 The DuPont Cavalcade of America, stalling Geraldine Fitzgerald. Good evening. This is Geraldine Fitzgerald. Tonight's Cavalcade is a story of a shocking young lady named Ellen Swallow, who dared become a scientist during the 1870s when no nice girl dreamed of venturing outside the sewing circle. But before our story begins, here is Bill Hamilton of the DuPont Company. Thank you, Ms. Fitzgerald. Each year about this time, many of us begin thinking about painting our houses. For the shutters and trim, it will be to your advantage to specify DuPont, Dulux, Trim, and Trellis finishes. They hold their color and gloss. They are quick drying and are resistant to fading. Dulux, Trim, and Trellis finishes come in light, dark, and jade green, Quaker brown and black. Modern trim colors that are another of DuPont's better things for better living through chemistry. And now, paging Ms. Ellen, starring Geraldine Fitzgerald as Ellen Swallow in an original radio play on the DuPont Cavalcade of America. You left. What are you all about? Why, why, Professor Richard? Good morning, Dr. Andrews. Why are you whispering? Why are you standing there pitting into the laboratory window? Stop sushing me. What's going on here, anyway? I've heard this to be a very interesting experiment conducted in the chemistry class this morning. It may even be dangerous. Quite so, quite so. May I ask just what you've heard? May I ask just what you've heard? That the experiment is to be most unusual, in fact, utterly fantastic. Observed, ain't it? Not yet, sir. Good. Then it hasn't begun. Move over. In 1871, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was a young school. But its men were already gaining a reputation for their scientific pioneering, their fearless experiments. Well, not the least fearless of these took place one winter morning in the chemistry laboratory. It was the day a woman walked into the class for the first time. And you will observe that as Bertrand maintained, chemistry possesses this active factory to a more eminent degree than. Well, Miss, what is it? Professor Ordway? Yes. Yes, what do you want? Is the class going on? I'm Ellen Swallow. I'd like to enroll in this course, sir. Quiet, gentlemen, please. Ellen Swallow, eh? Yes, sir. President Runkel did mention some nonsense about a woman wishing to study at MIT. But I hardly dared hope she would honor the chemistry department. I hope to major in chemistry, sir, with your commission. This is advanced, glass young lady. And the term has already begun. We have no time for tea parties. I didn't earn my degree at Vassar by attending tea parties, Professor. I'm prepared for advanced work. I dare say that point remains to be proved. Oh, please, let me prove it, sir. Hmm, I'll have to discuss the matter with Dr. Runkel. Meanwhile, take a table over near the wall for today. I'm sure Mr. Sims, they will be delighted to make room for you. Won't you, Sims? Yes, sir. Oh, thank you ever so much, Professor. However, Miss Swallow, you'll receive no special privileges because of your effect. I expect none. All right, let's return to the discussion. See, I was there. Is this the table he meant? Yes, Miss. Here, let me move these things over. Oh, yes. Oh, dear. And now what? I only dropped some test tubes, sir. It was all mine for you. Well, pick them up. What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a female student before? Yes, sir. No, sir. Here, here, I'll help you. Oh, no, Mr. Sims, don't pick a blast with your bare hands. You'll cut yourself. Looks like I already have. Oh, my goodness. Well, the class is waiting. Have you two quite finished with your little chat? He's cut his hand rather badly, sir. Perhaps I'd better get something to bandage it with. May I offer my culture, Miss? Half of the address. Here's some water. Are you all right, Miss? Gentlemen. Yes, sir. If this is a chemistry class, I'm a Bunsen burner. Yes, sir. Gentlemen, I have called this special faculty meeting to discuss a rather extraordinary question. A young lady with a degree from Vasa has applied for admission to MIT as an advanced student in chemistry. Yes, Dr. Andrews. I'm against it, Dr. Rancourt, unequivocally. Yes, I'm not surprised. But since her scholastic record is so high, I thought I'd let her enter a class or two without advance notice. Professor Oddway, I believe she attended yours this morning. She certainly did. Now, Bombshell couldn't have destroyed the discipline of that class any more effectively. Oh, you were there, Dr. Andrews? In a way, yes. And I say, let one female get her foot on the door and before we know it, we'll be teaching classes in needlework and fudge-mething. Not