EN LOVE A ROMANCE OE GREENWICH VILLAGE By GUSTAV BOWHAN ^ '^CCA PUBLISHING nr > JSe. York Wje Htbrarp oftfce Umber £ttp of jj^ortf) Carolina ^ cm ^ C7> «■"» an £» THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL ENDOWED BY THE DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETIES PS3503 .A9 06 1920 OEMCO lliiiiif 00008761 44U This book is due at the WALTER R. DAVIS LIBRARY on the last date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be renewed by bringing it to the library. DATE DUE RET. , — $n%* DATE DUE RET. Form No. 513, Rev. 1/84 OL OPEN LOVE A ROMANCE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE By GV 'STAY BOW HAN mt MECCA PUBLISHING CO. 1 Sheridan Square New York Entered according to Act of Congress- Copyrighted by Gustav Bauhahn 1920. All rights reserved, including rights of production. Application for the rights of production whether amateasr or professional, should be made to the author- Mecca Publishing Co., 1 Sheridan Square, New York City, N. Y. PART ONE To live, to love, that is life, a happy thought, but a strange one to use as a. constitution for a settlement- Under this unwritten law the Bohemians settled in Greenwich Village, to love their art, their neighbors (their female neigh- bors preferred by the men) and themselves. Many strange secret organizations were formed, built upon strange ideals, but none so strange as that of the Populators club. It was an early spring morning, and the sun. flowed into the meeting room of the club, light- ing up every nook and corner. The room was one mass of drawings, portraits and bric-a-brac, completely hiding the bare walls, furnished in soft red, with a big mohagany table in the cen- ter. Henry Lowden, a middle aged artist who X is yet to b3 recognized, was writing. He pauses /- and thinks for a moment, then rising, walks p over to the window, picks up the calendar and mutters to himself, "The Day." Kerl the se- cretary enters through the big doors. g OPEN LOVE KERL I expect this will be a very busy day Sir. LOWDEN Yes Kerl, but don't tidy up the room, or you'll throw all the others on their nerves. KEEL Artists are peculiar. Excuse me for express- ing my views. Beg pardon. LOWDEN No harm. I'd rather you would always ex- press your views. You think them anyway. KERL Thank you Sir. LOWDELN" (walking to the table and sitting)', Now as to us Bohemians^ I confess we are pe- culiar, so broad and open over the big worldly questions, so small and narrow over minor things. (Harold BecTcmcm, fat, jolly, well cm m years but still retaining his youth in spirit, en- ters and sits down in the big easy chair ivith a sigh.) LOWDEN Ah my dear Brother Beckman, ,how are you this fine day! (Kerl takes some papers from the desk and leaves them alone, shutting the doors after him.) OPEN LOVE BECKMAN Fine Lowden, fine. What do you think! I am leaving my studio. LOWDEN Why \ It was perfect. BECKMAN {excited) Because I have been insulted by the land- lady. It is terrible. You know my master piece, "The Moon in a Fog." She calls it >,An Egg in a Pan". I cannot live with such igno- rance, so I go. LOWDEN {rising and going to him) Don't be hasty*. It's a fine place. She doesn't understand. BECKMAN" Perhaps you are right. I'll think it over. (he rises and follows Lowden to the table) Oh, you have looked up the application of my friend whom I proposed for the club. ' LOWDEN (sitting and looking through his papers) Let me see. Andres Pouas, Italian. BECKMAN Yes. 8 OPEN IX VE LOWDEX I've investigated his past before putting it up to the committee. BECKMAX How does he stand? LOWDEX It looks bad. To begin with, he was re- spectably married once. That will hurt him here. BECKMAX That is bad. LOWDEX Then he has always led such a quiet life, devoid of any open love affairs. BECKMAX (shaking his head) A poor Italian. LOWDEX And a poor candidate for our club. However T will present his name to the committee even with his great faults of respectability- But today we have big work to do. BECKMAX I should say so. Why we may make history, OPEN LOVE 9 LOWDEX Control your emotions. We may fail, much is against us. With a sweep Mary Jane enters. She is a> typical Village type, bleached short bobbed hair, flashing eyes, ivith a fierce determination in every move. MARY JAXE Hello members, is everything set! LOWDEX (rising and bowing) Couldn't be better. Enter Marie Grail the Old Maid of the Club, tall, lean, pert, a typical type. MARIE Every time I come into this room, I feel my Bohemian blocd rush to my head. MARY JAXE That's water on the brain. BECKMAX It is a romantic room, unlike any other. MARY JAXE Of course. And why \ Because we down here in the village have sense- Most people paint or paper their walls, (snaps her fingers) Rubbish. Do you paint clothes on your naked body? {answering herself) Of course not- You dress it. Then why paint naked walls \ 10 OPEN LOVE BECKMAN (applauding) Bravo, Bravo. Excellent. MARIE Eine feathers make fine birds. LOWDEN Nonsense. You evidently never saw royal- ty dressed up. MARY JANE But the room pleases, and so it shall stand. BECKMAN You are right. These pictures will never grow old or become out of date. Anna May, ai big heavy set woman tvho is president of the club enters after having heard the last of the conversation. ANNA Nor will an artist ever become different. MARIE I'm not an artist myself, but according to most pictures I have seen, artists can't change what they don't wear, unless they change leaves to keep in season. BECKMAN Such lack of inspiration I have never seen. LOWDEN Remember clothing is only a matter of whether or not the public accepts it. OPEN LOVE 11 ANNA Yes. A musical comedy manager told me that his women patrons were ruining his shows. MARIE How's that ? ANNA Why, they keep showing less than you can see on the stage-The other night he said the audience wore less than the chorus, and he had to take a little more off the girls to keep their eyes on the show. MARY JAXE i The more he takes off the more the patrons do. They can't keep that up much longer. BECKMAST I would like to be there the night they both catch up to each other. Then I will say, „Oh, this is heaven." (They all laugh). ANNA The uplift societies are fighting this show- ing of limbs. LOWDEN Let them fight. As they say in slang, they haven't a leg to stand on. MARY JANE That's just why they want us to hide ours. 12 OPEN LOVE A3STKA We will show them today at the meeting. Lowden, you and Sweet must stay behind. I'm sorry but some-one must wait here. LOWDEX As you say, so we obey. BECKMAK A toast let us drink. Eirst to the success of the club. (They drink) And now to the girls we love- May their husbands never suspect them. OPEN LOVE 13 PAET TWO Lowden with his friend Ralph Sweet, the sculptor, had been ordered to wait while the club worked. Both wanted to be out doing their share, but an order to a Populator must be obeyed, without thought of emotions. Two hours later we find them still waiting for news. RALPH SWEET (After a pause) I've never been so on my edge as today. LOWDEX (Looking up at him) We have never been through such a crisis. All this work, preparation, it's all brought to a point. SWEET (Coming down to the table) Yes, I know, I've prayed for the day, when we could get a chance to tell the world, to in- fluence it, and now that it is here, LOWDEK" (Finishes his sentence) It is not the same thrill, RALPH SWEET No. I wonder why? / 14 OPEN LOVE LOWDEX Because we are doing something that is not sincere, not natural. We are being driven. SWEET That is not true. I know my ideals. LOWDEN (Rising) There, there, my dear Ralph, you must control yourself. Still I insist that we are be- ing driven. SWEET Driven in what way! LOWDEX Why in every way. SWEET All the members of our club have come in of their own accord. They have broken ties with the outside world and join us without force or coaxing. You know that one of our strictest rule is that every member must aisk to join of his own free will, and no one must persuade him. LOWDEISr That is true, I admit, but tell me, Ralph, of one single member who has joined our club, who has not done so because of some crisis he has had before he joined us. A man is given OPEN LOVE 15 a bad decision by society, lie in the heat of his wrong, takes arms against everybody, and joins our club. Take yourself for instance. Is it not true? SWEET But they are not driven- LOWDEK" They are. It is revenge that drives them to us, and pride that keeps them. After they have cooled down, they lose their hate but do not like to admit to themselves that they would be glad to re-enter society; after all their case was but one single personal affair. By con- stant speech they are driven to believe in the club. SWEET (Sitting) Still it's a wonderful organization. Don't you think so ? LOWDEN" (Sitting again) In what way? SWEET In its ideals, hopes, for a handful of us to stand up and defy the whole world, with new thoughts^ it's plucky- LOWDEN Tell me, Ralph, you were one of the original members* how did it begin? 