1 [scrolling title] FOREWORD ENVIRONMENT -- Surroundings, -- Childhood training and companions often is the deciding factor in our lives. -- It shapes our destinies and guides our ambitions. -- If early in life some knowing, lov- ing hand, lights the lamp of knowledge and with tender care keeps it burning, then our course will run true 'til the end of our useful time on this earth, but, if that lamp should fail through lack of tender care, through lack of loving hands to feed its hungry flame -- then will come sorrow and SHAME! 2 Just about the end of the luncheon hour at Mrs. Lucre- tia Green's select boarding house. 3 Alvin Hillyard, a young man of re- fined tastes, a lover of music and the finer things in life. ... Harry Henderson 4 Eddie Blake, a pro- duct of evil envi- ronment and whose music is not of the same school. ... Norman Johnstone 5 "That's the kind of music for me! The roll of a pair of well trained bones!" 6 Lucretia Green, who treats her guests with as much love and care as she would her children. .... Ann Kennedy 7 One half the world doesn't know how the other half lives. 8 Louise Howard, a Rose of Sharon, whose music was all discords. .... Lucia Lynn Moses 9 Day dreams. 10 "Spike" Howard, her step-father, who had his own ideas of life. .... William E. Pettus 11 "This is another instance of the injustices some of the women of our race are constantly subjected to, mainly through lack of knowledge of the higher aims in life." 12 "Please! -- Please! -- Don't send me back to him -- He'll kill me!" 13 "There, there, child! I won't let you go back to that brute. I guess I can manage to keep you here." 14 "Spike, I've warned you more than once, never to light matches around that cheap jump-steady you drink!" 15 "Naw! -- you got me wrong, -- I was com- in' around the corner and the trolley car --" 16 "Hot puppy! That trolley car sure swung a mean fist! -- Come on in, you look like you need a bracer!" 17 "You may occupy this room, honey, and in return you can help me around the house." 18 "That's Mr. Hillyard playing. -- Some day he will be the lead- ing composer of our race." 19 "Spike, how's that daugh- ter of your's? -- I ain't seen her in a couple of weeks, -- that baby is sure gettin' to be a swell looker!" 20 "Why don't you let her work for me 'stead of ruinin' her looks over a tub." 21 "I'll get her some glad rags, learn her to be an entertainer, you won't have to worry 'bout no miss-meal- cramps, and I'll make a lot of dough!" 22 That evening, just before the supper hour. 23 "What's Spike's daughter doin' here?" 24 "Where's old lady Green?" 25 "Come on out in the hall, I got somethin' to say to you, and I don't want that old dame buttin' in!" 26 "Aw, come on, -- I ain't gonna hurt you!" 27 "Lissen baby, you're just breakin' your old pappy's heart, you'd better go back to him --" 28 "I was just tryin' to get her back to her old pappy. You ain't got no right to keep her away from him!" 29 "I'm wise to you, big boy, you're just tryin' to make her your- self --!" 30 "You dirty dog! I'll teach you to have more re- spect for our women!" 31 "Get your things and leave my house im- mediately! I don't want your kind here!" 32 "I am sorry, Mrs. Green, to have been the cause of your losing a guest." 33 "Lay offa her, Eddie, I ain't treated her right, and all because of that lousy booze of yours, when I get full of that, I don't know what I'm doin'!" 34 "Oh why, why can't he leave me in peace -- if this keeps up -- I'll -- I'll -- kill myself!" 35 "He wouldn't molest you any longer -- if --" 36 "-- if -- you were -- my wife --" 37 "-- will -- you -- marry me?" 38 And so we turn the pages of the book of time until three months have passed. 39 "You let her marry that sap, and now you ex- pect me to be your licker ticket -- Go to Hell!" 40 "All right! I'll give you a drink, but from now on, you do what I tell you!" 41 "You're goin' to help me get the gal away from that simp, then we'll blow this dump, beat it for a live town, open a swell cabaret, and with her looks and my brains we'll clean up!" 42 "I'll drive to Morton and send the fake telegram, he'll beat it right for his mother, and it's ten to one he won't take her, and that's where we come in!" 43 The next morning, at Morton. 