a bad idea. No, dearly, you know, I'm afraid you're letting your dyspepsia influence your judgment, Dr. Professor Richards will back me up. And he's a young man with a healthy point of view. What do you say about it, Richards? Well, no one has asked me what I think about it. And I'm the one who suffers. Well, what do you think, Oddway? Well, the girl has spunk, no doubt about it. I tell you, if one gets her foot on the door, why not allow her presence in classes but not accept tuition? If there's any trouble from the outside of the Board of Regents, well, she simply is not a student here. I think that. I'm against it unequivocally. What is it you were going to say, Richards? I think. Well, well, out with it. I just think she's beautiful. Antelum oxide, 14.36. Serium. Let's see now. That's odd. Miss Swallow, you're still here. It's nine o'clock. Professor Richards, I didn't hear you come in. Well, now, what are you doing? Not analyzing that samar-skite again. I'm afraid so. It's very mysterious, Professor. I've tried and tried at it. It just doesn't add up. Well, students have been known to stretch a little on their addition when their analyses didn't jive. But the fact that mine doesn't add up to 100 might mean the presence of some new element, something we don't even know about. Oh, Professor, wouldn't that be simply, simply splendiferous? It's the student's favorite dream to be hailed as the discoverer of a new element in the Earth's old crust. At one time or another, they're all sure they've done it. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. No, you didn't. I don't want to be hailed as anything. I only thought that if there was a chance that... You know, you're certainly not the... the dangerous person they were afraid you'd be when you first came. Is that what you thought me? Well, I... No, no. Now that I have wandered all along, what you plan to do with your scientific education? I know. The hand that rocks the cradle is too fragile to handle a test tube. Well, mine isn't. But how can you make other people believe that? By sharing what I learn here with other women. I'm going to prove that the distinct science to homemaking that can be applied by every woman in her own kitchen. Not a bad try, Richard. Not bad at all. Now, watch the master. You talk a wonderful game of billiards, Ordway. Do I? Watch this. Whoa, well, the master's touch. Uh-oh, look who's coming. Old Peptic Ulcers himself. Gentlemen, I have to come to the club for sanctuary from the famine influence. I don't understand, Dr. Andrews. I hear you're Miss Swallows planning to hang lace curtains in Ordway's laboratory. I don't find that particularly funny. Well, you're not in style, and everybody else is laughing. And their laughing is both of you, that's all. Your shot, Bob. Right. Of course I can see how young Bob here would be taken in by pretty face, but you, Ordway, you know there's talk around Boston that we might lose our charter on the cop of her. Maybe you'd both change your minds again if that happened. I've heard about enough, Andrew. Oh, wait a minute. I've got something to say, too. I don't doubt it. You two have probably divined why she's rarely going to a man's school. There's such a wide choice of prospective husband. Now listen, Dr. Andrews. Ordway and I have both instructed Ellen Swallow in class. We've watched her work and have proof of her seriousness as a student, proof. She made an analysis of Samarthskite, found something missing, something she couldn't identify, kept on trying, and finally reported her suspicion that it contained a new element. Because of that report, a scientist in Kentucky has isolated two elements we never knew existed. And I have yet to hear her complain because she won't share in the glory. On the contrary, she's very happy about the whole thing. Come on, Ordway. Your shot. Sir Richard, come in. Good morning, Miss Swallow. Good morning. You don't mind having an observer in the lab today, do you? I'd be delighted. Mr. Herbert. How do you do? I don't. Mr. Herbert is chairman of the advisory board in Boston. Oh, well, this is an honor. What would you like to see first, sir? What a woman could possibly find to do in a chemistry laboratory. Oh, I find plenty to do. I'm helping Professor Nichols at the moment making water analysis for the Board of Health. And when she's done her own work, she manages to get around to a few dozen other details, like cleaning up the lab after all of us sloppy males. Wouldn't it be more practical to employ a charwoman for that duty and rather more orthodox morally? I beg your pardon. Mr. Herbert, perhaps we'd better show you how the chlorine content of water is