16 OPEN LOVE SWEET At first we artists had a fine settlement" where we could work, love and play, but soom Ave received so much publicity that the village- became overrun with thrill seekers. Slowly the- real artists gave way to fakers, so as a last: stand we organized this club of ideals. Of late- it has changed a bit because of new members; who, as you say, join because of a hate for so- ciety. LOWDE^T (JRising, going to door and ringing bell) A funny thing is life, and what can come* of it. Yes, I joined because I too, wanted to get away from it all, but man's instincts are- the same all over; outside, in here, everywhere. (The secretary enters) Is there any news yet?: KERL Ko sir. Mr. Hazelton called up and said that Mr. Wilke would speak at two, and Miss- Sweet immediatelv after him. It is now tern minutes after three. It's a noble enterprise, sir_ LOWDEX You think so? KERL Oh yes, sir, not because I'm your secretary^, and want to agree, but on general principles- Man's law and his infernal family ties, — Bosh_ OPEN LOVE 17 SWEET Family ties? What are they? I snap my fingers at them. LOWDEtf My dear Ralph, Don't turn your heart to stone. One's own flesh and blood are always ones own. SWEET A cat's kittens, a clog's pupts, a swine's sucklings are her own flesh and blood. Yet there isn't that infernal sentiment between them. I have no family ties. My life is one thing, one unit- I have a daughter. She hasi her own soul in a body furnished by man. If she was hurt, I would feel sorry, but outside cf that, we have nothing in common. KERL Bravo, Bravo, you are a true member. (stops) Excuse me for forgetting myself. LOWDEH I try to be in sympathy with you, and your ideals, try to live up to the club, try to see this for the good, but I can't. SWEET Slowly and slowly me are spreading our light. 18 OPEN LOVE LOWDEN (Shaking his head) I'm afraid, just afraid. SWEET (Rising) Afraid, afraid of what? Now we say a couple has a boy. He is raised by the govern- ment, and all track of his parents are lost- He is made a soldier and goes to war. There is no wailing of a mother* no dramatic speeches by the father and all that rot. He goes. It's new to him, an adventure. If he should be killed, well his body rots wlhile his soul flies on till' it enters another life here, or strays into a higher plane. LOWDEN But you can not get parents, especially mothers, to part with their off -spring. SWEET Of course not. Many couples are married and work side by side as one set. Men as a whole look upon little children as a nuisance, but the mother instict demands fulfillment. Now if they knew that their child could and would be taken up by the government, nothing would block them. All this birth control would cease, .and all parties would be happy. LOWDEN It's a grand mix up, a jumble to me. OPEN LOVE 1$ SWEET _ Then love, it must be unshackled, open, free as the wind, for life is love, and love is life. To- day that large hall is crowded with press men from all over our country ; if J:hey are im- pressed, it will be read by millions, and then we can work. KERL (Going to the door) I will announce their arrival as soon as they come. (Exit) LOWDEX I hope your daughter doesn't get too tech- nical in her speech. SWEET My daughter? You are personal. LOWDEX Pardon me. I speak of her as one unit, with no ties. SWEET Quite right. LOWDEX (Looking at his ivatch) Time we were hearing something. SWEET If only they have made the spech of their lives. 20 OPEN LOVE LOWDEN The committee is to come right here as soon as it is over. SWEET (Going to window) How much longer must we wait? LOWDEN They should be here any moment, unless Mr. Wilke and your daughter spoke longer than planned. SWEET Perhaps Mr. Wilke did. Marie the Old Maid enters. MAEIE I am so excited. Oh, I'm glad I found you two gentlemen here. Isn't it wonderful that we may impress upon this nation that every woman must do her share to popluate. SWEET Yes. MAEIE It makes me blush, really. Of course I'm not in my teens, but a young woman like me, is so sensitive. LOWDEJST Yes? I didn't know. OPEN LOVE 21 MARIE Of course. I've turned down so many men, simply because I thought they were not fit. Now there was Jim. He was so smart, but could never produce a perfect offspring. Then there was Philip. He was a regular Hercules, but he was so ignorant. And John was half and half. LOWDEX Perhaps in the search for perfection you have lost everything. Strength can be developed education drummed into a head. So in mv mind, anvone of your three suitors were fit. But to be frank as we always are in this club. I don't know whether you are fit ? MARIE My dear Mr. Lowden, I'm shocked. LOWDEX Imposible. As a member of the Populators, vou can not be shocked. You are a unit. One is shocked when one is told something one alreadv knows. If the shocked one did not know it, he would not be shocked. A man will swear like a trooper before his wife at home, but let some other man utter a little phrase before his wife, she is shocked, and he wants to fight. Hvpocrisv. You said vou were shocked, because von thought it was the right thing to say. 22 " OPEN LOVE MARIE You have taken words and turned them on me. I believe in population by the masses. One child to a family. The rest belong to the state. LOWDEN Unless they are girls. SWEET It seems cold to say, I know, but in masses the individual is lost. LOWDEN I can't see it that way. I must be old fashioned or something. MARIE You are. That 's why you don't understand. KERL Kerl enters through the big doors. They have ccnie. The meeting is over. God, but they are excited. All of the committee file in and solemnly take their places around the table. Anna as pre- sident is at the head- SWEET W T ell ? DERRICK (A committee member ) , Is all the committee present? OPEN LOVE 23 AKNA Yes. LOWDEK Well, what is the news ? AXXA As president of the Populators, I demand your attention. lowde;n t Tell lis the news. We're anxious. Why all this red tape? ANNA A Populator forgets his own emotions. Con- trol yourself Unit. (Loivden sits. Anna takes the papers out of her desk. Then she rises). I will read the charter before we commence. SWEET First tell me, was my daughter successful? AXXA A body to which you helped give birth, in which God placed a soul, spoke. That is all. I was saying before I was interrupted, that I would read the charter. (She reads) We, the members of the Populators, believe that for centuries family ties and fool- ish sympathy have been a chain upon man- The responsibility and care of offspring has li- 24 OPEN LOVE limited their numbers. That some women are good, many bad. That we may spread our teachings over the land, take the young away after their nursings like we do with animals, place taem in the world, and thus save them the sorrow when they must eventually be left alone. (She sits.) LOWDEN J^Tow? How was it! SWEET Success 1 No. LQWDEN BEClOIxiN LOWDEN Not a success \ A^ NA Mr. Wilke spoke first. He was impressive and spoke to the point. He started well, but always came right to the point without any explana- tion. He could be heard. His speech abounded with punch darts, but after he had finished our main points, the audience knew, but not what led up to them, or why, so that they seemed ridiculous. SWEET And my daughter? OPEN LOVE 95 AXXA Mary Sweet spoke long-, became tiresome. I tried to make her finish, but to no avail. She went into detail, explained every little twist, till at last she was off the subject and forgot her punches. So the audience while they listened, did not understand what she was driving at. We must start anew. (She sits) LOWDEN That is too bad. Perhaps the newspapers will be kind. BECKMAN (Shaking his head) Xo. Thev had to be entirely convinced. They came, against us, looking on us as fakers, as if -we were a fad. To convince them there can be no half way- SWEET Too bad, but of course, my daughter is a unit by herself. I have nothing at all to do with her. MARIE If only I could have said a few things. I know I would have held them spellbound with my knowledge of life- AXXA Sit down- If we could have had a roan or woman who could detail like Mary, and put the 26 OPEN LOVE punches in it like Mr. Wilke, our cause would have been won. SWEET Couldn't we hire some orator with that talent ? AJSTNA Impossible, to begin with. He must be in accord with our plans, believe in them with heart and soul, or his talk