 The United DuPont Company brings you the justice and the ladies starling Basil Rathbun and Dorothy Gage on the capital Cade of America. But first, here's Bill Hamilton of the DuPont Company. Good evening. For all kinds of outdoor sports this winter season, the swing is to sportswear made of fabrics treated with DuPont Z-Land durable water repellent. Garments treated with Z-Land continue to give dependable weather protection even after many washings or cleaning. So be sure to look for the Z-Land tags when you buy sportswear for yourself or for your children. Z-Land spelled Z-E-L-A-N is one of the DuPont Company's better things for better living through chemistry. Now the justice and the ladies starling Dorothy Gage as Fanny Dixwell Holmes and Basil Rathbun as Oliver Wendell Holmes on the capital Cade of America. If, at the turn of the century, you'd come into the dark oak-paneled hallway of a brown stone house at 296 Beacon Street, Boston, but you'd meet first, yes, that's Augustus, the minor bird, and then in the library close to the hearthstone. That's Ming, the Siamese. He glides noiselessly into the conservatory as the maid opens the door. Get along with your old rep for base. You know you'll have to come in here with a burn. Now, up the long stairway to the second floor, two more members of the family parked sedately on a new opposed. A towel and hummel that tames squirrels. And up in the master bedroom, pacing tensely back and forth across the white fur rugs. The place for a man completing all his powers is in the fight. Ah, now let's see. We, uh, we cannot stop from yous or to terrify ourselves with dreams. Yeah, good, I like that. Now at least, and perhaps as long as men dwell in this land, their destiny is to safeguard the ideals of liberty and to... Fanny, there's my collar button. In your collar, dear. I thought it was too, but, uh... It popped out. Too much vibration from your avan's apple. Really? Really, Fanny? Seems to me I wasn't giving it enough drive. Keep it gentle, darling. Persuasive. Imagine you're making love to a woman. In a speech to the Massachusetts Bar Association? You know, Wendell, with every woman in Boston sighing after you, I really don't see why you waste your looks on a room full of stuffy lawyers. Oh, nonsense. Typical female logic. An old house, having weathered many storms, may look stern and forbidding from the outside. But if it's been occupied by warm and witty people, its interior will smile. For in this old house lives the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Oliver Wendell Holmes and his lady. Fanny! Fanny, have I no collar buttons at all? Well, that's odd. I was sure I put some stairs in this chifonere. The screws of yours, they've been in here snooping again. My? My squirrels have more sense than to put a collar button in the nest. I think how uncomfortable it would be. Well, I might do. I can't have my collar popping out every time I clean the throat. There you are, see? All right, yes. Here, will this do it? It's a stud from my collar. Let me try it. All right. Oh, look, Fanny, look, be careful. Hold still, will you? There. What will you do? Oh, I don't need it. Debbie Raymond is coming to spend the evening with me, and when we girls begin talking, I like plenty of room for my vocal cords. There, now, is that going to do? Oh, I suppose so. Now, where was I? Oh, you'd, uh, you'd reach the part about man's destiny being liberty. All right, now, let's see. The flag has got a bit of bunting to one who insists on prose, yet its red is all like fire. It's a fire! Where? Well, it must be close by. They're slowing down. Well, yes, I can see the lights in the sky. Look, Fanny, come on, come on! Oliver Wendell Holmes, you're not stepping out of this house without your tie. Oh, the devil with it. They'll wait for us. They always do. But, Fanny, Fanny... Never mind. Stand still, stand still. Oh, no, Fanny, I've never seen a woman quite so deliberate in tying a tie. It's a white one. It takes longer. Well, they won't wait for us this time. There, now, that's a passable boat. All right. Now, get your hat while I find my bonnet. Here it is. Yes, good. All right, I hope it's that hole I saw on the corner. Oh, it's much closer. The engines had a sort of intimate sound as if they were about to pay a call. Why? Why, it's the Wiggles' way. What? Why don't you think so? Well, come on. Personally, I hope it's one of your old flames. Oh, no, no, no, Fanny, not puns at a time like this. I promise. Oh, are you tired? Certainly not. You? Look at us. 60-year-old fogies. How many people of 30 could keep up with us? Smug. If I'm not, I'm just happy. Wendell, please! We forgot to bring your speech. Well, I... I'm not going back for it now. Can you remember? Certainly. Where was I? The flag's red is our lifeblood. Right, Fanny. Right. It stars our world. It's blue, our heaven. We must fix our eyes upon the ideal it represents and get there