 Cavalcade of America, presented by DuPont. Just as the stories in tonight's program are about two journeys across the nation, so the whole series of programs in the Cavalcade of America, presented by DuPont, takes our listeners through the pageant of American progress. Each generation has marked new achievements, including those in the science of chemistry. As you said at your radio tonight amidst the comforts of modern life, think for a moment of the work of chemists who have made many of those comforts possible. The ideal of the research chemist is well expressed in the phrase, which has come to be known as the DuPont chemist pledge, better things for better living through chemistry. As an overture, Don Voorhees and the Cavalcade Orchestra bring us a special setting of the old favorite wagon wheels. The Yankee Clippers, the stagecoach of the covered wagon trains. And yet the heyday of these sailing ships and horse-drawn vehicles lies within the memory of living men and women. Among their thinning ranks, there yet remain gallant survivors of frontier days, and we find one in the person of a courageous little-haired lady. Her face is marked with 88 years of living, but her sharp little eyes are alive with excitement as she peers out the window of a giant transport, roaring out of the Omaha Airport westbound on a night flight. The hostess speaks to her. Everything comfortable, Mrs. Dean? Yes, indeedy. I'm holding my own rocking chair. Only better. My rocking chair never takes me anywhere. Well, it's too bad you couldn't wait and take the day-paying. You could see the country. Oh, it's better this way. The night, I can imagine it's just like it was in 56. Instead of all civilized as it is now. Excuse me a minute, Mrs. Dean, the pilot's calling me. Tell him not to spill. Taking it, buddy. Oh, she's grand. Just hold me to tell you not to spill. We're doing 190, but I'll push her up to 220 if she's an Ahri. Omaha Calling Day, Omaha. Tell Cheyenne to put on the coffee pot. We'll soon be coming in. Well, I hope for Mrs. Dean's sake we don't have to come down this side of Cheyenne. Ah, don't worry about her. She'll stand this trip better than some of those modern girls back there. Yes, she told me that she's made this trip in 1856 in a covered wagon. It took him three months. Now she's doing it in three hours. Uh-oh. Somebody wants a cracker. See you later, buddy. I'll bring you a cup of tea. I'm hungry. What is it to eat? I have sandwiches. And would you care for tea or bouillon? Sandwiches, tea and bouillon. Is that all you have to offer? Oh, I'm sorry. We don't serve meals on this run. Well, of all the stupid things. Now, don't be unreasonable, Diana. You had time to eat in Omaha. I wasn't hungry then, Father. I don't think why we have to put up with so many inconveniences in this day and age. Do you mean to say you made a trip then? Well, that was in the days of the covered wagon. Panistogos, we call them. I was eight years old when I crossed with my father, Phyllis Perry. It must have been terribly hard to report the thought so then, even then. Won't you tell us about it? Oh, sure. Just an old lady's tale. Oh, please tell us about it. How long did it take? Well, the first out of Omaha, I thought he wagons in the plane to stop with. Nihon dokes and a whole parcel of young ones. Like a little cat. The head stout, one night, was leading us across the Indian country to the Rocky Mountains. All the men poked together outside the wagon, what had been drawn into a 12-circle for protection against a surprise attack. Mr. Lincoln coyote, he's sent like benches away in the night. Like it's not. It's a scale fountain, too, which is worse. Just a minute, men. Don't go stirring up imaginary dangers. There's plenty of real ones. Sharky Joe has called us all out here to give you the benefit of his understanding of the ways of this wild country and its savage people. Will you speak to the men, Sharky Joe? Joe, come on. Well, I'm no hand with words, men. I've only this much to say. From this day forward, there'll never be an hour when danger does not wait the train behind every hillock, at every river forward, and in the tall, innocent-looking grass of the prairie itself. That will do. You say, Joe. I will, but mind you, there's dangers within the wagon train as well as without. I have contracted to see you saved to the Rockies. You have appointed a committee headed by Silas Perry. You'll mind them and me. They're the only law you'll have in a lawless land, and unless you stand together, your bones will bleach on the prairie like many are for you. I saw smoke signals to the north just around sundown, Sharky. Yes, Mark. I've been expecting them. Do you think the Redskins know we're here? You couldn't hide a stew pan on the prairie without the engines knowing it was there, Mr. Dagger. Do you think they'll attack us soon? Most likely outnumber them now, Mr. Perry. In three, maybe four nights from now, they'll have gathered their braves. What can we do? There's nothing to do but push on. In beginning now, we double the sentries at night, and on the trail, every man that can carry a rifle will ride the flanks. Women folks will drive the team. You can count on every man, woman, and child to do his part. They must. Now, back to the wagon circle within, mind you. Keep a close mouth to the dangers ahead. There's no need to be alarmed, the women folks. They'll know of it soon enough. Right on, y'all. Good evening to you, my Abigail. Still calling for your call? That's best you could've been dead to me before I reached California. Don't go wandering off beyond the picket lines, Miss