will be false, no mat- ter how great he is. Anyway a famous speaker would not join a futurist enterprise like ours for fear he would ruin his reputation. BECKMAN Selfish, small minded masses. MARIE If I had a child, such would he be, a genius a marvel. ANXA Sit down. (She rises) Members of the Com- mittee, we must do something or all our work is lost- We have the money, we have every thing, except a representative to express our views. BECKMAST Perhaps we could hire some well known actor. We could write the speeches- OPEN LOVE 27 ANNA That is what we discussed before. No, it must come from the heart of the man who speaks. This is not developed by reading set lines. LOWDEN It is a problem. I wonder if we couldn't take some ignorant man and educate him up to our ideals. BECKMAN If a man is ignorant, it is because he is de- stined to be so. A man can be poor, but learning is anybody's, who really strives for it. ANNA I think if we could train a child from youth up, teaching only our ideals, our thoughts, then. . . . EALPH SWEET But how would we know if he had talent. We might waste years on a mistake. DERRICK Sweet is right. Those things don't show until a child is matured. LOWDEN It is a problem. One that seems hopeless to me; to raise a child takes years, then the 28 OPEN LOVE chances are he will have some failing. Personal appearance, health, etc. RALPH SWEET That is true. MARIE If you could take the good points of Mary Sweet and these of Mr. Wilke, put them together, that would solve the problem. BECK MAX You are a unit with the wisdom of an atom., ANNA Wait, she is right. It's a chance {They all ask how) LOWDEN What do you mean? ANNA Now Mary Sweet is a genius, she lacks only the physical force to impress. Now, Mr. Wilke has the physical power to impress but lacks the power of going into detail. If they were brought together and had an offspring, would he not have the best qualities of each? MARIE Suppose he had the two bad faults in him ? ANNA Silence, that can be fixed. Each has only OPEN LOVE Of) to bear what we want in mind. It's a chance. We are all young enough and could see the experiment through all its great stages. For twenty years we could work, then the master Populator could conquer. RALPH SWEET I object to my daughter doing this, espe- cially without marriage. ANXA She is a unit. Conventions are man's. What are you doing here if you have smb. ideas? BECKMAX But would they consent? ANNA We could give them each $5000, make them waive claim to their child- MARIE Why not make it $10,000 each and let them give us two genius, so if one is looney, the other might be all right. AXXA There's sense in that : two chances would be better than one. I now propose it : those in favor say 'aye", (They all answer ''aye" except Lowden and Sweet.) AMA The ayes have it. 30 OPEN LOVE mals, if we did then we would not be ruling the Family ties. We can't treat ours like ani- s, i world. RALPH SWEET (rising) You wonU do it ,ycu can't I won't let you •do it to my daughter. I'll stop her. DERRICK You can't. She is her own master, she is a unit, you are one. Neither mean anything to ^ach other. EALPH SWEET (sits down resting his head on his hand) ANNA They were coming here after meeting •some of the delegates. They should be here any minute. BEOKMAN Then its settled ; two children for $20,000. MARIE I would do it cheaper than that. ANNA Raise your hand when you wish to speak. Another thing, we must not let the people alone, why they are getting so they get married, and wrork together not like husband and wife, but like friend with friend. OPEN LOVE 31 LOWDEX Yes a woman who stays home and cooks as- they used to, is looked upon as a woman with- out a job. (Bell rings-) That must be them. I declare the meeting; over. (Mr. WilJce, a fine young chap enters with Mary Siveet, Mary a young woman who has been brought up by her father in these surroundings* Kerl takes the hats and coats and exits-) AXXA Welcome to the meeting. WILKE Greetings. It was as we thought the first editions simply laughed at us. MARY And they do it on the last page, that's why it's so mean WILKE I've found out to-dav its better to be ridiculed big than to be so small a joke, its not. considered important enough to bother with. AXXA Sit down. (They both sit, one on each side of her, the rest look on) Xow,I've a proposition to make you two. 32 OPEN LOVE MARY To me ? AOTA Yes. I need not tell vou that both your speeches lacked somehing. Now we have decided that to have a real representative he must be brought up slowly from birth. WILKE Go on. AXXA We must be represented by a speaker who can thrill and bring home our truths. We are all willing to sacrifice money, even the most precious thing, we can offer our time. MARY Well, what are you going to do ? AXXA That is the thing. We have thought of many ways but have onlv found one way by which we * * WW really have a chance for success. But we must rely on both of you to help us. WILKE I'll do anything for our cause, vou know that. MAEY And you know that you can count on me. OPEN LOVE 33 AXNA Good, that is what I wanted to hear. We have come to a decision that to get a represent- ative such as we want, he must come from talent ed parents, tuen we will know we have some material to work on. DERRICK Like a race horse. A~KNA To come to the point, we want two children who we will raise and educate under our doc- trine, and who will be our guiding star. We will pay $20,000 — $10,000 to each of the partners. We consider you, Mary Sweet and Mr. Wilke sat- isfactory for the experiment. What do you say ? RALPH SWEET Don't do it, Mary, don't do it. MARY Please sir, rememb3r, you are captain of your soul, T of mine. LOWDEX (going to window) Units, units. WILKE It's an easy $20,000. MARIE I should say so. 34 OPEN LOVE MAEY It would be doing my tshare, still somehow I jus!t hesitate. ANXA There is nothing much to think about unless the price is not satisfactory. MAEY JS T o, no, it's not the money. AN1\ T A There's nothing wrong in it, you know that. MAEY (slowly) Yes, I know that. AMA Then there's nothing else. MAEY I know, president, but I must give it a thought. WILKE Could we just talk it over by ourselves? we won't be long. AXNA Very well, I don't see what there is to talk over. However we'll be downstairs, ring when you are done and hurry. (They all file out) OPEN LOVE 35 RALPH SWEET Mary don't. Do you know what you are doing? MARY Why yes, its what you yourself have preach- ed. RALPH SWEET I know, I know but ANNA (looking back) Mr. Sweet, come on. MARIE (turns in the door) I wouldn't mind hearing tliis private con- versation' but then you might think I was nosy. (She exits) (After they are all gone) WILKE (turns to Mary) Strange world. My eyes are just opening. MARY I've always preached free love and now that I have this chance, I'm afraid. WILKE There's nothing I can say, Mary. We bad ideals, now in a minute taey are shattered. I don't know why. I only joined this club because 36 OPEN LOVE it was different, but now, I see it is wrong. I was wrong. MABY I know, to me manjs, marriage was such a farce, a license by some redfaced politician, a minute of foolish reading, then you are man and wife. It seemed ridiculous., but now it seems real to me. It makes all this sacred. Perhaps it is because I am being paid Oh Herbert I can't do it. Why I would be no better than the lowest. WILKE Now that I too stand face to face with the facts, I weaken. Let us tear the shame of this club from our eyes. He holds her by the shoul- ders looking at her squarely Mary we will get them children. We will take their money. MARY (draiving away) You're a man, the same eternal man, and I thought you so different. WILKE No, No Mary, I love you. I knew I did when you madte your speech. When I heard your voice drop with fatigue I felt like carrying you away, anywhere, but away. Will you marry me % OPEN LOVE 37 MARY Do vou reallv love me, — Herbert? It isn't the money, and the excitement? WILKE Xo, no, really Mary. I'll be so happy. Why ve can settle down somewhere in the country, IVe always loved it so. MAEY It would be supreme, but the truth is, Her- bert, I want to be happy, to throw the hypocrisy of this club off- You wouldn't after our mar- riage go back to its ideals? WILKE Xo, I promise. We will give them the chil- dren, who we know they will treat well, and give a fine education, MAKY To spread a doctrine we ourselves despise. WILKE The club will never last and we'll soon have them back with us. Just forget all else only think of the happiness for us. We would have to slave for years to get so much money, and suffering does help to kill love, and I want mine to live. Come tell me that you will many me. 38 OPEN LOVE