for mankind.
He asks that w~ make it by convention,
not by law, impossible for the fit to mate
with the unfit, the well with· the sickly,
and produce further sickness.
Alcohol,
syphilis and gonorrhrea have actually
raised our tax rate, and cost millions or
dollars every year, but show me a politician who has ever proposed spending a
single dollar to prevent these conditions!
That is the kind of truth "Damaged Goods"
wants to bring before the country.
Hatred expressed in words and sent into
the mind of another sows hatred there. And
always that which we invest comes back to
us with interest.
A good man is one who is fit mentally and
physically to _
perform efficiently the work
demanded of him by the position he holds.
[[
Friends Who Are Comin;:--,
Dec. 21-Prof. Charles Zueblin, '·Walt
Whitman, Prophet and Democrat."
Dec. 28-Rev_ Allyn K . Foster of Worcester, "Can Religion Be i\'lade Scientific?"
Jan. 4-Dr. Stanton Coit of London, "The
Ethics of Marriage and Divo_rce."
Jan. 11-Symvos ium, "What Is the Matter
With Our Public Schools ?'' ::-Iiss Margaret
Slatter y of Fitchburg and others to be announced.
Jan. l 8-Bisl1op .Charles Williams of Michigan, " Why I Work for the Single Tax,"
Jan. 25-Dr. Albion Woodbury Small of
Chicago University.
Feb. 1-Alexander Irvine of Xew York.
Feb. 8:_Prof. Edward A. Steiner, "The
Inter-National i\'lind and the Inter-Racial
Heart_"
Feb. 15-Symposium , " Breeding Men."
Speakers to be announced. .
Feb. 22-Charles Brandon Booth, "The
Case for the Prisoner. "
March 1-Leslie "\nllis Sprague of Chicago.
March 8-Symvosimn, on "Journalism."
A. J. Philpott of the Boston Glob e and others
to be announced.
March 15-Rev. Harn· Ward, "The Challenge of Sociaiism to Chri;;,tianity."
March 22-Rev. Frank 0 . Hall of New
York, "The Moral Law."
March 29-John Cowper Po"l"l·ys of England, "The Econo m ic Aspects of Woman
Suffra2:e."
April 5-l\fan- ·Church Terre,~:- "Uncle
Sam and the Sons of H am ."
April 12-Dr. Thomas C. Hall of New
York.
April 19-Prof. Walter Rauschenbusch.
12:
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