H. L. Mencken and George Jean Nathan for many years have sung praises of the Moral in the Smart Set.  But its production on the English speaking stage still remains an event eagerly to be awaited.  Briefly, the play is a polemic against the “men higher up,” churchmen, reformers, and social hypocrites.

The translation follows the text implicitly.  Four different versions were made all varying in a degree from the original, and although Dr. Thoma wrote to the writer “bin auch damit einverstanden dass Sie in der Ubersetzung meines Schauspieles ‘Moral’ etwaige Aenderungen oder Adaptiereungen, die durch die englisch-amerikanischen Verhaltnisse und den Geschmack des amerikanischen Theatrepublikums geboten erscheinen, in entsprechender Weise vornehmen ...” it was deemed best for purposes of publication to try to preserve the original atmosphere without an attempt to even transpose such phrases as Gnadige Frau, or Herr Kommerzienrat.

Charles Recht.

New York, October, 1916.

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

     Fritz Beermann, a wealthy landowner and banker.

     Lena Beermann, his wife.

     Effie Beermann, their daughter.

     Kommerzienrat Adolph Bolland, capitalist and manufacturer

     Clara Bolland, his wife.

     Dr. Hauser, an ex-judge.

     Frau Lund, an old lady.

     Hans Jacob Dobler, a poet.

     Fraulein Koch-Pinneberg, an artiste.

     Privatdozent Dr. Wasner, a gymnasium professor.

     Freiherr von Simbach, the Police Commissioner of the Duchy.

     Assessor Oscar Stroebel, a police official.

     Madame Ninon de Hauteville, a lady of leisure.

     Freiherr general BOTHO von Schmettau, also known as Zurnberg,
     A Gentleman-in-waiting and Adjutant to His Highness, the
     Duke.

     Joseph Reisacher, a clerk of the Police Department.

     Betty, a maid at Beersmann’s.

     Two man-servants and a policeman.

THE PRESUMPTION

The esteemed, sensitive public will assume that the action takes place in Emilsburg, the capital of the Duchy of Gerlestein.  The first and third acts occur in the house of Herr Fritz Beermann; the second act, in the Police Headquarters.  It all happens between Sunday afternoon and Monday evening.

To be free from blame, the producers will please note that: 

Beermann is in the fifties; jovial; lively; with gray side-whiskers and chin carefully shaved.

Frau Beermann is in the late forties, though youthful looking for her age.

Frau Lund. sixty-eight; a woman of impressive appearance; her manner is energetic; her mass of white hair is carefully coiffured.

Frau Bolland. about forty-five; stout; talkative.