MARY Do you know it will be breaking one of the club's strictest rules ? Perhaps they will refuse to let us go through with it. WILKE Don't worry about that, just say you will become my wife. MARY Your wife. You know my head is going around. I've always laughed at 'that word, but my head just swims when I say it. I see the clear sky and the air is light. And everything within me says, I love you. {He draws her to him and kisses her, then goes to the door, rings the^ bell.) WILKE We will call them back, get married to-day and leave town to-night. MARY Every part of me goes out to you. WILKE And I to you, its too wonderful. I forget everything else except that happiness is ours. {Ralph Sweet comes in and looks appealing- ly at Mary, Wilke winks at Mary to teach him a lesson). OPEN LOVE 39 RALPH SWEET Mary, I must speak to you. As a father I demand that vou listen. MARY I have no ties, according to your own ideas. But what do vou want? RALPH SWEET (turning to Wilke) Wilke as man to man I beg of you not to do this terrible thing. WILKE (winking at Mary) Whait thing. There is nothing wrong. RALPH SWEET There is. How dare you insult my daughter with such a proposition. MARY He didn't insult me. The committee of which you are a member made the proposition. WILKE (assuming a false air-) And a fair one I must confess. RALPH SWEET (pleading) Please sir I beg of you, for she's a good girl. ! 40 OPEN LOVE WILKE Of course she is, and always will be, simply because ishe wishes to follow her love instincts means nothing. MARY Besides, the Constitution of the club says- its all right- WILKE With you sir, the first signer. RALPH SWEET, (angry) I will have the law on you. MARY I am of age, besides I will say it is not true. You can't kill ideals bv force. WILKE "Take love where you find it," is your own motto. Simply because I fonind it in your daughter, you protest. I think it is a compli- ment that I help this club with my physical as well as my moral strength. RALPH SWEET Can't I change this 1 MARY Impossible, father. You see its the way of a Populator (bowing) of which my father is an honored committee man. OPEN LOVE 41 WILKE, (sarcastic) What an honor. EALPH SWEET But no one will marry you after this affair. MARY What of it. We don't believe in marriage. How bored married couples will be after reading about us, and our cause- WILKE Then don't forget sir, unmarried lovers •are always much happier because its a constant honeymoon, always the thought to please to keep the other from going. MARY (teasing) Herbert won't stay out nights, for fear he -may not find me home. WILKE And Mary will always be attractive for fear of killing my illusions. RALPH SWEET Can't I show you the light? MARY You have, if married folks would only for- get that they were married. What a life. 42 OPEN LOVE RALPH SWEET (giving up) You treat her right. WILKE Of course, I will. Remember I want to keep her. (Alt the members file in and take their places around 'the table.) A^NA (after a pause) Well, have you made up your minds? MARY Yes. WILKE We accept your proposition. ANffA Ah. Good. I knew you would see through that old fashioned cheap sentiment- RALPH SWEET Mary, no you can't do it. MARY Why not? Are you one that would expect others to do what you would not allow your self or yours to do ? RALPH SWEET I know, I know all these ideals are high till they hit your own- I admit I am wrong, please- don't do it. OPEN LOVE 43 WILKE We are going through with it. LOWDEN My dear Sweet, remember what you said to me less than a half hour ago in this very room. It ought to comfort you. ANNA Sweet, you are a disgrace to yourself. Such an exhibition only the weak minded give. RALPH SWEET Call me anything, only don't degrade her. MAEY There is no use at all, so please be quiet. {He goes in a corner and sits) WILKE We want the money first. Cash. ANNA I can only give you part in cash, the rest in check. Is that all right? WILKE Providing you write a note with the check, promising, not to stop it. ANNA That's a rather odd request. 44 OPEN LOVE MARY Tlie whole thing is a rather odd request. ANXA (writing) Very well. Here's the check $8,000 to eaxsbb. (takes money) we knew you would come to our way, so I took this from the safe. Yon see we had faith in your brains. Here's the money. (Both take their money and checks.) WILKE Now, the note please (He dictates) I promise in the name of the organization not to stop my checks to Herbert Wilke and Mary Sweet of the 11th of January. Sign. ANNA (signs) Here you are. WILKE Thank you. MARY Thank you. WILKE Well, we're off- Be prepared for the two- little geniuses. MARIE Good luck. You know I was wishing she would refuse and give me a chance. OPEN LOVE 45 WILKE (turns in the door) Oh, by the way, it may surprise or madden, or any damn thing you call it, that we are going to be married. (They run off) AXXA (goes to door) N , How dare they. I'll stop them. I can't. LOWDEX f You can't. They tricked you. , " RALPH SWEET I'm a father. My daughter will be a mo- ther, to hell with you units- I'm going to send my child a wedding present. 4 6 OPEN LOVE PAKT THREE Twenty years have passed', with cheers hopes and failures, including a never ending movement of the Populator's Club. — The Po- pulators have worked hard. — A year after Wilke and Mary's marriage came a boy,' — ■ Wallow by name, later came a girl named Mary. — Both have been raised carefully and show great promise. We find Wallow a man and hisi sister rapid- ly acquiring womanhood. Derrick the poet is giving Wallow a lesson. DERRICK Now let me hear you, Wallow. j WALLOW Man's ridiculous laws are a disgrace to God'is creed. The good has been rotted 1 with hypocrisy, and the bad placed on a pedestal. No longer do we stand by the old fashioned ideas of our fathers, but on the feat of a new and greater movement, The Populators. OPEN LOVE 47 DERRICK As you speak, I see your father's strong punches and your mother's speaking power- WALLOW (coming down) Now look here. I want to know something about them. I am going to be 20 years old soon and I never go out to meet people. WCryi DERRICK -—»■.-.-, You must be patient my boy, Rome was not built in a day. You are to be a guiding: light in this world- When you face it, you will shine around it, not flicker and flutter and then die out. WALLOW Yet I know I am not living a normal life- DERRICK Come, come be patient. It is all that I ask, for your father's and mother's sake, if not for ours- WALLOW I guess you are right. The world is a bad place, no love* that is, free love. The rich take it from the poor, the strong from the weak- Tell me Derrick, what is marriage ? 48 OPEN LOVE DERRICK Outside, if yon love a girl and wanted to live with her- you would have to get a license. WALLOW A license? DERRICK Yes, a permit. Then a priest or an official reads a few lines, and you are respectable, and society is satisfied. WALLOW I'm not going through that manoeuvre If I love a girl, and she loves me, before God, she is mine- - , DERRICK But not before man. Man says you should marry to please God- -WALLOW But a politician or a grafter is not God's representative. Suppose you defy them, as we all are trying to do- DERRICK Well, if the girl is pretty; she will be sneered at by the women, admired by the men; if OPEN LOVE 49 she is homely she will be admired by the women and shunned by the men. WALLOW And the man? DERRICK Oh he'll be honored. The men will clap him on the back and with a sly wink say 'Some boy'" and the women will say "he is fascinating" WALLOW Why is this? Why are they not both dis- graced or glorified ? DERRICK Because they| ajre 'chilcfren| The whole world is a ship on the sea of immorality with every passenger hoping it will be wrecked. WALLOW Then planking our free love ideas ought to be simple- DERRICK Xo, because the passengers prefer to take a duck in the sea and climb back on the boat- WALLOW Some day perhaps that ship will be aban- doned- {Anna comes in with May Siveet. May 50 OPEN LOVE is Wallow's sisfcer> the other child given by Wilke and Mary.) AKNA. There you are. (To Derrick) Well, how is Wallow ? WALLOW Fine- (Then to sister) Sister, how are you? MAY I'm sick of it all- She tells me that I can only have one child and the rest I must give to the government, but I won't- WALLOW But you must. It is right- MAY I won't- What do you know about children? DERRICK (coming doivn) Please, please* where are the children- May !has not found her mate and before she does, she's going to be a great lecturer- MAY No, I haven't found him, but when I do, I'll make him marry me or he can't have me- WALLOW (to his sister) Don't you know that marriage is only a fraud? What is there in marriage to protect, OPEN LOVE 51 