determined now. What I'd like to know, Miss Swallow, is what goods all this going to do you in the kitchen? Well, why shouldn't chemistry be applied in the home, Mr. Herbert? Why shouldn't we know about pure water and pure foods? Do you think anyone's going to accept those analyses of yours? Why not? I don't want to be a scientist to shut myself away from the world. I want everyday life to be cleaner and safer and more enjoyable. Some man will have to go over your tests when you finish, you know. I disagree. Thank goodness the men I work with here aren't prejudice-figured living in the dark ages. I'm getting tired of being insulted and treated like some kind of a lower vertebrate. Frankly, I feel very sorry for your wife, Mr. Herbert. Good morning. Well, I never... Miss Swallow. Ellen! Excuse me, sir, I think I'd better go after. It only goes to prove my contention all the more. Emotion is no place... Where are you going? You heard me. I'm going to report this to Dr. Uncle. Miss Swallow. Ellen, I'm terribly sorry. I don't know why I had to go and be so grown childish. Oh, no. He could even make trouble. Everything you said was true, and it's about time you said it. Now, don't you worry, I'll take care of him. But to break down a cry like that in front of him and in front of you. Well, now, think of it this way. Suppose... Suppose you're making an analysis of tears. You, uh... We find a certain saline content, several known factors. We also discover there is an element missing. And... And so it doesn't add up to a hundred. That's right. Just as it was with your samarkat analysis. In a tear, there's always a mysterious missing element. One that man has never been able to quite classify. It isn't written down in the books, Ellen. How... How can a person recognize it then? By the way, it acts... as a kind of catalytic agent. And, by the way, it hurts right under your heart. Yes, Ellen. That's just what it does. It hurts like the very devil. And when you discover that missing element in tears, what happens then? I know I'm in love. That I want to marry you and be with you every moment, all the rest of my life. Oh, Robert, I know it too. Ellen. And... Oh, my darling. I don't care whether it adds up or not. You're listening to Paging Miss Ellen, starring Geraldine Fitzgerald as Ellen Swallow Richards on The Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. 1870s. A woman has been attending classes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the first time. Ellen Swallow's presence has caused its quarter of shock comment, but her determination to become a chemist has proved her right to remain. But there was one thing she did not determine to do, however, and that was fall in love with a young professor of mining engineering and become Ellen Swallow Richards. Doesn't it sound heavenly, Rob? Professor and Mrs. Robert Hallowell Richards at home, 32 Elliott Street. Oh, there's never been such a beautiful wedding. Oh, and never, ever such a beautiful bride. Oh, Rob, I... Yes, darling. You don't mind if I sort of pat us on the back, do you, Rob? What do you mean? Well, for furnishing the house ahead of time and having everything ship-shaped. To the last detail, nobody can say we're impractical. Oh, no. And it's going to be such wonderful fun, proving that a home can be run scientifically and sensibly. I'm so glad you agree with me, darling. We'll show all the doubters, won't we? Hey, mister, what was that address again? Of 32 Elliott Street. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I forgot. There's 32. I suppose we're being awfully smug, but I... Hey, you two just got married, didn't you? Yes. Yes, we did. That man is an abyss of forgetfulness. He waited for us at the church. Yes, I know. We're going to be practical and modern, aren't we? Nobody's going to say that... I thought the first time she makes biscuits, mister. My wife is going to bring science into the kitchen. And my husband's going to apply engineering principles to all the household chores. Oh, yep. Well, folks, here we are, 23 Elliott Street. I said 32. Oh, oh, oh, show you did. Get it? It's amazing. Never forget the day I got married. I kept forgetting everything, too. Oh, oh, oh, there. Yep, here we are. Many happy returns. Oh, thank you. Science in the kitchen. That's a new one. Oh, it's such a rattle-brain. He'd forget his head if it weren't tied on. Well, darling, here we are. Home. Now, I... Oh, that's odd. I know I. What's wrong? Ellen. Yes? Oh, Ellen, my sweet. What is it? I forgot the key. Kate, if you want to look at the shopping list before I go. Oh, yes, Mrs. Now, let's see. Eggs, yeast, apple. I could make a fine stew of