 Cavalcade of America Starring Gene Arthur in Journey Among the Law presented by the DuPont Company, makers of better things for better living through chemistry Time 108 years ago this month Place, a jail in Cambridge, Massachusetts There are 20 women in the jail, but only three are singing Mary murdered her husband Elizabeth was arrested for arson Clara is the thick pocket They don't especially like that him But they do like the soft-voiced lady in sober cashmere the lady who had come to the East Cambridge prison Dorothea Linda Dick. Oh, that's very nice. Ladies. Thank you. We'll try to get next week Turn key count them good and lock them up again It beats me mystics you've got them singing hymns That sure beats me. I'll come again next Sunday Taylor. We're going to have you ma'am. Oh, not that door. Oh, excuse me I thought this was the way out Not that door that leads to the loony hatch What did you say? Say that door leads to the loony hatch got three crazy people in there. Follow me ma'am. I'll show you Something wrong ma'am. Why are they kept in prison? Well prison or the poor house ma'am only place for a loony follow me please Jailer may I be permitted to see them? What for I'd like to see all the women in the prison what for? Because you don't want me to see them. They're none of your business that door stays shut You know Jailer. There's something about a closed door. Now. You're a busy lady mystics better go about your business I want to see the women behind that closed door now ma'am you listen and you listen to me I read a line from the Bible to some fees and murderers I'm going to read a line from the Bible to some poor crazy women Well, why do you want to read the Bible to loonies because it's Sunday now you stop arguing and open that door Ma'am, I'll say it for your own good That room is no place for a lady open that door All right suit yourself. You asked for it. Oh Oh, no Well, like I said you asked for it, but they can't hurt you. We've got them safe and secure Well the one in the cage on the left is Minnie Minnie wake up He's a lady to say something to you What can she say? But I haven't already heard oh you you poor woman you're cold. I am cold You have something else to say. Is there no stole here? No, there's no stole here What else have you to say? Keeper civil tongue Minnie The lady is from Boston. She comes on this Sunday to read a line of scripture. I already know a line of scripture Minnie Minnie why are you here? I'm crazy. Oh, no, you mean you're sick. I'm different. I'm here, ma'am There's something else you'd like to ask of me It's not I want to go back to sleep. Let's take me out. I want to go out Warned you what you could expect why are those women kept in cages? I was saying that you can't expect Why is there no stove in that room a stove with fire in it ain't safe whether a raving maniac I saw Minnie. She's nothing like that. She's sick and she's cold. Are you taking on ma'am? She's a loony and everyone knows that loonies don't feel the cold. What? Who told you that? Now that'll do ma'am. You came to teach your Bible class not to run this prison now stay with the Bible I am Jailer. Where is your God? You're taking on ma'am. You're taking on. I'll show you out I asked you a question. Don't dismiss me this way if you please. I'll show you out those women are pretty This way please. I'm not asking for myself. I don't answer for myself. I'm not in charge. I do what I'm told out this way Put a stove in there. Treat them the way you treat a dog. You don't have to treat them any better only as well You're carrying on ma'am now this way please I'm dismissed them. Yes ma'am. You're dismissed Your honor I Haven't slept these these last ten days and I would say mistakes you ought to go home and go to bed That's a contemptible remark careful ma'am. You're in a court of law. Maybe I'm in the wrong place I'm looking for a court of justice mistakes. I'm going to say it just as simply as I can there is nothing this court can do See the superintendent of the prison. I've seen your honor He says there's nothing he can do and then take it up at the town council. They say there's nothing they can do Go see the mayor. I've seen the gentleman He says East Cambridge treats its lunatics no worse than some and better than most and that's your answer Now if you don't mind this court will adjourn good good I'll go back to the prison and tell three crazy women that their lives have been adjourned. What did you say? There are three women in that prison who will surely die Unless this court intervenes please please let's not be emotional. I'm talking about a fact I've seen three women with my own eyes here in civilized, Massachusetts They're going to fleece to death because no one cares that much. The mistakes my hands are tied This is the court of law a court of law is a place of justice This court cannot ignore the distress of people simply because they're devoid of reason your honor Why must innocent persons be housed with criminals? Well, I don't they are imprisoned. Why are they not entitled to the same consideration of swindlers and murderers? I can't answer you miss Dix the question has never been put to me then I put it to you All right. All right I'll tell me what I can do if you an order sir directing that a stove for heat and warm clothing be furnished I'll do whatever I can then do it now if you an order now and let me serve it on the jailer today. Very well mistakes I'll do it now Mini is that you laughing? Hi I do laugh because of the new stove mini in the show around your shoulders. No I laugh because I'm melancholy the walls are not not so damp now with a new stove Well, the wall is dry as my eyes after crying. I would still be melancholy in this place Will you tell me you? You've been gentle with me They say I'm crazy I Lost my baby in childbirth Now I'm here Sometimes the darkness passes and I would be alive Mrs. Ellis in the next cage begins to scream mini. I will get you out of here. What's the good? You'll be out of prison Send me to the poor farm. I'd sooner at war prison here at least as food to eat mini. There are doctors They will make you well And the