anything! Xow if a man loves a girl, that is a real man lie protects and cherishes her just as tenderly without a license as he would with one. If a. man is unprincipled do you think a license would make him any better. No, its the man not the license that counts. MAY Wallow* that's true, but you don't under- stand- I can't say what it is because I don't know. My ^oul can tell you if not my words. It's like a bright light longing for something to keep the eternal aglow and when I think of keeping that light aglow, without projecting it from the wind, that light goes low, only a woman can understand that. ANNA I'm a woman, but I don't understand that talk. Your father and mother got you to talk for us and not against us. DERRICK We sacrificed twenty years of our lives, planning, fighting, hoping. Don't go back on us- Its for the Populators. WALLOW I'm with you. 52 OPEN LOVE MAY And I for honorable motherhood- (Mane l the old maid enters. She has aged but is still pert as. ever) MARIE Here you are, talking as usual. Well May, [how are you! MAY Very down-hearted. I feel like running away from it all. ANNA (who has heard, turns) Silence. MARIE Oh, Love I suppose- Wheal this club was- it its prime, I had so many suitors- (Lowden enters* stands in the door listening*) ANNA Thats not true- She was as homely as she- is now, she only joined this club as an excuse to cover her sins. MARIE My dear Miss President, you wrong me,. My father — ANNA (interrupting her) i We don't talk about parents here- OPEN LOVE 5^ LOWDEN (coming center) But we will- DERRICK What do you mean? LOWDEX What I s;aid- Here we represent the 30O supporters- We have been losing rapidly. Our party is at its crisis- Shall I tell you why? DERRICK No, not before them. LOWDEN Yes, before them because we are wrong- All wrong. We 're fighting something ; we don't know what- We're fighting the impossible- Its been one jumble all of it. Open love* and sup- pose we did have our way. Murder, war, no home, no family ties, nothing in life worth while. Everything unbearable . ANNA I'm surprised- DERRICK What has come over you? LOWDEN The truth. 54 OPEN LOVE MAY (to Lowden) And I am with you- DERRICK You are ours. Your parents signed you to us- You and Wallow. LOWDEN" Another terrible thing- A'NNA Give us the one chance we waited for so long. LOWDEN What chance! DERRICK Wallow and May will get their chance to ^xprdss our views'; our hopes. Wallow can and "will convince them. He will speak next month. LOWDEN {turning to May) And you May? MAY I shall not speak- Why the very plan is so ridiculous. There is not one aim* one point that you or your party can really call sane- OPEN LOVE 55 ANNA As president of the party, I say there is- MAY What is it? DERRICK The right of man to go through the world grasping love where he can find it. MAY They have that on the outer world- Only proper law to protect women from triflers. DERRICK But suppose one finds he has chosen a wrong mate- MAY He gets a divorce. DERRICK I can see that point, but one child to a fa- mily, the other to be taken away, so he will not feel the pain at a dear one's death- MAY Take the c'hild away from its parents' he will have friends. Everybody has so much love to give, it may be for art, or even f ads> but when that is gone, what then? An artist is just as 56 OPEN LOVE grieved over a picture he loves, if stolen, a,s a mother, when her babe is 'lost, for both are children of the brain. DERRICK (puzzled) Well, well, I believe in open love. MAY When you have a treasure, do you not pro- tect it? You put your gold behind iron bars, but your love you want open to be taken by him who dares. LOWDEN Bravo> bravo. You are a genius- WALLOW I shall speak- MAY And were you not my brother, I would speak against you. DERRICK (pleading) Please don't do that- You would ruin us. LOWDEN Very well, I've made up my mind. 1 shall stay until after the speech- MAY Wallow, you are doomed to failure. You have the book knowledge, but you are hollow* your body matter is developed over the brain matter- OPEN LOVE 57- MARIE That is all Greek to me. Excuse me but Fni going- (Goete to door, left) Miss May, I won'*t debate, but you're wrong. (Exit-) AXXA I want to tell you M]ay> you speak to protect that which you don't know- Go to those people you think so much about, meet them, and you will find after all we are right. MAY I don't believe it- I don't believe it. DERRICK It is true- This is just a fad with you. It will pass, it will pass- MAY Woman's love of honor, it will never pass- (Exit Derrick and Anna) MAY (to Lowden) Tell me, Lowden, were my parents married f LOWDEN Yesv MAY I'm so glad, I feared and feared- 55 OPEX LOVE LOWDEX The nisrlit of the address I will tell you both everything, the whole story. Will you wait and trust me? ^YALLOW Yes, you have been a true friend. (Enter Miriam Day) (Miriam is a sweet young girl of nineteen, dark, slender, with a sympathetic face ihat breathes sweetness)- MIREAMI Excuse me. You know, Hay, I was reading in my room, and became so lonelv that I went into the garden, yet I wasn't satisfied. MAY" Beautiful things don't satisfy because after all thev are onlv things. WALLOW How are you Miriam? I missed you to-day. MIRIAM And I vou. Y\liv didn't vou meet me in the garden \ WALLOW I was very busy, but I'll make up for it later on OPEN LOVE 59* \MHtIAM) Oh that's all risrlit vour work comes first- ■ WALLOW Xot before vou. ■ MAY He's au old flatterer. Miriam will toil help me try on my new dress ! I can't just get it as I wish it. It will take only a minute. Ex- cuse us please. WALLOW Please don't go. MIRIAM I'll be right back. (The two girls exit tight) WALLOW Lowclen vou are different from all of them. ■ You're kind and understand- LOWDE^ Wallow. I'm of the outer world. My person belongs to this club but my spirit has always rebelled against it- WALLOW Why did you join this club? (Stops) Oh ex- cuse me, that is a rather personal question- (50 OPEN LOVE LOWDEK I will tell you in a few words. My marriage was a failure. I was bound to a \voman,a drunk- ard. I tried to divorce her, but the law forbade it asi I had no real case. So the first thing that came along, I reached for, like a drowning man. It was free love- I thought it was to be the future blessing of the broad-minded man, but I soon saw it was more narrow than the other, now you know. Now you see? WALLOW I do and I am sorry. Is she still alive? LOWDEN No she is gone- I am free and though the law tied me down. I can't denounce it. Take IMiriam for instance, she was like me. WALLOW Tell me about her- LOWDEN Wallow, I notice vou are very interested. WALLOW She is kind and a real woman- LOWDEX Yet she joined because society cut her, she was denounced. OPEN LOVE 61 WALLOW Why f LOWDEX That is all I know, my lad, but she is a good girl. I judge her by what I have seen of her and she is good. WALLOW But if the world denounces such as you and Miriam without a fair trail, is it not in a. fright- ful state? LOWDEX The world is all right and so are the people in it- It is just a mistake of using old ideas. WALLOW Old ideas? What do vou mean? LOWDEX Moral ideas. Xow we would laugh if anyone -dressed as our forefathers did hundreds of years ago- We would say that is old fashioned, not for our time. We have advanced only in the material things such a s dress, light and all mod- ern conveniences. But what about us morally, have we advanced? Xo, the people still s'tick to old customs* old laws, that no more fit our times, than f.ie dresses of old- Why even old technical laws are in force- 62 OPEN LOVE WALLOW Why is all this? Tell me Lowden, is man a failure ? LOWDEN No one can tell, because we don't know what standard man is supposed to reach. (Enter Miriam — center) MIRIAM ( coming down) AVell here I am. I have kept my word. (She stops, hesitates) I hope I did 1 not intrude! LOWDEN That's all right, child. I must be off I'm going to run down to tie city to-night. Oh by the w r ay, I want to siae you before I go,. Wallow. (Exit — Center) MIRIAM He's a dear- WALLOW Lowden is a bright spot among all this darkness, Lowden and you. MIRIAM Oh Wallow ! OPEN LOVE (33 WALLOW Don't you want me to speak like that to you ? MIRIAM] I do. I want it more than anything in the world but there are things in one's life that prevent- WALLOW What can prevent me from speaking to you even loving you, except you don't care. MIRIAM If s not that Wallow, I do care- I do care. WALLOW I've spoken my thoughts. I've spoken what I meant to conceal. I wanted to wait until I was sure of you, Xow nothing can keep you from me. You are what you are. I am a free thinker and in love. MIRIAM You are right- There is nothing here to stop us. We are not out in the world- The world of regrets but in our garden where we can love- 64 OPEN LOVE WALLOW Lowden is wrong, he is wrong. (Kisses her) MIRIAM You love me Wallow, really truly- WALLOW Yes, I've known it for days and days, but I was satisfied to remain silent' to express my love to you by kindness- MIRIAM Wallow, Wallow, I do want you, but how can I be sure- WALLOW Sure of what dear? MIRIAM That it isn't just tjhq fljame of youth,, that will be quenched as quickly as it started- WALLOW How can I prove it. I would say marriage but it is against our belief. MIRIAM I know. But Wallow what do you know about me. Nothing. Are you going to take mi- on trust? OPEN LOVE (35 WALLOW What I have seen in you is enough for me. MIRIAM Still in a love like ours there will be jealous v and you must be sure, so sure- v 11 olloiv embracing her) WALLOW And I am. {Enter May) MAY Excuse me, I couldn't help but see- So you two are in love. I've seen it coming- I'm very glad for both of you. (She kisses Miriam) WALLOW Yes, sis, and I think I'll hunt up Lowden. He's waiting for me and I have something im- portant to say to him. 