if we can. You've never spoken a truer word in all your life. Get there if we can. Here, come in. Here, take off your things and we'll go into the library. Wendell's gone to make a speech. He's saying... I taught him the old joke about Caesar in his triumphal entry into Rome. Don't you remember? Little urchin at the edges of the crowd kept calling, your crown's on crooked, your crown's on crooked. I'm trying to think you're the urchin here, Fanny. Perhaps. Now come and sit here by the fire. Oh, you can't guess what's happened tonight. Well, you're positively bubbling over. What is it? I'm so excited. Tom Wildey from New York. He... he... Oh, Fanny, can you imagine being proposed to by telegraph? Debbie, you... you don't mean it. Oh, isn't it wonderful? Oh, you're going to be very happy. I know you are. If our marriage is even a spirit as happy as yours, Fanny, I'd be satisfied. You know, there's something so romantic about you two. If you were on a perpetual honeymoon... Fanny, that's what Wendell says. Well, isn't it true? Debbie, when we lived in this house with Wendell's father, I was really only a guest. Now that it is my home, and my brilliant Wendell is making a name for himself, I realize it's too late. I've grown old, Debbie. I'm dreadfully afraid of people. I'm... I'm eccentric. Out of style. Oh, that's utter nonsense. Suppose you do wear bonnet to stiff collars. Well, you can style all your own. And you're not old either of you. You're probably the two most constructive spirits in Boston. Well, Wendell is at any rate. You must stop underestimating yourself. My dear, nothing can destroy one's sense of importance quite so thoroughly. As years of tagging along after I handsome such a great man. Fanny! Fanny, where are you? Here we are, Wendell, in the library. Oh, good evening, Debbie. Good evening, sir. Fanny, my dear, you better start packing bird cages right away. Packing? Why? We're going to Washington. Oh, not permanently. A justice at the Supreme Court of the United States is in it for life. I hear... Wendell knows. Fanny, yes. Lodge told me tonight the President had finally made up his mind. But, uh, it's you who'll decide, Fanny. Of course you'll accept. You couldn't do anything else. Uh, thank you, Fanny. Well, it's what you were saying in your speech tonight. The place for a man complete in all his powers is in the fight. That's what you've been preparing for, building to all your life. Thank you, Fanny, dear. Thank you. You've said just what I wanted to know. Oh, you see, Fanny? Oh, my goodness, Wendell, they have a great deal of social life, don't they? You will have ambassadors kissing your hand. We'll be dining with statesmen, wearing tails, white satin. Oh, dear, I know, I know. Yeah, at your home. You're deliberately trying to frighten her out of her way. No, no, I'm not. I'm merely trying to make her face reality. Oh, Wendell, how can I go? Why? Why, I look like an abandoned farm in Maine. Sure as a shambles, this house. Oh, calm yourself, Mary. Well, I'd like to know what you've been doing with yourself, Jim Daharty, for six mortal days while the Mrs. and I was getting to Washington. We'll have it all shaken to a shake. Ah, to a shake. Never mind, Mary. I know the house looks dreadful. But we have plenty of time. I'm told in the South they have more hours in a day. Twenty-six, I think it is. I would like some cooperation to get in these books so I can reach them from the desk. All right, all right. Well, excuse me for asking, Mum, but what I'd like to know is why haven't we any coal? It's colder than Kelsey's bald head in the blizzard. Jim? Yes, Mum? Is there really such a coal shortage? Didn't you tell the company it was for Judge Holmes? I went to three companies, Ma'am, and they all just shook their heads. Couldn't get it here today. At the last one, they says, they says, who's the devil is Oliver Wendell, who? They did. Did you hear that, Wendell? What's all this fire fun about it? After 60 years, Wendell, we have achieved a life where your father's name is of no value except as you make it so. Oh, no. Not company. Not so soon. I'll go, Mrs. Well, we've got to get this room in order. Jim, Wendell, please. Can't you at least help me pack these books up? Everyone's aware that moving is a messy business, Fanny. Oh, what shall we do? It's so cold up here. Well, we'll suggest very politely that they keep the top coats on. Mrs. is the young man. Said his name is Mr. Charles Paul. Said he's expected. Who on earth is that, Wendell? My new secretary, law student. Going to be very valuable, very valuable. Well, I hope he has a talent for wangling coal. Send him up, Mary. Oh, yes. Wendell is Secretary of the School. Yes, very ingenious plan. I hope to have a new secretary every year, fresh from the graduating class. He'll have the benefit of working nearly highest court in the land and I'll have someone with a modicum of intelligence. And I'll have