 Remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. The makers of Hallmark cards bring you an unusual true story with host Mr. Lionel Barrymore. Welcome to the Hallmark Hall of Fame where we bring you intriguing true stories about unusual people. Tonight we pay tribute to a great humanitarian. His name was Henry Berg and the results of his amazing single-handed crusade against an age-old evil is evidenced by institutions all over America. Indeed, all over the civilized world. And we are especially proud tonight to have the distinguished actor Mr. Edward Arnold to play the role of Henry Berg. But first, here's Frank Goffs. Have you ever wondered why it's so easy to find a Hallmark card that says what you want to say just the way you want to say it? Well, let me tell you the reason. The makers of Hallmark cards are aware of the important part greeting cards play in your social life, of the lengths of friendship they represent. And so every Hallmark card is designed to meet specific standards of quality and good taste. Only the best will do for you to send to your friends. And because these standards have been maintained through the years, the Hallmark and Crown on the back of each card you mail means you'll carry enough to send the very best. Lionel Barrymore appears by arrangement with Metro Golden Mayor, producers of the new color picture Nights of the Round Table in CinemaScope, starring Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner and Mel Ferrer. And now Mr. Barrymore brings you tonight's transcribed story, starring Mr. Edward Arnold as Henry Berg on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. 1663 and the place St. Petersburg, now known as Leningrad, Russia. It is six months since Henry Berg, at the age of 52, has been appointed Secretary to the American Ambassador. It's not a very high post for the moderately wealthy son of one of America's most prominent social families. Henry Berg might well be considered a failure in the diplomatic service. But his presence in St. Petersburg has not gone unnoticed by the Russians. Often, as the dismayed American Ambassador is learning in strong terms from an official representative of the Tsar's government. I must warn you that this man Berg will not be tolerated much longer if he persists in meddling in the affairs of the Russian people. Please lower your voice, Captain. Just what do you propose that I do? I order his dismissal, at once. You order? Well, he's an employee of the American Legation, not the Russian government. He executes his duties faithfully and well. I will not discharge him. Very well then. Let me warn you, the police will no longer be responsible for his safety. If he's so much... Have you sent for me, sir? Oh, yes, yes, Henry. Henry, this is Captain Viraslov. I'm at the Captain this morning in the Public Square. Where you seized the halter from the Hansel of Peasant, leading his cow to market and set the animal free to be lost in the streets. Is this true, Henry? It is, sir. By what right? By the right of human decency. The animal was sore from lack of milking, followed by a half-starved calf bleeding to be fed. And when she tried to stop to care for her young, she was beaten. And is this a diplomatic matter for the American Legation, the manner in which a Russian peasant chooses to treat the Russian cow? The animal made no mention of its nationality. Henry... Henry, you must understand that the position that I must take is official. It is my duty to promote amicable relations between our nation and Russia. Regardless of my personal feelings and opinions in the matter, I must forbid any further interference in internal affairs. So long as you are on the staff of this Legation. Then, Mr. Ambassador, my wife and I will return to the United States. You have my resignation, effective as soon as I can be replaced. Henry, are you sure this is the wisest cause? There is no other cause, sir. People who so heartlessly abuse dumb beasts will not hesitate to mistreat their wives and their children. May God grant that they never hold such power over other nations and other people. Constant failure, Mavie. Failure? Yes, failure. In Russia I couldn't even defend the rights of a cow. Now I come home and find sick, abandoned, starving animals wandering the streets of my own country. In every dumb beast I see the human race indicted for brutality. I know, dear, but you are not a part of it. I am a part of it if I do nothing about it. We all are. Every decent citizen in the nation should and must subscribe to some organization to correct his evil. But no such organization exists. I intend to see that it does. We have enough money to make a start if we can educate people and list their aid and appeal to their reasons. Pull, pull, pull, you jibber. Pull, you jibber. Pull, you jibber. Here, stop there, stop there. Can we be careful? Well, there, well. The animal is overloaded. Not when he tastes a whip it doesn't. Well, he... Oh, is he not? Look, me fine gentleman, you pick up your nice silk hat and go on about your business. I will as soon as you and I have removed half the load from this wagon. Maybe you've not been hearing me. Maybe you need a taste of the whip yourself. Here, give me that. Well, why don't you take him to the lads in the market, huh? Pat McLean was done in be a mine in a silk hat. Matilda, what's left of it? What are you going to do? Get us out to noon after making me a present to this black eye. The bitterness in business. The horses that pull your wagons. Paid, except for being cared for. And they're not always cared for. Well, get over them when it's cold loaded with consideration for the size, age, and strength of the animal. Pull again. So he can't pull. You can find him lying lame and sick in his stall. You can kill him a few years before his time. If you do, you ask you to make these changes voluntarily. A decent code of human behavior. If you don't, then I shall petition every court in this land, if necessary, to protect your animals and punish you in turn. Looks