New-York tribune., 1915-01-04
Richard Bennett Picks Out the "Demi- Verge
Modern Americas Worst Epil as Theme
for Brieux'S Next Play
This FaSt-Spreading Social Sore Is in
Crying Need of Excoriatory Medicine
Mr.. Bennett StartIngly Announces.

married woman, past her first youth,
is grateful for the attention"
To Exclude Unappreciative Public.
Brieux who has come TO New York 20
superintend the final rehearsals of his
play. Maternity" is eager TO see how
American audiences will accept it.
81 feel that the public would oppose
it at first, Just as it attacked Dam
aged Goods" said Mr.. Bennett. "That
is why / am bringing it out before a
picked audience. There are more than
five thousand members Of the 'Pur-
pose Play Association and each one is
standing back Of me in my production
of these plays. Maternity which
makes its first appearance January Z,
has aroused great interest among the
women members. OF course, It is a
play for women, and hope that they
will do something to remedy the evils
it portrays. Men have been going on
for several thousand years without do
ing anything to prevent them; it is
certainly time the women took action"
Womsn's Right TO Motherhood Dis
cussed.
The play presents on one hand the
woman who, through the tyranny of
her husband is denied the right to be-
come a mother; and on the other, the
woman who, through the tyranny Of
her husband, is compelled TO bring into
the world diseased and degenerate
children. There is also the wife OF
the laboring man who is afraid TO
"set another child at the table round
which those she had already borne
were starving because there was not
enough food for them" In painful
frankness and pitiless portrayal Of
conditions this play rivals Damaged
Goods"
"To give birth to a child that Is
likely to be an invalid or incapable of
growing up is like crippling some one"
pleads one of the mothers. at Is as
much crime as robbery or murder.
Every child borne into this world has
a right to demand Of its parents It's
rightful heritage Of health, mental and
physical"
The midwife, accused Of abortion,
f1ings at the judge, "'Tis from the
rich and influential that l derive my
big fees. | want TO tell you, your
honor, that you can't hold me and my
ilk responsible for the great preva-
lence OF abortion that exists. II is
the selfish and unnatural conditions
established by society that has created
a demand for US and made our trade
possible. Let society remove the con-
ditions and we will disappear as any
other unnatural wrong when adjusted
disappears"
And of little Annette, who died that
her illegitimate child might not be
born, humane counsel says:
A Plea for Unmarried Mothers.
"The guilt is at the door of our code
Of morals that brands the unmarried
mother. Every woman with child
ought to be respected in whatever cir
cumstances her child has come into
being. look forward to that hour Of
freedom when the storehouse OF sci
ence shall give to every one the means
without the proclamation of love TO have
none but the children he wants"
Then finally an old mother rises up
in great fury and shouts:
"What's the use Of talkins7 The
men haven't thought Of changing It,
Well then, we must do it, we women!
we must strike! We-the mothers!
The great strike-the strike of moth
ers!"
The first performances Of "Materni-
ty" will be matinees for women only.
az believe that II Is essentially a
woman's play" Mr.. Bennett explained,
81 know that many women prefer to
come TO a drama Of this kind when
they are sure there will be no man TO
turn and look at them TO see how GER
tain speeches will affect them. Many
women prefer to bring their daughters