someone to take me shopping. I think it's a delightful idea. Mr. Paul, sir. Well, young fella, come in and make yourself at home. This is Mrs. Holmes, the real justice in the family. You will find that he feels more comfortable when he's battering me. How do you do, Mr. Paul? Mrs. Holmes, it's wonderful to be here. Good evening, sir. Good evening, good evening. I hope you're not pleased to death. There was a messenger at your door just as I arrived, sir. Oh. I took the liberty of bringing this in. Oh, thank you. It's a letter from the White House. Should I have done that? My boy, if we would be worthy of the past, we must find new fields for action and make ourselves new careers. Quote. Oh, W. Holmes. Here it is, sir. Oh, thank you. Wendell. Wendell, we've got a son. You mind being adopted, Mr. Paul? Not if you'll call me Charles. Fanny. Fanny, we're invited to dinner at the White House. Oh, formal. The White House? Tales and White Satin Wendell? I'm afraid so. Let me see. President, Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt takes pleasure, et cetera, et cetera. Not this Friday night. Not so soon. I suppose you haven't got a thing to wear. You are so right. Well, then look here. Let's enlist our land here to help you shop, eh? Great, sonny. Agreed, sir. Dear, can't I think of some other excuse? Oh, Fanny, you cannot. And whose crown is uncrooked now? This is the justice, and Mrs. Oliver Wendell holds. I can't. I can't go through with it. Oh, yes, you can, Fanny. You're wearing my violet. She can't lose. Besides Theodore Roosevelt, there's no ogre. Here he comes now. Our guest, Sylvanor. Delighted. Mr. President, may I present my wife, Mrs. Holmes? Delighted, madam. Thank you, sir. Oh, Mr. Roosevelt, are there any ambassadors here tonight? No. We decided to let foreign affairs just go hang for the evening. Why? Well, my husband told me when we came to Washington, I'd have ambassadors kissing my hands. It isn't exactly an old Boston custom, you know, and I am a bit frightened. Calm your fears, madam. Tonight you go into dinner with a mere president who asked only that you take his arm. Mr. Roosevelt, your wish is my command. Now, if the justice will say the same thing to me when he's on the bench, everything will be just bully, eh? We hold it as he believes in your point of view, Mr. President. For example, she's been trying to talk me to eating pastips for years. You don't believe in them? As we stay down east, Mr. President, don't hold with them. It's very, very easy. Tell me, Mrs. Holmes, have you seen much of Washington since you arrived? Mrs. Holmes has been rather busy getting us settled in our house. Ah, then some of our Washington people have called on you, I daresay. Oh, yes. I met quite a number of congressmen's wives. You found the lady's pleasant? Mr. President, Washington is full of famous men, and the women they married when they were young. I say, that's the best one I've heard in years, Mrs. Holmes. Hey, nurse, oh, these affairs are always dull. Unless one finds a kindred spirit, may I choose you? You're the president. How can I refuse? I say, aren't we having a good time? Aren't we, though? You are listening to the justice and the lady, starring Dorothy Gish as Fanny Dixwell Holmes and Basil Rathbone as Oliver Wendell Holmes on the Cavalcade of America sponsored by the depart company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. In Washington on the Supreme Court Mr. Justice Holmes began cutting his impressions deep into the pattern of American life by his penetrating and brilliant descending opinions. While Fanny continued quietly to make his home his castle and each year to adopt a new young son another new secretary down from Harvard. Well the justice and his lady were growing older. I do wish you'd hurry Wendell you oughtn't to race about at the last minute doing things to your blood pressure. I feel fit 21 and ready to go. Of course you do dear you have a very pleasant evening in prospect. I don't know rather expected to be disappointing. Let's see who was it said the man who believes his fooling others merely is fooling himself. Oliver Wendell Holmes? His cliches aren't quite some monumental. Oh it must be very exasperating to know that the older you grow the handsomer you become. Oh that sheer ball-faced flattery. No what do you expect? Going calling on your old sweetheart I want you to think of me at least once during the evening. I understand she's still very beautiful. I don't know Fanny as a matter of fact I think she looked like an old woman. Oh all right you win as always. Well good night Fanny dear you'll wait up. By that antique lock and bar there must be something that I can. Yes I think I know. Stanley oh Stanley. Here I am Mrs. Holmes. Good I want your opinion on a very vital question. Was there something wrong? No but when a handsome old gentleman leaves his poor faithful wife at home while he goes calling on an