melancholy will pass. Yes. Yes, it will pass if you struggle to make it pass Mini, let me help you. I I do do it for me My name could be me. There are hundreds like me in Massachusetts. Better go away. You'll have no rest. Would you go away? No, I've been here. I am here. I wouldn't go away then I'm crazy and I pray God to make me crazy. Why do you come to meet us here? You should have gone to dr. Channing or Horace man or dr. Samuel gridley. How Why do you come to me? You really want to know Charles? Yes, I think I do Because you're a lawyer and a practical man No other reason yes, I came to you because you're my friend. Well, now that's a little better You know Darcy a When you laugh you Know nothing Only ought to laugh more often Yes, but you forget child. I've been to Cambridge prison. I saw a woman change I try not to think of it. She was kept in a cage like an animal Darcy a you don't have the strength to do anything about it Who says so? All right Tell me what you propose. I shall visit every insane man and woman in every prison in Massachusetts In every prison. Yes, Charles and in every poor house My dear look, I'm your practical lawyer. What you propose is impossible Now, why don't we organize the best citizens of Boston and will committee will distribute a questionnaire I have no faith in committees and less faith in questionnaires. I want to do it myself Where will you get the money for your survey my own money my own energy my own time Then what do you want from me Charles? Maybe I have a new England conscience, but that doesn't make me a fool I'm going to get into trouble. I'm going to need help. I'll help Horace man Channing how we'll all help, but we're not enough. You'll need much more You have my right as an American to protest injustice if I'm allowed to gather the facts and bring the facts to the legislature The legislature must do what's right You know Darcy the legislature is going to be fooled by a pair of soft gray eyes and a sweet face May the Lord have mercy on them Now is there anything else? Yes, of course. I have some money and some clothes. They're for me. She's been released. Will you yes? Yes, she'll be helped You know I Think in the fourth chapter of the book of Esther there's a line And Mordecai said to Esther Who knows perhaps thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this I'm not quite sure of the words Darcy addix, but I am sure that Mordecai meant you You are listening to journey among the lost Starring gene Arthur as Dorothy a limb dicks on the cavalcade of America Presented by the DuPont company makers of better things for better living through chemistry in the year 1841 a Woman named Dorothy a limb dicks Visited a jail in East Cambridge, Massachusetts Saw confined there the insane This was the beginning of her journey among the lost She went to all the prisons and poor houses of Massachusetts And each day's visitation brought each day's horror Tell me tell me your name My name Yes, what's your name? My name Doesn't she understand of course not mistake. She's an idiot. I told you my name that'll do Mariah That'll do my name When was she last seen by a physician? What sort of foolishness is that she left seen by a physician? She's never been seen by a physician Why do you keep her in chains so that she can't hurt herself now look I can't stand here answering foolish questions I've got other things to do. How long has she been in these chains and in this place There are some questions better be left unasked. How long has she been changed here? You really want to know? 17 years this Christmas strong mystics told it to my wife. She fainted. I do not faint sir Not anymore Not after the things I've seen not after where I've been where have you been ma'am. I have been in hell Happy with your bag lady. Thank you. I wonder if you could tell me where the county home is Going to see a relative aim too bad. What do you mean sir? Why is it too bad? Well, the home is just the other side of the railroad bridge, but no one there today except a few old folks too weak for the auction I'm afraid I don't understand We see twice a year the county poor board auction off the insane folks and orphans When was the auction till clock yesterday? Saves the county quite a bit of money and keeps the insane and the orphaned out of mischief Got off the train for nothing lady too late to see your relative I guess Oh, Miss Dix I wouldn't like you to go away from here thinking we're heartless people You'll keep a woman locked in a cellar. Yep, that's right There's another woman. We didn't dare show you we keep her locked in a closet Now miss Dix Suppose you was responsible for that home not me and Suppose just suppose it was you and not me they had to care for 50 orphans and insane people on $2,000 a year food clothes and doctors everything you see and on $2,000 a year and You didn't have it. I wasn't judging you. I stopped judging anyone Well, you do what you can mistake If you've got someone hard to handle you you just locked her in a car. I know what mr. Saunders you don't have to explain to me where human people just like you are missed trouble is When you're around suffering so much you get used to it And I guess when you get used to something Maybe you don't care so much. I'm glad you spoke to me. Mr. Saunders It's something I'd like to tell the Massachusetts legislature Miss Dix now we've got a poor crazy woman All day long the tears run down her face and she says Makin folk if she says to me my kin folk has failed me and my own familiar friend has forgotten me Miss Dix maybe someone ought to tell that to the Massachusetts legislature Madam this committee of the legislature has written very carefully, but I failed to see why you are here In the first place. Are you here for yourself? The people of Massachusetts or madam whom do you represent? I am the advocate of the insane You are indeed and what do the insane ask of this committee mr. Chairman Mr. Chairman take the insane and the mentally sick out of the prisons and poor houses Where should we put them in hospitals in asylum what for madam so they can be helped instead of punished Madam have you any idea