Abigail. Yes, the engines have themselves a fine milk column now. Yes, or it's joined up with that buffalo herd we passed today. A land you'd never think they were a thousand miles from home. Join your women folks and mind you, not a word about what I've said. I'll be right behind you now. Oh, son of an hour, it's a golden night for me. I've got no doubt about it. When we were singing around the campfires, we were happy to be living about our new home beyond the mountains. My mother joined in the singing, not suspecting the terrible blows of the strikers the next day. With near sunset when we reached another port of the river, our wagon was near the end of the train. The river was swollen with melted snow and filled with ice. Now swim, just hold the range. Yes, Alice. Margaret, you'll get close to your mother. The rocks should hit it upstream. The river's deep and swift. We've lost one wagon already. I'm riding more than the downside of the lead on. I'll force them up the stream. Be careful, Alice. Don't hide your feet, Margaret. I'm your mother. When she wasn't talking to that young cover boy from Virginia, I recalled one day we were going to stick them hard, Miss Turner. Oh, no. Where did you get it? The poppy found it in the grass yesterday. It's a real engineer. Here, look out. Don't you dare stick any of the children again. Yes, ma'am. Farewell. C-A... C-A... L-E-S. John, he's took them bad with pains, Miss Turner. Cross says he's afraid they won't get well. Ever. Oh, we're all sorry to hear that, Ethan. But I'm sure that at the time they will get well. That's why they don't take you to your ladies' school moms' general thing. Hello, Jesse. Why aren't you out of godness against the Indians? Well, I'm on Sentinel duty tonight. I thought I'd drop by and ask if you'd go for a walk with your tonight little train car. Well, I'll think about it. I'll come over by your wagon. Well, kids, what are you learning? How to spell. Well, here's one for teacher. How do you spell love, Miss Turner? How about giving us a tune on that guitar, you're sure? Sure thing. Mr. Coburn carries a geek car to scare the Indians. And grows a lie like those with mighty sands. In the darkness of the moon this night, those who were not on sentry post gathered on the tree with prairies. Pay their last respects, little one. O heavenly Father, consecrate this ground in the name of thy own beloved son. Amen. Amen. You from... Take your mother back to the wagon. Yes, Father. Thank you. Kindly all. No, I'd like to be alone for a few moments. What have you in your hand, Brother Clay? Sooner, a little cross of wood with his name carved upon it. A little grievous, I know, man. But you must not put it by the grave. You... You're not telling me I must leave my son here in this wilderness of grass and sand with nothing to mark his wrist in place. If you mark it, the Indians will find it. Ye would not want that. No, no, I did not think of that. You're right. We must leave no sign. No mark upon this lonely plain. And one evening, young Mark Oliver came up to Cherokee Doe's empire and leaned Jesse Turner by the hand. Good evening to you, Miss Turner. Good evening to you, Joe. It's a fine night. Well, it's a fine night to be married. Jesse and I want to get married, Cherokee. Well now, Glory Bee, what do you think of that? But hey, wait a minute, you can't. There's no preacher with a wagon train. Yeah, no, Cherokee, but that don't matter out here. We got a Bible here, and if you will read the service, that'll have to do till we get to a place where we can have it done right and proper. Yeah, sounds mighty irregular. What do you think about it, Jesse? Oh, we love each other, Joe. I don't think it'll be wrong. Well, then I reckon... Oh, I know you do it, Cherokee. Now here's the Bible, and I'll go get some with me. Hey, wait a bit. I do this for you gladly, but I can't read. Gosh, that's right, you can't. No. Let's see, who can we get? Oh, look here. Folks who's having a prayer meeting over by Hiram Taggards. The wagon. Yeah. It takes sitting and proper to keep such a joyous occasion to ourselves. Come on. All right, come on, Jesse. We'll get Hiram Taggards to read the ceremony. Yeah. All right. We're rickin' the rate no harm, rickin' up a prayer meeting to perform a marriage ceremony. Well, I'm gonna be plenty surprised. Not as surprised as you think, son. Welcome to our little meeting, Cherokee. Thank you. Thank you. Let's sing Rock of Ages. Just a minute, folks. Before you do any more singin', these young folks will like a marriage ceremony performed. Mr. Taggards, you've presided over three Christmas and you've read the good book over graves of your departed ones. All right. I have that. Well, I am not what you might call a religious man, but it seems to me that marrying ain't no more sacred than them occasions that mark the beginning and the end of this life. We'd be awful grateful if you would perform the ceremony, Mr. Taggards. Well, you'd best have it done over again when you reach California. What two of you stand up with these young people? Since you've known your kin of your own, Mr. Hiram, I'll give you a way if you let me. Oh, thank you, Joe. There's no one I'd rather have. All right. Now, you two join your hands. You're right. That's right. Quick! In the moonlight we saw a band of Sue riding down from the north. What's the band of Sue riding down from the north? We'll keep the women singin' and the Indians will think we're not ready. Start singin', girls! Hurry up, Mr. Taggards. Come on, quick. Read the vows. Jesse, do you take Mark Culliver to be thy wedded husband? I do. Mark, do you take