what's left of the lamb. Good. Let her get some more onions then. Onions? Well, you know, Mrs. The other ladies in the block, they think it isn't gentile of you to be eaten onions. Oh, Katey, you haven't been talking over the back fence again. Oh, not exactly, but... Well, I can't help hearing things. The other ladies think it's strange of you to be eaten onions. Katey, you haven't been talking over the back fence again. Well, the other ladies think it's strange of you to be going off to that college every day, working over the devil's own brew in that chemistry laboratory. No wonder she's partial to onions, they say. Well, I say, what's an old-fashioned lamb stew without onions? Oh, I'm afraid I'm after a green one. Well, then, what do we care? What the other ladies say? Oh, but it isn't only the onions, Mrs. There's a saying about Katey. You sure you want me to repeat it for you, word for word? Well, you seem determined to. Now, out with it. Well, they keep saying I'm making tests at the Technology Institute and running that community kitchen in Boston and keeping a home. Well, there must be something queer about you. Something sort of unnatural. And what do you think, Katey? I'm standing up for you every time I mention your name. But I can't help worrying. Now, Katey, look, you're going to be married soon. O'Connor's pretty proud of the way you've learned to keep a house and to set a good table, isn't he? Oh, that he is, Mrs. He was saying yesterday, Katey, since you came in, Mrs. Richard, you've learned how to keep a fine, well-outed home. Every time I stop by for assembly at a home-baked bread, he says, Katey, do you know why I'm making food tests at MIT? No, I don't know. To find out which foods are pure and which are impure. And I transfer my findings to the New England kitchen in Boston so that people can have a place to buy good food with onions and lots of vegetables. Food that are cheap to buy and good to eat. And here at home, well, I... I'm happy with the way we're doing things to you. Oh, no, Mrs. He's about as happy a man as I ever did see. Well, then tell the ladies next time you see them to stop worrying their pretty heads about us. We're doing fine. Are you very busy? I've something to show you. Oh, Rob, just a minute till I finish this running the sample. Oh, how's it going? Oh, sometimes I get so disgusted. Now, now look at that. It's simply loaded with impurities. Oh, maybe I'd better take it over to mineralogy. No doubt it. Oh, Rob, if my community catch kitchen would only catch on, if people only realized that vegetables and fruits and good balanced diets would make them feel better. It's a beautiful dream, Ellen. If the regents would let me start a woman's laboratory here, other women could be trained in this work. Well, maybe they will. What's the matter, dear? Oh, I'm so sorry I get so involved in this thing. I guess I'm pretty selfish. You had something to tell me. I have something to show you, Ellen. But I didn't. What is it? Something in that newspaper? Yes, it's in the letters to the editor. It's that awful Mr. Herbert. Oh, you read it, Rob. All right. So-called New England kitchen is a pipe dream. Are you going to eat what some flighty female chemist tells you is good for you? Or are you going to eat what you like? The word like isn't capital letters. If you begin by regulating your meals by a chart you will end by living from, yes, even dying by a chart. Oh, sometimes I wish a lady were allowed to swear. Go ahead, my darling. Fire away. I... I... I can't think of any suitable words. What good is Don, or, oh, fudge? And fudge isn't on your diet, Charter. Can't they understand? Food that's good for you can taste good, too. Apparently nothing's good enough for our Mr. Herbert. And his very influential Rob. He could close the kitchen down. Oh, let him. If I know you, Ellen Darling, you'll start another one first thing next morning. How's the table look, Rob? Oh, magnificent. I'll bet old Andrew's eyes will pop out when he sees that centerpiece. I never thought I'd live to see the day he'd come to dinner here. Or the day we'd invite him. Oh, I don't know. I guess I'm getting mellower or something. I realize now the poor thing's been led around by his stomach all his life. Well, I guess everything's ready. Will you ask Mamie to announce dinner? Yeah. A perfect dinner, Mrs. Richards. Absolutely perfect. Thank you, Dr. Runkel. Delightful. Centerpiece. Delightful. Did you arrange it yourself? With Mamie's help. She's very artistic. Dr. Runkel, wouldn't you say this is the time for your important announcements? Announcements? Oh, yes, yes. I feel that there could be no more proficious