like you've got a long road. Is he still in court? There's another case, you know. Yes, ma'am. Those young fellas who are out shooting birds. Won't you come in and wait? My husband will be happy to see you. I got four of the teamsters to sign up for the pledge Mr. Berg's been asking them to take. Each give me 50 cents to help things along. I know it ain't much, but... He'll be proud and delighted, Pat. They're not bad fellas, ma'am. They're ones who won't sign it. It's just that the newspapers have been making such a joke of Mr. Berg. Oh, there he is. Don't mention the newspapers to him, Pat. Just give him your good news. Yes, ma'am. Good evening, dear. Henry? Evening, sir. Is the place over, Henry? Yes, it's over. And my record is a failure as I'm termished. Oh, darling. Judge Herron wouldn't even listen to the bill of particulars. The defense attorney moved for a dismissal the moment the court opened and Herron granted it. I tried to protest and he fined me $200 for contempt of court. Contempt of court? Isn't there something you can do? Yes, there is. I can fight. I filed another action this afternoon. Against whom? Not somebody they'll laugh at this time. Against Kit Burns, the professional gambler who's been staging those fights between dogs and Kit Burns. Well, pecking your pardon, sir, but he's a powerful man. He's a brute and a criminal. Henry, after today, do you honestly think you'll be able to bring such a man to trial? I'll bring him there. If it takes the rest of my life, I'll bring him there. Now, you're afraid the missus is right, sir. You'll have a long wait. Then I'll know how to spend it. I arranged for a loan on the house today, Matilda. I bought a barn on the east side. For the shelter? Yes, we'll convert it to house every sick and starving animal it can humanely hold. If I'm going to be a fool, I'm going to be a big fool. Just a moment, we return to the second act of the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Yesterday, I ran into an old friend of mine downtown. The first thing he said was, say, Jane and I really appreciated that anniversary card you folks sent us. How do you manage to remember the date each year? I had to admit that we didn't rely entirely on our memories. You see, like so many busy women, my wife keeps track of special dates in her Hallmark date book. If you don't have one, let me tell you about it. The Hallmark date book is a handy little reminder, just the right size to slip into your pocket book. It contains a page-by-page calendar for the year with space for notations beneath each day. That way you can jot down the dates of anniversaries, birthdays, dental appointments, club meetings, everything you want to remember. As my wife says, a Hallmark date book is the next best thing to having a social secretary. And best of all, you can have yours just for the asking. It's a gift from stores that feature Hallmark cards. So why not get your Hallmark date book tomorrow? And now Lionel Barrymore brings you the second act of our true story of Henry Berg, starring Mr. Edward Arnold. The figures in the heirlooms disappeared from the home of Henry Berg. And the clothes that Henry and Matilda wore were not as new and fashionable as they might have been. But each new day found the converted barn expanding to hold more and more sick and homeless animals. The curious came to look and laugh. But here and there, one stopped laughing and pitched in to help. Don't petition that stall, just wire across the front. Are you only there? You're serving, sir. My name is Bono. Well, if you have a bill to present, Mr. Bono, I'm afraid of it. No, no, no. You owe me nothing, Mr. I have come only to offer my help if you can use me. Well, Mr. Bono, I... I know I am a very old man, Mr. But surely there must be some use even for an old man. Oh, of course there is. I'm very grateful for your offer, Mr. Bono. We're using scrap nails. Perhaps you could sort them for us and straighten the bent ones. I would be happy. Well, I'll tell you, they're back here. Oh, okay. Perhaps we may be able to pay you. I don't know. Don't say much. I need no permit, Mr. Believe me. Are you French? French to the dear. Do you know how I made my living? I was a trepure, a dealer in furs. Age brings strange changes, Mr. Once, I killed animals. Now, I would help them, as you do. I'm very happy to have you here, sir. We could use all the help we can get. Do not fear, Mr. You will have it. I promise you. Spectators. Your Honor. The bench recognizes the district attorney. My office is sufficiently burdened with work without being forced to make futile attempts to prosecute complaints filed by Mr. Berg. They defend it in this action as a gentleman and a sportsman who is known and respected throughout the city. We'd like to give the court a more accurate description of Mr. Kit Burns. The so-called sport that he promises consists of putting two dogs or game cocks in a pit where they attempt to rip each other to shreds in a fight to the death. My customers like what I give them, Your Honor. State legislature and the Board of Aldermen have reserved seats for every event. That is true, Your Honor. They do. They will corrupt officials who block passage of any laws that would put Kit Burns and his like out of business. I would welcome such a suit. That will be all. Berg has forced me into this court to prosecute this action. There's nothing in Mr. Burns' sporting events which violate either the letter or the intent of the wall. Then the action has no place in this court. At Mr. Burns, the charges against you are dismissed. But you can't do it. We're going to insist upon firing actions in which the plaintiffs are animals. Until some animal walks into this court and fires a complaint for itself. To 10 days in the city jail. As for offending the court. I came here to plead for animals. That's true. But I also came to plead for people. In life, Your Honor, they supply us with food and clothing. They also give us intangible blessings such as loyalty and love, companionship