Jesse Turner to be thy wedded wife? I do. Then I pronounce your man and wife until death do you part. Good. Come on, Jesse. Jesse, honey. I'll be back. Oh, wagon trains, you all the joy. What happened when the Indians attacked, Mr. Dean? Our men beat off the Indians and after many more weeks of hardships and suffering, our wagon trains rolled over the great divide and into California, the land of promise. And to think that within your own lifetime you're able to span the continent in a single day. Those were the days of real men and women. You know, more than today, I'd have done a cross pray to those two young men that are pilotin' this diet fair play and that young, nice young hostess who waits on us. She's brave. I'm afraid I wouldn't have been much help to your cover wagon train, Mr. Dean. I wouldn't say that, child. Oh, an awful coward. I wouldn't say you were. Here you are, thousands of feet in the clouds. Lying like the wind and taking it as a matter of course. Oh, well, that's different. Oh, is it not so much? It's all what we're used to. Excuse me, please. They're calling me. I wonder if we're nearly there. Don't think so. Oh, but they go with the lights on. Fasten the seat belts. Everybody's belt fastened? What's that for? We're not due for 15 minutes, are we? No, but we're gonna make an emergency landing. I see. Let me help fasten your belt, Mr. Dean. What for? Anyone jump out the window? Oh, please, you must, Mr. Dean. This is a forced landing. We may hit something. Yes, you buckle it this way. My goodness, it's gracious for a girl to think she's kid. You're acting cool as a cucumber. But I'm not. I'm scared to kill it. Don't worry, Mrs. Dean. Everything's all right. I ain't worrying. Give me your hand, Mrs. Dean. I think it's just a free hold, all right? If you... And time came, Miss... There's the crowd. Mrs. Dean, are you all right? Well, thank goodness. Well, we won't be here long. We've radioed ahead and devised an airport and are sending cars right now. My, my, that radio is simply amazing. You're amazing, Mrs. Dean. I never saw anyone so calm. Landfake, Josh. You'd have been right to home in those covered wagon days yourself. ...of the gallant old lady. She knew the rugged courage of covered wagon days, yet recognized in her pilots and fellow passengers that self-same courage. The people of America have blazed a trail from the past to present, a trail that leads onward into the future. The cavalcade of America. Tides made by transportation in recent years almost literally have made the nation a neighborhood with the typical characteristics of each section familiar to nearly everyone. For example, we associate Pittsburgh with steel, Detroit with automobiles, it's connected today with electricity, and Wilmington, Delaware with a chemical industry. Yet curiously enough, though the DuPont Company has had its headquarters in Wilmington for 134 years and still maintains its main offices and principal research laboratories in that city, DuPont has no chemical manufacturing plants at all in Wilmington, and only two in Delaware. Chemistry has moved forward with complete disregard of geographical lines. Seven DuPont plants dot New England, where America's chemical industry began, but as the nation pushed west and south, chemistry marched with it. In all, DuPont maintains 76 factories located in every part of the country, producing chemical products to aid in the manufacture of steel, the mining of coal, the weaving of textiles, the fabrication of rubber, the refining of oil, and an almost endless list of other useful activities. Thus the DuPont Company's chemical production is as national as the language. Also it is as local as the city hall or the butcher and baker. In these many communities in 25 states, local men and women make possible the operation of the DuPont plants. They create trade at local stores. They buy local materials. They pay local taxes. It is a wonderful tribute to American ingenuity and American opportunity that from the test tube of the chemist there has arisen an industry which employs more than a quarter of a million people and which through its purchases of raw materials and its services to more than a hundred other industries gives work or income to hundreds of thousands of others. DuPont alone as a representative chemical manufacturer furnishes direct employment to 50,000 Americans and distributes its earnings and dividends to an additional 66,000. Speaking of chemistry's service to other industries brings to mind that outstanding example of motor car. This week the eyes of the nation are on the new models being displayed at the automobile show in New York. The modern car is really chemistry on wheels. For a chemical reaction, the combustion of gasoline provides its power and chemistry contributes to the manufacture of practically every part. DuPont, for instance, produces chemicals that improve motor fuels and oils, plastics for safety glass and interior appointments, quick drying, durable finishes, chemicals for plating and hardening metals, products that make tires last longer, and many others. Yes, tremendous advances have been made in chemistry, but the possibilities have scarcely been touched. America can look forward confidently to a far greater enrichment of its national life as chemical research continues to develop an infinite number of better things for better living through chemistry. The story of Charles Goodyear and his discovery of the process for vulcanizing rubber will be heard next week at the same time when DuPont presents the Cavalcade of America. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.