'Excuse me please. (Exits Center) MAY Well, when are you going to be engaged? MIRIAM] Engaged, why (she hesitates) We, we- ll a ven't decided yet. MAY Wallow, will make a good husband- Oh, I don't say this because he's my brother, but ^G OPEN LOVE he has fine qualities in spite of fhis faults, which are minor- MIRIAM; Yes, he's a dear and I love him- I'll be so proud to be bis, his.' (Stops) MAY 11 is, you hesitate. Why? It's net as I sus- pected, these people and their doctrine. It's not possible- Tell me (holding her) Look at me squarely and repeat his, his. MIjRiTAMi (breaking \down) Don't, don't 1 can't say it, his mate. MAY Iso, his mistress. MIRIAM (siis down crying) Don't say that word. Oh, how you hurt me. MAY {Slowly) I'm glad it hurts you. Very glad because it shows you are good and that this cursed club lias not got you- MIRIAM I do love him anjd I want to be his wife. How I would love to be engaged- OPEN LOVE 6T MAY Certainly all girls do. Some of them sever- al times at once. Now you leave it all to me. MIRIAM Wallow will never consent. MAY We will make that dear brother of mine- wish he never belonged to this affair- MIRIAM How? MAY You've laughed at mafriiag'e "like jail of them. Called it stupid, man-made. Yet when yom thought of having no real claim on the man. you love, you weaken, so it will be with Wallow r , you leave him to me- Tell me how did you ever- come into this club and on the committee, so* } -ung ? MIRIAM I was a victim of circumstances, the boss* where I worked invited me to dinners- I re- fused many times, but he persisted. One day I went, I suppose I shouldn't have gone, but he- treated me with every respect. As the clock struck nine he jumped up and embraced me,. 08 OPEN LOVE i the door opened and there stood his wife arid two witnesses. It was a trap, yon can imagine the. rest, I was named the co-respondent. Big publicity about the vampire girl with the re- sult that every time a young man became in- terested in me he was told by my dear friends this story. Xext day my lover was gone ; so in a fit of anger hearing of this doctrine I joined the Populators and here I am, but I'm good and fit to be anvone's wife. Do you believe that? MAY I do- I am sorry. Tt is a problem this funny old life. (Enter Wallow) , . WALLOW Well, Lowden is not going after all (Tie sees the girls sp&ateng.) Still talking girls? I do not know what/women find so much to talk about. MAY That's a sex mystery. I don't see what you men find to brag about- WALLOW Quqh r That's a good one- MAY (whispers to Miriam) Leave me alone with dear little brother. [Miriam rises) OPEN LOVE (39 MIRIAM You will excuse me, I must go to the meet- ing room, the committee is to have a secret session. (She exits) WALLOW Isn't she a dear girl- MAY Well, yes as far as girls go. Of course you're not going to marry her Wallow? WALLOW Xo, we both have the same ideals, that's why she is here. MAY I'm glad of that- It won't bind you. WALLOW Oh ves it will. Just the same as if we went through that legal hypocrisy- MAY Legal hypocrisy, you call it. But it does protect both parties now doesn't it? WALLOW In what way? 70 OPEN LOVE MAY Well, ais your wife, no man would dare toucj her. WALLOW Well, No. MAY Where the other way, no man need be af raid y you could hardly say much under those- conditions. WALLOW But she would be mine. MAY By what right? WALLOW The right of - the right of (he stops puzzled} well, the right of might, MAY The first big husky that comes along can grab her because he can knock your head off ? and its tue same for the female for she is not bound to any single man. A very bad thing. Every little quarrel that comes up, both, will go their way or when she lo'ses those rosy cheeks, or you should get sick, away the OPEN LOVE 11 ■other goes. It is their right under your law, but in your case I'm glad. WALLOW Sis, there is a lot in what you say, I never looked at it in that light before, but why are you so glad in my case? MAY Well, in a free love both parties have to be satisfied with — well, handled goods. WALLOW May, I won't hear you speak like that about the girl I love. MAY What are you going to do about it? Close your ears to the truth. You are worldly. WALLOW Sis..- (ju'sit what do you meian by handled goods ? MAY Did you ever go into that cheap department store across the street from the big one ? When you go in you will see the goods laying in the open. Xot protected as they are in glass cases In the big stores, to be shown only when -some one is really interested to buy. Every one 72 OPEN LOVE that comes in the cheap store, looks the goods over, feels the material, some even try them on; then after the goods have been handled they become shabby and worn, the price is mark- ed down and called "Handled Goods." WALLOW You mean that Miriam has had an affair ? MAY Why not? Only the outside world would accuse her, but as a Populator that does not matter. WALLOW But it does matter to me. Do you think I want my children. . . . MAY {continuing his speech) Who by the way will be-well you know what (She pauses) Besides brother dear, you are going to give your children over to the govern- ment to make a strong nation. WALLOW Yes, I know, but still, still I want her to be mine, mine alone. MAY Now see here Wallow, you can't do that with me. You must be one way or the other. You can't take advantage of this club's liberal views OPEN LOVE 73 and have outside views too. It must be all one way, no half and half. WALLOW But she never told me. MAY Wallow you must decide now. If you are my way, the way of honest people, you must leave her or forgive and marry. WALLOW I can't forgive, I can't, (Stops and thinks) Still you are right, She's simply done what I myself preached. I see it all now. Good God, and I tried to drive you to this, I was mad. MAY You was, brother. WALLOW (goes down on his knees before his sister) Forgive me, sister dear, for nearly driving you> my own, to that terrible break, what a cad I am. MAY (helping him up) Xo Wallow dear, if you raise a man on a desert island and tell him right is wrong, wrong will be right to him. and he is correct as you are taught so you will teach. 74 OPEN LOVE WALLOW Still you were taught the same things, and yet you rose above them. MAY I have the advantage of being a woman and have a woman's instinct. Will you forgive her ? WALLOW All my hope and the pride that love brings is lost, still I must think. MAY The natural man instinct is bitter toward this I know. Wallow you are just ordinary, you can't rise above them. WALLOW I'm trying I'm trying, but I'm afraid I can't* (Etyiter Marie, SWeet, Low den* Heine* Derrick, Anna, Miriam. As they enter they solemnly take their places. After they are all- seated, Anna rises-) ARISTA Wallow, we have just come from the meeting room where we came to a final decision. We have waited 20 years for this day. The day we would think you capable of OPEN LOVE 75 representing us. We have grown old, time has been cruel and yet kind. For we who started .this experiment are all together except brother JBeckman who passed away not fearing death, but praying that he might see the end of the experiment. An experiment that cannot be hurried by money or labor. We feel we have been fortunate in having you and your sister. Your sister revolts, and will not speak. We place our faith in your hands. What have you to say? WALLOW (rising and addressing Hi em) My sister and I were placed amongst you, not by our own will but by our parents. It is for them that I remain true. LOWDEJST Wallow, what has come over you ? MAY Just the truth. My sister saved hirself fighting all of you. I will speak with my best knowledge for your club, not because of the money spent, but for the time and my parents, whom the world treated cruelly. MAKHE (pleadingly) Doirt fail us Wallow* I can't wait for -another child. 