"You know Philip, I think it must be quite nice to be able to paint a
picture like that. I've often wondered why you never kept up your art."

CHAPTER NINE

"FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD"

A DRAMA OF THE GREAT WAR

Act I: In the Manner of Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews

Act 2: In the Manner of Eugene O'Neill

ACT ONE

(Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews)

SCENE I

A principal street of an American city in the spring of 1918.

At the rear of the stage, representing the opposite sidewalk of the
street, are gathered many people come to bid farewell to the boys of the
Blankth regiment who are soon to march past on their way to France.

Extending across the "street", from footlights to "sidewalk", is a large
white plaster arch, gayly decorated with the Allied colors.

On this arch is the inscription "For the Freedom of the World."

At the rising of the curtain, distant march music is heard (off stage,
right); this constantly grows louder during the ensuing dialogue which
takes place between three elderly women crowded together at the edge
of the sidewalk. These women, although, before the war, of different
stations in social rank, are now united, as are all mothers in the
Allied countries, by the glorious badge which each proudly wears pinned
over her heart--the service star.

The Professor's Wife--I hear them coming.

The Street-cleaner's Wife--So do I. I hope my boy Pat sees me.

The Pawnbroker's Wife--I told my Jean where to look.

The approaching music and the cheering of the spectators drowns out
further conversation.

Enter (right) the regimental band playing the "Stars and Stripes
Forever." They march through the arch and exit left. Following them
comes the flag, at the sight of which all the male spectators (young
boys and men too old to fight) remove their hats. After the colors come
the troops, splendid clean faced fellows, in whose eyes shines the light
of civilization's ideals, in whose ears rings the never forgettable cry
of heroic France and brave little Belgium. The boys are marching four
abreast, with a firm determined step; it is as though each man were
saying to himself "They shall not pass."

After the first few squads have marched through the arch and off left,
the command is issued off-stage "Company--HALT." A young lieutenant
repeats this order to his men, and the column comes to a stop. The men
stand at attention until given the command "Rest", when they relax and
a murmur of conv