44 "Dear, I cannot take you with me, I've never told mother of our marriage." 45 "You don't understand -- Caste is one of the things mother is very determined about -- and you -- don't be- long to our set!" 46 "You go watch the house and let me know the minute he leaves." 47 "Poor little thing! You too had to be a vic- tim of caste!" 48 "The old lady always goes shoppin' about three o'clock, so Louise'll be alone in the house!" 49 "Mother! -- How is she?" 50 "Why, Mr. Alvin! -- She's out of town, visiting friends!" 51 "I've been tricked!" 52 "I'm not goin' through with this Eddie - she's better off where she is, than with a rat like you!" 53 "I'll go in the front -- you duck around the back, if she gets too tough I'll drag her down the fire escape!" 54 "Where you goin'?" 55 "Baby, -- my offer still holds good, give this dicty sap you're hooked up to, the air and come with me to a live town and we'll make some real money!" 56 "And where do I come in on this?" 57 "Fifty-fifty on the take!" 58 "Okay, boy friend -- but remember this is STRICTLY a business proposition, so don't start by getting familiar!" 59 "Hold still! -- The pair of you!" 60 Two years later. The Club Lido, rendez- vous of the smart set. 61 With a cozy gambling den, where stakes are high -- 62 -- and morals not so strict -- 63 -- presided over by -- 64 Eddie's many years of training in "the racket" makes these nightly pastimes of poker quite profitable. 65 Ralph Hathaway, a lawyer with strong political power - spon- sor and protector of the club. .... Lawrence Chenault 66 While in a place not quite so gay -- 67 Six months later, Alvin, posing under an as- sumed name, in a dis- tant city, aided by race ambition, has establish- ed himself in a lavishly appointed studio, as a teacher of music. 68 Alice Hathaway, his star pupil and very much in love with him. .... Pearl McCormack 69 The memory of his past and the know- ledge that he is an escaped convict keeps Alvin from speaking out his heart to this girl. 70 And so, Alvin, torn between his love for Alice and the memory of his past, is living a daily lie. 71 "It's for your father!" 72 "We're making a little 'Whoopee' to-night, so be sure and come down early!" 73 "I may be home late, so don't wait up for me." 74 The Whoopee Party at the Club Lido. 75 "A gentleman left this note and said that it is very urgent that Mr. Hathaway gets it at once!" 76 "Dear, you won't mind dropping in at the Club Lido on your way home and giving this to father?" 77 "You won't stay at that horrible club too long, will you, dear?" 78 "Louise, may I present Mr. Arthur Jones, my future son-in-law?" 79 "Well! Mr. Alvin Hillyard, so YOU are the para- gon of a son-in-law- to-be, we heard so much about!" 80 "Louise! -- Please! -- For God's sake --!" 81 "Have no fear MISTER JONES, -- I won't ex- pose you -- if you do as I say -- MY -- ex- husband!" 82 "Don't try to vamp him, Louise, remember, he is my future son-in- law!" 83 "Get rid of the old man and come back!" 84 "Louise! What you ask is impossible--!" 85 "Perhaps, you would rather go back to prison!" 86 "Very well, -- I'll come -- back!" 87 "Louise, this situation is unbearable, please let me go -- forget me!" 88 "No! I won't let you go! I love you, Alvin! -- I have always loved you, and now I am going to hold you!" 89 "Alvin! -- Alvin! -- Don't go! -- Don't leave me --!" 90 "Deliver this to Mr. Hathaway at once!" 91 "God, forgive me!" 92 "The letter -- Hurry with it! -- You can't help me -- now!" 93 "Alice, I have a confes- sion to make -- upon which depends our future happiness!" 94 "A child of environment! -- If she had the proper training, if she had been taught the finer things in life, the higher aims, the higher hopes, she would not be lying cold in death! -- Oh! our people have much to learn!" 95 "I know the TRUTH, my son, and she, poor soul -- is dead!" THE ENDHome