76 OPEN LOVE ANNA (pounding on the table) Silence. It is too bad that vou feel like that. After you think carefully, you will continue with our ideals. I understand you're in love with Miriam. She is yours and I hope that love will express itself and help your voice to ring with true vim. WALLOW I won't take her until I have thought it all over. I will forgive Miriam, but it will take time. MIRIAM (to him) Wallow, forgive, forgive what? WALLOW It's not your fault. It was only as I myself preached, and I wanted to inflict on May. MIEIAM May has told you ? WALLOW Yes everything. MIRIAM And you like all the others outside, con- demn me and I thought you so different, but you are all alike. OPEN LOVE ' 77 lWALLOIW [slowly) I am. Oh I'll try to live it down, but its so. hard. MAY One moment, I think I can explain .. Miriam you left your case in my hands. I told Wallow you've had an affair before, not the other (turning to Wallow) Wallow, everything- I told ycu is a lie. She's a clean, fine girl, one of the best. WALLOW Bur Sis, why, why did you lie? MAY To open your eyes that words are simply shells and break unless filled with deeds, Miriam loves you and she's a true woman, you know what I mean. WALLOW (to Miriam) Miriam can you ever forgive me? MIEIAM For being a real man \ I should say I can. I want you to b? just a little jealous of me. #$ OPEN LOVE WALLOW Miriam. Miriam. What lias been removed. Sister is right. (Embraced) (Turns to all) Mi- riam is going to be my wife. ANNA You know the rules we have here. I forbid your marriage. WALLOW All right, if you forbid it, I'll do it anyway. I'll speak on one condition. ANNA What do you mean? WALLOW Simply this, I make the speech omitting the free love, and I must be allowed to marry Miriam. • MARIE Like father? like son, like mother like daughter. ANNA Silence, we won't allow it, you are ours. OPEN LOVJE 7$, WALLOW Very well, you defy me. I defy you I won't speak and you can wait another 20' years for another kid, and by that time you'll all be with the devil who won't need vou to convince him, (Arnica pounding with the'-, gavel) ANNA Silence. WALLOW Silence very well, is that your decision? Shall I be silent or shall I speak and marry Miriam \ LOWDEN (to Anna) You must give in to him. MARIE Hurry, hurry, I'm getting older every minute. ANNA (speaks after a pause) You shall speak. WALLOW Very well, come .Miriam and Sis> we've got a lot to do. (Exit Miriam May and Wallow) 30 OPEN LOVE DERRICK What do you think of that? LOWDEN When will, we aptis'ts stop making the terrible mistake of not studying human nature. But we figured everything, We thought of al'l the little things that would bring them to our views, we overlooked nothing. LOWDEN" We overlooked nothing that is true, but -as all people do, we forget the greatest of the great. We forget to count on stupid love. OPEN LOVE 81 PART FOUR The big table is all set ready for the wedding feast. Marie is fixing the last of the things when Lowden enters with a big bowl of of pnnch. • LOWDEN Tliere, I guess the wedding feast is all complete. Have you got the crackers ? MARIE Thev're here. at LOWDEN This is not devoid of humor. Here I am secretary of the free love advocates, prepar- ing a wedding dinner. MARIE I always liked weddings. They're so ro- mantic and spiritual. LOWDEN Spiritual, ha, you haven't seen many weddings. As much ais I believe in marriage I must confess the average wedding is a farce. MARIE In what way. ? 82 OPEN LOVE LOWDEN Every way, the man looks as if he was being led to the grave. Alan is never so awk- ward as\vhen he's being married. He may have been the worst bounder, but he leads the sweet thing up to the alter with the grace of a saint. And she looks like an angel as pure as the day she was born, ait any nate we'll say 99 percent. Then comes the wailing of her people who thank God she has hooked some- body before they weire bankrupt. Its al'l a set tiling like a theatrical performance even the rehearsals. MARIE Think of the romantic wedding night? LOWDEX And the awful morning sights. MARIE You men you have nest enough imagination. LOWDE^ Perhaps that is why the women are wearing less. (Enter Derrick and Sweet). DERRICK This is a new one on us. OPEN LOVE 83 RALPH SWEET Don't you think we should tell Wallow I'm his grandfather. LOWDEX I will tell him the night of his speech, they have promised to wait. DERRICK If we had many more of your family here the club would be ruined. LOWDE'X Yes your family shows a disgracing amount of respectability. They all want to get married. RALPH SWEET But I even the scale. LOWDEX I'll never forget 20 years ago when Wilke said tihey were going to get married. How happy you were, you rushed out — we thought the club would c ee you no more, but in a week vou were back. m DERRICK Sweet doesn't can- who sits on the tack as lonsc as its not in his chair, 84 OPEN LOVE RALPH SWEET Well, after they were married they shipped off, where was I to go, all my friends were here so I came back. LOWDEN Funny -they never wrote where they were. One day Wallow was delivered to us, and then May. But that's all. RALPH SWEET It nearly broke my heart when I didn't hear from them, but I think they heard I had gone back to the club and sort of disowned me. MARIE Did Wallow say where they were going to spend their honeymoon ! Niagara Falls, I suppose. LOWDEN I hope not, why after you've seen the Falls and the Rapids there's no place to go. At nine o'clock the town is dead, you might as well go to bed. DERRICK Now for the first time I understand why couples go to Niagara Falls. OPEN LOVE ^ 85 MARIE You Italians are always looking at things in a double way.. DERRICK And why not, is not love double ? RALPH SWEET You have a wir. , LOWDEtf A very beautiful conversation for wedding* guests. {Enter Walloiv) WALLOW I've come to ask you as ladies and gentle- men to please go through this ceremony with frespect even if you have to act, for Miriam if not for me. LOWDEN You can trust us we are gentlemen at any rate. MARIE Simply because we chose to think our way it doesn't say we can't act correctly. RALPH SWEET Wallow, my boy, I wish you the best of luck. gg OPEN LOVE WALLOW Thank you, when the Alderman comes will you receive him? LOWDEK Certainly. MARIE (As Wallow moves toward door.) You have my best wishes. WALLOW Thanks MARIE Even if you are disgracing us. DERRICK My friend, Women are like a stage, only beautiful when dressed by scenery, but when that is gone and only the bare walls remain, then your illusions go. Dear man, you'll cry curtain. WALLOW But the memory of the ®et that was once there, will never go. LOWHEN Come, come Derrick, none of your §atire today. OPEN LOVE 37 WALLOW And you call yourselves artist's. Why your pictures have no souls, only cheap senti- ment. DERRICK That is the public's fault* not mine. I paint a beautiful picture of a young girl, she stands like this, nude, looking out to sea. I called it ''Love waiting for her mate." You think I sell. — No, no. One man he offer me $25. What I do, I paint on her what you call a little shimmy* and call it st important. I think that man's outward appearance is like a store that has a fine show window. It attracts but the inside must live up to the outside, or it is a failure. MARIE I have acted now that I look back upon it all, like a fool, it was only hollow foolish ness to keep myself from thinking of what I might have had. LOWDEIST I might have had, too. After all, Marie we ourselves were to blame, not the world. It was there. If we chose the path that lead to the desert instead of the green fields and hills, we should have retraced our steps. OPEN LOVE 103 MARIE But we didn't. We camped on the desert, suffering its heats instead of going back and starting anew. And now — LOWDEN I wonder if we're too old, too used to the desert to go back and start anew? MARIE I am going to try it. Oh it may be a long journey, but if I get to the hills just before death, I will be satisfied. LOWDEST I have not the courage, it's a long long road for a lone traveler. MARIE Just the same, I am going to go it. LOWDEN Ideals. Ideals. Now our lives have run parallel like two tracks. Since we're both going the same direction, couldn't we switch, sort of go back the road together? MARIE Lowden, I don't say I love you, but I think it will come because you was the one to awaken me. • 104 OPEN LOVE LOWDEIST Will you marry me? MARIE But the club? LOWDEIST Bosk, we will leave it with the rest of the desert. MA11IE Cupid has followed 1 us and his aim was true. LOWDEN" I'm going insido barbed wire with the rest and I'm the happiest prisoner old King Cupid ever captured, and we 'shall make our trip to the hills, the hills and trees I thought I wa3 only to idream about, while I slept on desert sands. OPEN LOVE ^05 PART SIX Lowden and Sweet are discovered. ; LOWDEN Here we are again, just as we were twenty long years ago. RALPH SWEET And as I felt then, I looked forward to this day, sacrificed a lot, and now (he pauses) LOWDEN Tie t a rill is not as we hoped. Still I must say, Wallow ought to make a deep impression. RALPH SWEET Everything is changed since the last trial. LOWDEN Except us. We are of the thick-headed type. That is why Sweet, I want to tell you some thing, so that if we should not have success, you will not think me a quitter. RALPH SWEET What do ycu mean, my dear Lowden? j ! [j -.:: — WT , -- -- . - -- ■ - ■ ■ ■ ---.