Life, 1927-08-11 · page 12 of 36
Life — August 11, 1927 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a theatrical play script titled "Virtue Rewarded — A Moral Drama of Modern Times," presented as a "Clean Comedies for Church and School" offering. The play satirizes class conflict and moral hypocrisy. Characters include Clarinda (a poor shopgirl), Jasper Bloodmore (a rich film magnate), John Limestone (a noble floorcaller), and a Store owner. The plot mocks how wealth and status supposedly determine virtue: Bloodmore offers Clarinda riches and stardom in exchange for becoming his mistress, while the poor but honest Limestone offers genuine love. The satire targets materialistic values in early cinema culture and suggests that "virtue" means resisting sexual coercion despite economic desperation. The script's inclusion in a church-endorsed comedy collection ironically highlights moral anxieties about modern entertainment and temptation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CLEAN COMEDIES FOR CHURCH% SCHOOL Virtue Rewarded 2 « « » A Moral Drama of Modern Times CHARACTERS T am silent forever. T wish to star Cuamixpa: TF have. And so I can- CLaninpa.... A poor shopgirt you in’ my motion pictures. You — not sell my heart for precious metal. Jiseen Broopmons ‘ have beauty. Broopmore: And shall 1 then I rich film magnate Crauxpa: Beauty is but’ skin- leave your presence abashed and Joux Livestons . deep. silent? 1 noble floorwalker Joux Livestone (cho has been Craninpa: Yes, and quit this roof . eavesdropping); Well spoken, Cla- forever. (Turning to. Livestone.) Scexez 1 mammoth store. Cla- sinda, What is beauty, indeed? [tis John, do you love me? rinda is discovered behind a counter. Wyedly decent. Honor is much more, Lavestoxe: Ido. 1 shall declare CEARENDA: Ah, it is hard ine CuMunos (to Lirestone): Thank myself. L indeed love you deed to earn an honest crust of John. (Turning to Bloodmore.) “Champa: And shall we soon be bread with my bare hands. Look ut your offer, air. Will you give joined in holy wedlock now at these proud ladies of wealth ye gold? Livestone: Yes, you shall become who purchase trifles at my counter, Bioopmore: Yes, untold wealth. my beloved spouse. Noblesse oblige How arrogant they are, how And Lwilldeck your body with jewels Bioopmonr (with a whimsical haughty. Had T but one hundredth part of what they fling to the four Crarinpa: But to be a star of — teink : Perhaps the time is: pro- stage and sercen, Never! Oh, the — pitior to tell you of my little decep | winds I should be rich indeed. (She shame of it! Keep your gold, Jas-— tion. ‘This has all been no more than sighs deeply.) . per Bloodmore. Rather would | be a test. Tam not Jasper Bloodmor: Broopmone (entering the shop): content with the mere pittance which — the motion picture magnate! How now, my pretty one? Good | carn here and with these miserable Livestoxn: Then, by the Eternal, day to you. rags which now cover me. Livestoxe: Well spo who are you? 0 » Ss Chaninpa: Sir. n again, Bioopwone: Tam... \ Broopmone: Are you insulted? Clarinda: Rags are roval raiment (ite takes from Ine packet a curly Craninva: Tam. How dare you when worn for virtue’s sake.* gray wig and a pair of steel-rimmed | yresumne touaddresy me: thus. Craminva (softly): Thank you, spectacles and puts them on.) } Broopmone: T thought so. And john. Cuantypa: Father! | I suppose you will not listen further Bioopmore (ashamed): Now I Buoopmonr: Yes, it is indeed I \/ to such language. understand. You have won the pure You are proven trae as steel, Cla | a aainan ane fight. Hwillnot. Jove of a noble young man. rinda, and I withdraw from your fair LOODMORE: t suffer me te af ‘om yor | wae fino cae and “Shakespeare. ‘Merchant of Venice.” Act head that curse inflicted in a moment speak, Clarinda. A few words and ytit seeks of wrath whereby you were deprived of your rightful share of the estate I had amassed through years of hon est toil and patient labor. You have well learned the lesson of poverty, re and so has this worthy young man God bless you, my children, and will you do me the favor to accept this packet of bank notes amounting, in all, to five hundred thousand dollars or some such sum? ere NY Curtain. W. W. Scott. Benighted Souls IRST THEORIST: So many people are unhappily married. Secono Tirorist: Yes, and the pity of it is, so many of them do not know it! — “low Now, MY vRETTY ONE? GooD DAY To you.” comicbooks.com