Moral | Page 8

don't seem to take anything seriously to-day.
FRAU LUND. Very seriously; this young man perhaps does reach the
stage where he sincerely pities your so-called abominable creature.
Then he has really advanced in his morality. Let the pity impress itself
deeply upon him and your abominable creature has preached better to
him than all your high-sounding phrases.
BOLLAND. I am simply dumbfounded.
DR. WASNER. Then you even believe that our society exerts a bad
influence?
FRAU LUND [very positively]. Yes.
BOLLAND [with irony]. Fancy! University Professors, philanthropists
and a general who are with us in this work--they are, of course, the
ones who are likely to corrupt the morals of the younger generation.
Frau Lund, no doubt, would like to send our young men to the good
Ladies of the Pavement.
DR. WASNER. In what way is our influence bad?
FRAU LUND [with warmth]. The young man who joins your society
does it only to ape you and to advance his own ends and vainglory. He
forever deprives himself of understanding the meaning of life and of
becoming helpful to those who suffer.
BOLLAND. Well what do you think of such statements?
FRAU BEERMANN. They are splendid. I would be very thankful if
my boy would embody the ideals of Frau Lund.
BEERMANN. Lena, I simply forbid you to say such things.

FRAU BEERMANN. Really?
BEERMANN. Everybody knows that Frau Lund is a radical, but I don't
want you to fall into that habit.
FRAU BEERMANN. I don't acquire new habits as rapidly as you.
HAUSER [to Beermann]. Don't get excited. A politician must give
everyone an opportunity to express his views.
DR. WASNER. I teach young people and I heartily wish they'd
continue to seek their ideals among high minded men and not in the
dark city streets.
BOLLAND. Right! And not in the dark city streets.
FRAU LUND. Nor there, Herr Kommerzienrat, where the veil of
shame is rudely torn from inborn sensitiveness and it is shorn of every
secret charm.
DR. WASNER. Correct! We do want to deprive it of its charm.
FRAU LUND. You succeed in doing that; no tenderness can survive
the brutal frankness of your meetings.
DR. WASNER. It is not a national German trait to sugar-coat sin.
FRAU LUND. Why do you confound all lack of refinement with the
national character?
DR. WASNER. Because it is good German to call a spade a spade.
BEERMANN [getting up]. Why argue to no purpose? Let's start our
game of skat.
BOLLAND. Because it appears to be a conflict of two different
philosophies.
BEERMANN [rises, goes to card table, opens a drawer, takes out a
deck of cards and opens them]. It's always the same old story. Never
start anything with women! They must have the last word. [Sits down
at card table. Bolland gets up and sits beside him.]
FRAU LUND [laughing]. Spoken again like a typical reformer.
DR. WASNER [rising]. I don't want to continue this argument, but if
by any chance you have gained the impression that I regard this matter
from a prejudiced view point, I will cheerfully admit it. I do.
BEERMANN [calling]. Oh, do come on, Herr Professor.
DR. WASNER [turning to card table]. I'm coming. [To others.] I admit
with pride that I am prejudiced. For me there exists only one question:
How can I best serve my fatherland?
BOLLAND. Herr Professor!

DR. WASNER [turning to table]. Just a moment. ... [To others.] Let the
sturdy qualities of our people be conserved. That stand is unassailable.
Then I will be sure that my efforts have at least ...
BEERMANN [loudly]. But, my dear Wasner!
WASNER [not dismayed, continuing]. ... at least a national scope.
HAUSER. Wouldn't you rather play skat, professor?
WASNER [going over to card table]. There remains only one thing for
me to say. If I have used sharp words, I want to apologize. [Takes a
seat.]
BEERMANN. You deal, Professor.
DR. WASNER [shuffling the cards and talking at the same time]. For
me there exists but one ideal. That which Tacitus described as it once
prevailed among the old Teutons. Quamquam severa illic matrimonia
nec ullam morum partem magis laudaveris. [He lets Bolland cut and
then deals.] The most praiseworthy trait of the Teutons was the
strictness of their marriage customs. Nam prope soli Barbarorum
singulis uxoribus contenti sunt. They were almost the only barbarians
to content themselves with a single wife.
BEERMANN [loudly]. Tournee!
BOLLAND. I'll go you!
BEERMANN. Twenty!
BOLLAND. I'll better that!
BEERMANN. Take it! Gras-Solo!
[They play.]
[Hauser, Frau Lund, Frau Beermann remain sitting at right.]
FRAU LUND. At last the Fatherland is saved.
FRAU BEERMANN. It's the only occupation for which nature
intended them. They should not tinker with national problems.
HAUSER. Have patience. Political ambition dies out after the first
defeat.
FRAU