-.--..-_.. _ - - ---■ ■ _. JOB i OPEN LOVE ' LOWDEN" Tihis. (hands him paper) It is my resigna- tion. RALPH SWEET No. You can't mean it. LOWDEN" I do, I've had! all I want of a foolish, ridicu- lous idea. This club might have succeeded in the Spartan day's, or even twenty-five years ago in our country. But now, why its like a cannibal with a spear, throwing it at the new railroad engine, hoping to stop the advance of civilization. The best he could do would be to make a bit of noise. I hand it to you now, to show I am sticking against my will to the end, as I promised and that I will leave no matter how it comes out. You will do this for me?" RALPH SWEET Yes Lowden, you have struck home to me. I know that sounds peculiar, but I had such pride in my daughter. God knows what has become of her. But I still have my grand- children, and I refuse to treat them as units. It's not right, I tell you. Why I have seen OPEN LOVE 107 Wallow and May, who I know are my own flesh and blood, and yet I have not spoken. LOWDEIST Why? EALPH SWEET I don't know. It's this club. It gets you like a drug. Try as you may to get away from it, it always draws you back, as a light does a moth. None of us have the strength to resist, and I hope you succeed. LOWDEN I will. I have stayed only because the experiment interested me. KALPH SWEET Yes, I think that is what has held us all, the idea that if the club succeeded, we would be famous as its head. LOWDEN But that day will never come. Now be pre- pared for another shock. I'm going to marry Marie. EALPH SWEET Oh, Marie? Lowden you are joking. 108 OPEN LOVE LOWDEN No I'm not. Oh, I'm not getting a beautiful woman I know. But then I myself, am not a prize. A man never thinks that he might not be liked by the ladies. EALPH SWEET That's true. The homeliest man is always the worst flirt. LOWDEN But Marie and I have lived our lives foolishly, nuw we ishall try to get a bit that was meant for us. RALPH SWEET I know, as a Populator, I should not show feeling to another member, but just the same, I congratulate you. {they shake hands) LOWDEN (looking at watch) It's getting late. Time we should get news. RALPH SWEET Anna and the rest will rave over your resignation. LOWDEN That doesn't bother me. They are to me like an ant trying to tumble Gibraltar. The OPEN LOVE log world is a bad place, and lots of things in it are wrong, but after all there's a lot of good left. EALPH SWEET How long is Wallow going to speak? LOWDEN I don't know. He has not hinted at how long he was going to talk, and I have not asked him. I didn't want to let him know that I was not in strict accord. EALPH SWEET It must be all over by now. Was May going to speak? LOWDEK No she refused. I must admire her pluck. She saw more of the truth than any of us. Ot cause it was her womanly instinct, but still the others failed to understand. ( Enter Derrick Center) DERRICK It is all over. Wallow has spoken. LOWDEN Well, what's the news? HO OPEN LOVE DERRICK You must not ask me. You must wait for our president. She is the one to tell you. RALPH SWEET i But you can tell us just a bit, We're both on edge. DERRICK (sitting down) It will be told in official channels, as soon as the meeting has begun. LOWDEN That's why the Germans lost the war. There's a real reason. Too strict a discipline, and not near enough to the emotion of life. RALPH SWEET Perhaps you can tell us this. Did Wallow speak? DERRICK Yes, he did. RALPH SWEET Was he good ? DERRICK You know Wallow's merits better than I do. OPEN LOVE HI LOWDETST - Til choke it out of you. How can you keep silent when you have news, we are just aching to hear, DERRICK Duty and discipline, our rules, have been getting altogether too easy. We are all viola- ting our oath to the club. LOWDEN Damn the club. DERRICK You damn the sacred. You mu&t apolo- gize. LOWDEN" Apologize nothing. I said damn the club and its people, people who want to stifle every emotion that means life. And you call it duty to country. DERRICK You forget you are one of us. 112 OPEN LOVE LOWDEN That is what I would like to forget. Enter Anna, Miriam, Marie, Mr. Heinz (a new member) They all take their places at the table. When they are seated Anna rises. ANNA The committee is now all here. You are all in your proper places. Now I will read the charter. LOWDEN Can't you omit that? I have heard it a million times. I know it backwards. ANNA It is the law of this club. Lowden you ,^re getting unruly. I shall read it. Silence. LOWDEN {rising) I propose that we abolish reading the charter before every meeting. KALPH SWEET I second the motion. All those in favor say aye. {All say aye except Derrick and Anna.) The ayes have it. OPEN LOVE 115 ARISTA That was a very clever move Lowden, but it is your right, RALPH SWEET And now for the news. What is it? ANNA Failure again. LOWDEN No. ANNA Worse than before. LOWDEN Thats too bad. Was Wallow so bad? MAHIE. Wallow was brilliant. ANNA Silence. Wallow was all right. In fact he spoke very well, just as we planned. At times he did seem a little false to me, but on the whole he left the audience impressed and sur- prised. RALPH SWEET Then why call it failure? 114 . OPEN LOVE MARIE. Well you see. . . . ANNA Silence. Raise your hand when you want to speak, (to Lowden) It is a blow, one that we did not count on, one that makes our years of toil and struggle useless and puts u& back to where we started from, The last time we did not impress. This time they were impress- ed against usi LOWDEN Tell me. Please explain. I am not a mind reader. MARIE. Can't I tell? ANNA No. As president, it is my duty to impart information to members. LOWDEN I don't care who tells me, but I want to know. (Enter Wallow — center) WALLOW I'll tell you. OPEN LOVE gjj AOTSTA Wallow, how dare you come in at a meet- ing. Leave at once. WALLOW Meeting or no meeting, I'm going to tel] him. The importance of these meetings are what has spoiled my youth and kept me from the light. LOWDEN Let him speak, it is his right. ANNA Very well. It is an honor, Wallow, you alone have received. WALLOW You notice my chest goes in with pride. Here's the way it was. Lowden, my friend, I spoke with all my best self, as I had it pump ed into me since childhood. I twisted words upon words until I felt it in the atmosphere that I had impressed them and they were mine. Then I told our doctrine, how it would help the country, appeal to the little, their fathers had left them, and when I finished I was ap- plauded. The house rang with cheers and my success was assured. Then suddenly there came a silence. The cheers died away like thunder 116 OPEN LOVE rolling over the hills. Then it became deadly like the air before a big storm. A young girl dressed in white, with golden curls, was stand- ing in the stage box, waving to the crowd. What a picture. She seemed to me like life itself as you see it represented by artists. Her face was fair, with flashing eyes, that riveted your attention. You were forced to look in spite of yourself. Then she spoke in a musical tone that fell on the ears of her audience like an organ in the distance on a June night. She told them not to be swayed by my words ; that they were empty. She ispoke of love in its purity, of mothe/r love, of all it meant, and then of war. She told of the sufferings our mad fathers brought on the world (and on themselves, of thousands slaughtered in a shameful death, and of millions tortured to live a life of handicap and pain. She stood there speaking so softly and yet so clearly that it seemed like a dream. Then she turned toward me, and I caught her eyes. They were aglow. I couldn't look straight at them, and yet I had to, for they followed my gaze. She asked me to answer to what she said. I opened my mouth to speak but I could not, for I was dazed and surprised Those