of the cost involved? It will be a considerable sum and who will pay madam I believe that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will do anything that can be shown to be right a very pretty Speech madam, but hospitals and asylums are an expense which once begun will increase and increase We have to think of the cost think of the cost of broken minds The minds of men and women who are only sick whom you condemn to permanent and hopeless lunacy I beg your pardon madam. I am not aware that I have made anyone a lunatic Looking for someone mystic. No, but I observed that the committee member from Eastboro is laughing Yeah, well now don't you say anything about Eastboro three blocks from your house sir in Eastboro There's a man being held in a cellar half filled with water. That's a filthy lie. His name is Jones age 53 He's been in that cellar since last July. He's chairman I won't have anyone come here until a foul lie about the fair city of Eastboro The address is number three white you Lane be careful of the rat mystics. Are you trying to provoke this committee? No, mr. Chairman. I'm trying to present fat 18 months of carefully gathered fat gathered by whom me myself Boston ladies, I know do not customarily travel by themselves You're changing the subject or do they make a practice of reporting things which no ladies should know And of which no gentleman should speak right Pictures you draw for us madam or course and uncouth. Would you like something a little more refined? I would indeed I cannot apply Mr. Sumner is holding my report 300 pages of documented misery you can't sprinkle it with perfume. There's a dreadful stench That comes from it Mr. Chairman you think I exaggerate come with me where to your own city for what purpose to determine whether I am a liar Or you are heartless. I resent the insinuation. You are heartless. I'm glad to hear it Perhaps you're merely ignorant my dear mystics. Tell me. I'm not polite. I'm no diplomat mr. Chairman Do I have to be I don't want any favors for myself? I'm an American speaking to Americans. This is your state the people described in my report are your neighbors They have no one to plead their cause except me and no one to listen except you How are you going to answer? He had spoken unpleasant truth now there was time for grievances to foster Disliked women who have no sense of the propriety of our sex I'll get that published in editorial on the whole the public will be quite liberal if they just counted 50% of everything Dorothy had explained to us back Another newspaper spoke more plainly the woman is obviously a congenital liar She had done all she could Now Charles Sumner dr. Howe and Horace Mann went to do battle with the legislature While she waited to hear the outcome a woman dressed in plain black came to her door entered her house Said very simply you can't lose What did you say? I said you can't lose I can't lose Yes I'm a seamstress now. I I'm well You made me well no many it was the doctor it was you mistakes all the doctor gave me medicines, but You gave me yourself. I had to come to tell you that you couldn't lose many How do you know that will you talk to them? Didn't you? Yes, but they listen to you didn't they they've delayed action on the bill They may not even vote today if they listen to you They'll vote if they heard you all their pleasures will turn sour until they do what's right. You'll see Goodbye, man. Here 1843 the Massachusetts legislature considered a bill to remove the indigent insane and the mentally sick From public arms houses in prison and install them in public hospitals Asylum the first public asylums in America those in favor Opposed Call the roll They tabulated the votes When the totals were read Dr. Samuel gridley how and a man named Charles Sumner came to her and said Darcy you've won the bill has been carried This victory Could have been enough Yet for Dorothy a Lindex it was the beginning of her life's work But she was an American Massachusetts was only one state in a great nation. She went from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico Can't promise me him, but we're calling the special station. She presented the fact the hard fact Five solid months of traveling at least today Try to read she went into the dark valleys of the world into the strange Melancholy society where the desolator gathered the unconsole She couldn't stop and wherever she went the hospitals arose She had seen an evil and pioneered to drive it from our country She did her best to transform the treatment of the mentally sick and helped change the old institutions from places of doom where people came only to die Into houses of hope One of the monuments to her memory is the New Jersey State Hospital at Trenton, but she founded Where she died on July 17 1887 a whole world mourned her They opened the book over her grave We like to think that it might have been a woman named mini who read the word I Was hungry and he gave me meat. I Was thirsty and he gave me drink. I Was a stranger and you took me in Make it and you clothe me. I Was sick and you visited me. I Was in prison and you came on to me Thank you gene Arthur and cast for your fine performances Tonight's cavalcade play journey among the lost was written by Morton wishing grab music was composed by arden Cornwell Conducted by Donald Brian This week the girl scouts celebrate their 37th anniversary and we have cavalcade Hope you will join us in paying tribute to this fine American group Which unites girls of all backgrounds and faiths for the welfare of our nation She said Next week cavalcade will present a moving radio play my hunt after the captain It's the story of dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes search on the battlefield and in the hospitals of the Civil War for his wounded son Our stars will be to celebrate his stage and screen personalities Conrad Nagel and William ice cavalcade of America is directed by John Zoller and comes to you each week from the stage of the Longacre theater on Broadway in New York and it's presented by the depart company of Wilmington, Delaware This is NBC is the national broadcasting company