Damaged Goods | Page 4

nature of the performance, the sacredness of the play, and the
character of the audience gave to the play the significance of a tremendous sermon in
behalf of mankind, and that as such it was eminently fitting that a divine blessing be
invoked. Dr. Earle Wilfley, pastor of the Vermont Avenue Christian Church, asked all

persons in the audience to bow their heads in a prayer for the proper reception of the
message to be presented from the stage. Dr. MacLeod then read the Bernard Shaw
preface to the play, and asked that there be no applause during the performance, a
suggestion which was rigidly followed, thus adding greatly to the effectiveness and the
seriousness of the dramatic portrayal.
The impression made upon the audience by the remarkable play is reflected in such
comments as the following expressions voiced after the performance:
RABBI SIMON, OF THE WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION--If I could
preach from my pulpit a sermon one tenth as powerful, as convincing, as far-reaching,
and as helpful as this performance of DAMAGED GOODS must be, I would consider
that I had achieved the triumph of my life.
COMMISSIONER CUNO H. RUDOLPH--I was deeply impressed by what I saw, and I
think that the drama should be repeated in every city, a matinee one day for father and
son and the next day for mother and daughter.
REV. EARLE WILFLEY--I am confirmed in the opinion that we must take up our
cudgels in a crusade against the modern problems brought to the fore by DAMAGED
GOODS. The report that these diseases are increasing is enough to make us get busy on a
campaign against them.
SURGEON GENERAL BLUE--It was a most striking and telling lesson. For years we
have been fighting these condition in the navy. It is high time that civilians awakened to
the dangers surrounding them and crusaded against them in a proper manner.
MRS. ARCHIBALD HOPKINS--The play was a powerful presentation of a very
important question and was handled in a most admirable manner. The drama is a fine
entering wedge for this crusade and is bound to do considerable good in conveying
information of a very serious nature.
MINISTER PEZET, OF PERU--There can be no doubt but that the performance will
have great uplifting power, and accomplish the good for which it was created.
Fortunately, we do not have the prudery in South America that you of the north possess,
and have open minds to consider these serious questions.
JUSTICE DANIEL THEW WRIGHT--I feel quite sure that DAMAGED GOODS will
have considerable effect in educating the people of the nature of the danger that
surrounds them.
SENATOR KERN, OF INDIANA--There can be no denial of the fact that it is time to
look at the serious problems presented in the play with an open mind.
Brieux has been hailed by Bernard Shaw as "incomparably the greatest writer France has
produced since Moliere," and perhaps no writer ever wielded his pen more earnestly in
the service of the race. To quote from an article by Edwin E. Slosson in the
INDEPENDENT:
Brieux is not one who believes that social evils are to be cured by laws and yet more laws.
He believes that most of the trouble is caused by ignorance and urges education, public
enlightenment and franker recognition of existing conditions. All this may be needed, but
still we may well doubt its effectiveness as a remedy. The drunken Helot argument is not
a strong one, and those who lead a vicious life know more about its risks than any teacher
or preacher could tell them. Brieux also urges the requirement of health certificates for
marriage, such as many clergymen now insist upon and which doubtless will be made
compulsory before long in many of our States.

Brieux paints in black colors yet is no fanatic; in fact, he will be criticised by many as
being too tolerant of human weakness. The conditions of society and the moral standards
of France are so different from those of America that his point of view and his proposals
for reform will not meet with general acceptance, but it is encouraging to find a dramatist
who realizes the importance of being earnest and who uses his art in defense of virtue
instead of its destruction.
Other comments follow, showing the great interest manifested in the play and the belief
in the highest seriousness of its purpose:
There is no uncleanness in facts. The uncleanness is in the glamour, in the secret
imagination. It is in hints, half-truths, and suggestions the threat to life lies.
This play puts the horrible truth in so living a way, with such clean, artistic force, that the
mind is impressed as it could possibly be impressed in no other manner.
Best of all, it is the