ians. If you only had Jews, it would be as good as going to Ellis
Island.

VERA [_Smiling_]
What a strange taste! Who on earth wants to go to Ellis Island?

DAVID
Oh, I love going to Ellis Island to watch the ships coming in from
Europe, and to think that all those weary, sea-tossed wanderers are
feeling what _I_ felt when America first stretched out her great
mother-hand to _me_!

VERA [_Softly_]
Were you very happy?

DAVID
It was heaven. You must remember that all my life I had heard of
America--everybody in our town had friends there or was going there or
got money orders from there. The earliest game I played at was selling
off my toy furniture and setting up in America. All my life America was
waiting, beckoning, shining--the place where God would wipe away tears
from off all faces.
[_He ends in a half-sob._]

MENDEL [_Rises, as in terror_]
Now, now, David, don't get excited.
[_Approaches him._]

DAVID
To think that the same great torch of liberty which threw its light
across all the broad seas and lands into my little garret in Russia, is
shining also for all those other weeping millions of Europe, shining
wherever men hunger and are oppressed----

MENDEL [_Soothingly_]
Yes, yes, David.
[_Laying hand on his shoulder_]
Now sit down and----

DAVID [_Unheeding_]
Shining over the starving villages of Italy and Ireland, over the
swarming stony cities of Poland and Galicia, over the ruined farms of
Roumania, over the shambles of Russia----

MENDEL [_Pleadingly_]
David!

DAVID
Oh, Miss Revendal, when I look at our Statue of Liberty, I just seem to
hear the voice of America crying: "Come unto me all ye that labour and
are heavy laden and I will give you rest--rest----"
[_He is now almost sobbing._]

MENDEL
Don't talk any more--you know it is bad for you.

DAVID
But Miss Revendal asked--and I want to explain to her what America means
to me.

MENDEL
You can explain it in your American symphony.

VERA [_Eagerly--to DAVID_]
You compose?

DAVID [_Embarrassed_]
Oh, uncle, why did you talk of--? Uncle always--my music is so thin and
tinkling. When I am _writing_ my American symphony, it seems like
thunder crashing through a forest full of bird songs. But next day--oh,
next day!
[_He laughs dolefully and turns away._]

VERA
So your music finds inspiration in America?

DAVID
Yes--in the seething of the Crucible.

VERA
The Crucible? I don't understand!

DAVID
No