ancient sweetheart well he he deserves reprisals don't you think? Well yes I suppose so. Where's the opinion the judge takes to court tomorrow? Here it is. My it looks so beautifully moot. Let's see. When men have realized the time has upset many fighting states. Is there a blotter anywhere? Why yes but. Good it has a nice big blot pervinc on it. Let's just cut it in the inside out of the blotter place it on the first page in a likely spot so the judge you'll think the ink was really spilled on it. You'll be furious. Here we are. Let's see. Truth is the only ground upon which man's wishes safely can be carried out. Those are important words Stanley. I know. And you feel we shouldn't tamper with him even by playing a harmless trick. I'm afraid I do Mrs. Holmes. I'm glad you do because you're young and you'll live to see his words at worst. If it's sometimes it seems to you that I'm disrespectful well it's only because a great man must always have an urgent at the end of his triumph to tell him his crown is on cooking. Anything always. What's the matter? Are you embarrassed to be seen out driving with an old lady in a wonderful one-horse shape? I know Mrs. Holmes of course not. Most young men in your set wouldn't be caught riding in anything less elegant than a bear cat's step. Well I. If you could see the look on your face. I'm sorry. I suppose I can't help being old-fashioned. And frankly I'm terrified of motor cars. Irving do people laugh at me for clinging to my bonnet and my buggy? Tell me I won't mind. Why? I really don't think people would dare laugh. Oh dear. Isn't it that bad? I mean the judge he's well you're both very impressive people Mrs. Holmes. You don't realize how famous you are. Nonsense. I'll wager you the next man we see along the road has never heard of my husband. It's the best. There's a man just stopped to fix his tires. Shall we ask him? He'll be ill-tempered. He's been betrayed by the machine age. But that makes it all the better. Oh sir. Sir would you mind answering your question for me? What was that? I just wanted to ask if you'd ever heard of anyone named Oliver Wendell Holmes. Huh? Oliver? Oh, oh, Oliver Wendell Holmes. Sure. He's that new young judge who got on the Supreme Court. Thank you. Thank you very much sir. Irving let's go back to town and get your car right away. Why Mrs. Holmes? I don't understand. Well if people think Wendell's a new young judge I'm going to learn to drive a soft fair cat. Good morning Mrs. Holmes. Well good morning Shelfen. Hasn't the judge been down to breakfast yet? No, no ma'am. I haven't seen him and I guess you haven't seen the times yet have you? No. Wait a minute. I've got it right here. Here we are. They've repitted the speech he made yesterday. Now listen. I do not lose hope. I think it's probable that civilization somehow will last as long as I care to look ahead. Bread to greatness and splendor by science. That man may have cosmic destinies he does not understand. And so beyond the vision of battling races and an impoverished earth I catch a dreaming glimpse of peace. Oh gosh. I take it you wish to join my admiration for the judge society. Oh Mrs. Holmes do you know how lucky you are just to be to be near a great genius all your life. Gathering crumbs from the table. Yes I know how lucky I am. Oh no no no he depends on you too. No I'm the court gesture that's all. You'll find it out after you've been here a while. Well I I don't understand. I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have said it that way but sometimes it's a bit of fact for a woman to face that the great man in her life would be just as great without her. The judge would speak his great speeches just the same if I weren't here. He would make his decisions in court be just as well liked and might even be almost as happy. Oh no. You'll notice I said almost as happy. I'll find it Wendell just hold your horses. You see I some I have some egotism. I know he needs me for the little things. I told Bandai he was nearly suffering from the pessimism of youth. Yes a young whippersnapper like Judge Bandai only 64. Aren't you going to say anything. I mean a happy birthday or some of you sort one. I'm really ashamed to Wendell the cook as ill. We can't celebrate at home tonight. I'm just terribly disappointed. You mean we got to go out for dinner. Don't bother to change there. We'll go someplace quiet and come home early 80 years. Oh well. I guess it's time to begin thinking about coming home early. I'm already any time you are all right. Give a man time to smoke a cigar at least with you. Fanny. Fanny. Well the devil are my cigars. I'm sure I don't know dear. Have you looked downstairs. I have not. I can swear left me the door up here. Well come on let's go down and look. I don't know why we can't have tobacco kept in the room where I usually smoke seems a little thing to us. Man my age concentrates all day long. He likes to come home and