and devotion. That these gifts can be paid for with a kick or a curse. Go unchallenged. Long go unchallenged in America. If it does, then our sense of what is right and just must bear it. His conscience and to his immortal soul. Speak, Your Honor. Sentences. For these teamsters. Can't you see the cartoons? They got a present for you. Little contribution for your society. Who's picked the cartoon? It's when you spoke yesterday. It was the first time I'd seen you personally. The complete editorial support of the New York Herald in your campaign. And my unlimited personal support. For every member of my profession who was thoughtless enough to try to make a humanitarian look like a fool. My humble thanks to you, sir. The people who made me go to court. We received thousands of letters from all over the country supporting your campaign. I'd actually reached the people. You reached them, sir. And they reached us. Terrain editorial demanding new and adequate laws to bring cruelty to animals. Vention of cruelty to animals. Oh, it's a very pretty sign, Henry. The first shelter for animals. If only Bonner could have lived to see it completed. You might as well be proud. That's no longer the case, Henry. You've got more money than you ever dreamed. How's that? I brought you to the Nite Herald. Canadian travel is fortunate to invoke society. Bonner bequeues $115,000 to society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Henry. Bonner. Bonner. Apparently he was a very wealthy man, Henry. It's only his will last night. Naming you and your society, the soul errs. A man who spent most of his life trapping animals. It is written in the 11th chapter of Isaiah. The wolf also shall dwell with the kind, and the leopard shall lie down with the land. There is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and its growth gave strength and impetus to similar organizations in England and throughout the civilized world. By unwavering courage and perseverance, Henry Burg won the battle against brutality and made the world a better place to live in, for animals and for men. In just a minute, Mr. Barry Moore will be back with our guest, Edward Arnold. At this season of the year, friendly acts and friendly thoughts take on a richer meaning, and we realize on you how much we value our friends. If you're thinking along these lines right now, you'll find that one of the best helps for keeping friendships growing throughout the year is waiting for you at the fine stores that feature Hallmark cards. It's the Hallmark Date Book for 1954. This handy date book makes remembering easy, for it has space for the names and addresses of all your friends, room to put in their special dates, their birthdays, anniversaries and the like. In fact, every date you want to remember in the new year. And the Hallmark Date Book is just the right size to carry with you, so you'll always have a reminder to help you be a better friend. So this week when you're in the stores that feature Hallmark cards, just ask for your Hallmark Date Book. It's the store's gift to you for friendship's sake. Tonight, these same stores, as well as the makers of Hallmark cards, and all of us here on the Hallmark Hall of Fame, want to wish you and yours a very happy and prosperous new year. And now here again is Lionel Barrymore. Thank you, Frank. Thank you. And thank you, Edward Arnold, for a perfectly splendid performance. It's good to have you back with us again on a Hallmark program. It's always a special occasion when you're with us. Well, thank you, Lionel. And if I may return to compliment, I always look forward to the stories that you do on Hallmark Hall of Fame, and I'll tell you why. Your stories are always entertaining and often dramatic and exciting as well. But more important to me, they have an inspiring quality about them. That's partly because you tell true stories about real people and it's also because, well, you know these people for their courage or faith or kindness and love of their fellow men and the defenseless creatures of this world, like today's story, for instance. I think we should have more programs like this that the whole family can enjoy and then mull over them afterwards and profit by them in their daily lives. And so that's why I'm especially delighted to be here with you today. Well, Eddie, all I can say after that is here. Please take one of our Hallmark date books and mark down as soon as possible date that you can be with us again on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. And you'll find this date book will come in real handy for a busy gentleman like yourself. Oh, good. I'd like to have one. And good night. I hope to see you soon, Lionel. Happy New Year to everybody. Good night, Eddie. Good night. And ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all of us on the Hallmark Hall of Fame and the makers of Hallmark cards and the fine stores that feature them may I wish you and yours a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Remember, you're also invited to the Hallmark Hall of Fame on television every Sunday, starring the Sarah Churchill. Until next week, then, this is Lionel Barrymore saying good night. That are sold only in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember a Hallmark card when you'll carry enough to send the very best. Edward Arnold can soon be seen in the forthcoming release Man of Conflict. Our producer director is William Prueb. Our transcribed story tonight was written by Joel Murcott. Featured in our cast were Jeanette Nolan, William John Stone, Ben Wright, Howard McNeer, Herb Butterfield, Lawrence Dobkin, Ken Christie and John Daener. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you until next week at this same time. When we present an exciting story about the famous cowboy Tom Mix and the week following, we'll bring you a true story about William Allen White and on January 17th we salute Mark Twain on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. The CES Radio Network. This is KMBC, Kansas City, Missouri.