War Brides: A Play in One Act | Page 7

Well, you are a foolish girl. As for you
[Turning to Hedwig, and eyeing her critically and severely], I hear
pretty bad things. Yes, you have been talking to the women--telling
them not to marry, not to multiply. In so doing you are working directly
against the Government. It is the express request and command that our
soldiers about to be called to the front and our young women should
marry. You deliberately set yourself in opposition to that command.
Are you aware that that is treason?
Hedwig:
Why are they asking this, Herr Captain?
Hertz:
Our statesmen are wise. They are thinking of the future state. The
nation is fast being depopulated. We must take precautionary measures.
We must have men for the future. I warn you, that to do or say anything
which subverts the plan of the empire for its own welfare, especially at
a time when our national existence is in peril--well, it is treason. Were

it not that you are the daughter-in-law of my old friend [Indicating the
Mother], I should not take the trouble to warn you, but pack you off to
jail at once. Not another word from you, you understand?
Hedwig: [Calmly, even sweetly, but with fire in her eye.]
If I say I will keep quiet, will you promise me something in return?
Hertz:
What do you mean? Quiet? Of course you'll keep quiet. Quiet as a
tombstone, if I have anything to say about it.
Hedwig: [Calm and tense.]
I mean what I say. Promise to see to it that if we bear you the men for
your nation, there shall be no more war. See to it that they shall not go
forth to murder and be murdered. That is fair. We will do our part,--we
always have,--will you do yours? Promise.
Hertz:
I--I--ridiculous! There will always be war.
Hedwig:
Then one day we will stop giving you men. Look at mother. Four sons
torn from her in one month, and none of you ever asked her if she
wanted war. You keep us here helpless. We don't want dreadnoughts
and armies and fighting, we women. You tear our husbands, our sons,
from us,--you never ask us to help you find a better way,--and haven't
we anything to say?
Hertz:
No. War is man's business.
Hedwig:

Who gives you the men? We women. We bear and rear and agonize.
Well, if we are fit for that, we are fit to have a voice in the fate of the
men we bear. If we can bring forth the men for the nation, we can sit
with you in your councils and shape the destiny of the nation, and say
whether it is to war or peace we give the sons we bear.
Hertz: [Chuckling.]
Sit in the councils? That would be a joke. I see. Mother, she's a
little--[Touches his forehead suggestively.] Sit in the councils with the
men and shape the destiny of the nation! Ha! ha!
Hedwig:
Laugh, Herr Captain, but the day will come; and then there will be no
more war. No, you will not always keep us here, dumb, silent drudges.
We will find a way.
Hertz: [Turning to the mother.]
That is what comes of letting Franz go to a factory town, Maria. That is
where he met this girl. Factory towns breed these ideas. [To Hedwig.]
Well, we'll have none of that here. [Authoritatively.] Another word of
this kind of insurrection, another word to the women of your treason,
and you will be locked up and take your just punishment. You
remember I had to look out for you in the beginning when you talked
against this war. You're a firebrand, and you know how we handle the
like of you. [Goes to door, turns to the mother.] I am sorry you have to
have this trouble, Maria, on top of everything else. You don't deserve it.
[To Hedwig.] You have been warned. Look out for yourself.
[_Hedwig is standing rigid, with difficulty repressing the torrent of her
feelings. Drums are heard coming nearer, and singing voices of men._]
Amelia: [At door.]
They are passing this way.

Hedwig:
Wave to Arno. Come, Mother. Ah, how quickly they go!
[_The official steps out of the door. There is quick rhythm of marching
feet as the departing regiment passes not very far from the house._]
There he is! Wave, Mother. Good-by! good-by!
[_The women stand in the doorway, waving their sad farewells, smiling
bravely. The sounds grow less and less, until there is the usual
silence._]
In another month, in another week, perhaps, all the men will be gone.
We will be a village of women. Not a man left.
[She leads the old mother into the house once more.]
Hertz: [In the door.]
What did you say?