find things in place especially when he can't even have a sip of champagne on his eight years birthday and has to go out for dinner. Give me Fanny I completely forgot to give you these windows. After all I'm not the only one that's 80 around here. Must you remind me what he is. Man comes home on his birthday can't even find his cigars. Try the dining room why don't you know what they're doing in there. I didn't leave them there. Black Son of Satan doesn't have to be the dark in here. Can't we have a little light. Well where's the switch Fanny. What the devil are you doing a pillow. Hey you. Have any of you seen my hair my. Managed to get all our time together the one time you fangled my You can catch and call the telephone. And Cook Cook's not down with something. I mean, we're all going to dine together at home. Cook's never been healthier in her life. And here's champagne. Come on, boys. Come on, let's just shut it. We'll have a drink, shall we? Come on, we'll have a drink. Come on, Mary. Join us in a toast to the judge. It's a right, Mum. Didn't you suspect anything when you came home? Oh, well, come to think of it, you know, that, uh, that she-devil did act pretty suspiciously. I've been acting like a suspicious character all my life. But of course, you've been too busy to realize. I've had my eye on you for some time ago. My glass, Mrs. One for you, sir. Thank you, Mary. Happy birthday, Mr. Joseph. Yes. Yes. She's a happy one, madam. It is. Now, I-I'd like to have you all join me in a toast. To you, Wendell. No, my dear. No, no, not this time. Gentlemen, to the lady without whom I should never have survived for 80 or 60, nor yet 30 years. Her smile has been my lyric, her understanding, the rhythm of the stanza. She's been the spring wherefrom I have drawn the power to write the words. She is the poem of my life. Gentlemen, to the lady who wears the crown. Oh, thank you, Wendell. And, Wendell, it is on straight. Very straight. Now, it's Bill Hamilton of the DuPont Company. Now and then, you see automobiles on the road that are real old timers, 20, even 25 years old. They must have been pretty good cars when they were built, or they wouldn't still be running. But compared with a 1948 car, their motors were cumbersome and inefficient, and they used to knock like a shoemaker's hammer when they climbed a bad hill. It was tetraethyl lead, a product of chemical science that helped to solve the problem of knocking. Shortly after the First World War, Kettering, Midgeley and Boyd of General Motors decided to try to find out what made engines knock. Working with a small Delco farm lighting motor and homemade instruments, they blended one chemical after another with the fuel. Several showed promise. In 1923, the DuPont Company manufactured its first commercial quantities of the best compound, tetraethyl lead. Tetraethyl lead is a chemical compound made from lead, salt, and petroleum or molasses. Added in small amounts to gasoline, it makes the fuel burn more smoothly, deliver an even thrust of power without knocking to the crankshaft of an engine. It is largely because of tetraethyl lead that we have premium or high-quality gasoline and cars that get away to a quick start in traffic, climb hills without knocking, and travel more miles on a gallon of fuel. Automobiles have come a long way since the chugging, horseless carriage, and gasoline has come a long way since father in his linen duster and goggles drew it from a tank in the backyard and strained the water and dirt out of it with a chamois skin or a piece of cheesecloth. Two special tetraethyl lead compositions, DuPont motor mix and DuPont aviation mix, are now supplied by the DuPont Company to gasoline refiners. They reach you in the premium and high-quality gasoline you buy as hidden values, put there by chemical science, and are among DuPont's better things for better living through chemistry. Thank you, and on behalf of Mr. Aspen and our cast, good night. Next week, Cavalcade presents the celebrated star of stage and screen, Thomas Mitchell, in a suspenseful radio play, The Conscience of Black Dammels. And in weeks to follow, our Cavalcade microphones will bring you the popular Hollywood stars, Joel McCrae and Robert Taylor. Tonight's DuPont Cavalcade was written by Virginia Radcliffe. Certain scenes were suggested by material in Catherine Drinker Bowen's biography, Yankee from Olympus, published by Atlantic Little Brown. Featured in tonight's play with Basil Raffman and Dorothy Gish, Willan Clark at Theodore Roosevelt, Lyle Pseudrow as Stanley Clark, and Jack Lloyd as Charles Poe. Music was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Donald Brian. This is Ted Pearson inviting you to listen next week to The Conscience of Black Dammels, starring Thomas Mitchell on the Cavalcade of America, brought to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Della. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.