moment to inform our charming colleague that we have, after long consideration, an earnest discussion decided to... What in thunder is that? Sounds like a parade. Oh, yes. Look, come over here to the window. All right. It's great, all right. An army of silly females making a hullabaloo about women's rights, getting the franchise, preposterous nonsense. I remember. This is the night they set for their demonstration. I say it's an outrage. And I suppose next thing we know, you'll be out there marching with a Mrs. Richards wearing bloomers, carrying placards. I don't think so, Dr. Andrews. Why not? Aren't you always talking about women's rights, poppycock like that? No. It seems to me that the best way for a woman to find her place in the world is not to march for it, but to work for it. Thank you, dear lady, for giving me such a fine opportunity for completing my announcements. Oh, yes. It gives me great pleasure to inform you that MIT has decided to inaugurate a laboratory for the express purpose of educating young women in the field of science. And you, Mrs. Richards, are to be its first instructor. Congratulations, Ellen. I... I... I can't say anything except that it's... Oh, it's... It's simply splendid for us. Mrs. Richards. Yes, Dr. Andrews. I would like to ask you something. Of course. What is it? I was just wondering even with your new duties and all, if perhaps you couldn't find time to teach my cook to cook. I beg your pardon. Yes? Is there something I can do for you? I was looking for the chemistry laboratory. I... I want to enroll in the course. That's why I came to MIT. Come in, my dear. You're in the right place. I'm Mrs. Richards. Take off your bonnet. I'll give you an apron and a table of your own to work on, and we'll get started right away. Oh, thank you. Thank you very much. Oh, aren't there any other students? Not yet. You're my very first. But don't you worry. Women are going to be recognized someday as scientists, both in the laboratory and in the home. And pretty soon there'll be so many students here we won't know where to put them. Let's get to work. Well, Dean Fitzgerald will return in a few moments. But first, here's Bill Hamilton of the DuPont Company. Whenever you hear the word nylon, you no doubt think of nylon stockings or perhaps the nylon bristles of your toothbrush. It's hard to realize hearing it practically every day that a little more than 10 years ago, the word nylon didn't even exist. In just the last decade, this product of DuPont chemical research, this remarkable development which has brought more beauty, strength and longer life to so many fabrics and materials has helped bring about better living for all of us. Tonight, I'd like to tell you about another form of nylon, DuPont nylon plastic. DuPont produces this extremely versatile and sturdy plastic in the form of molding powder. This is sold to manufacturers who use it to make new and improved articles for home and industry. Among the things you can buy for yourself, your family and your home, now made of the exciting new DuPont nylon plastic, our bathroom tumblers, light in weight and virtually unbreakable, funnels for filling baby bottles that can be safely sterilized in boiling water, slide fasteners that remain sturdy and give service with a minimum of care and combs that are tough and can be sterilized. DuPont nylon plastic also serves you in many unseen ways. For example, as small functional parts in motors and instruments such as gears, bearings and coil forms. Nylon's toughness has wanted a place as a protective covering for electrical wiring and its use in long-wearing self-locking nuts has made an important contribution to safety. In these industrial applications, just as in products you buy for your home, the possibilities for this amazing nylon plastic are many. Like the nylon in stockings, DuPont nylon plastic has the virtue of being strong, yet light in weight. Its many advantages will undoubtedly bring nylon into a large number of new products, as well as improve many old products. Yes, you'll be hearing and using this name more and more. DuPont nylon plastic, one of the DuPont company's better things for better living through chemistry. Here's Geraldine Fitzgerald. I'd like to talk to you from the heart about the heart. One out of every three deaths in this country is caused by disease of the heart. Your help is needed to combat the nation's number one killer. So please, get in touch with the American Heart Association in New York City or communicate with your local heart association to find out how you can join the cardiac crusade and fight heart disease. Thank you. Next week's Cavalcade will present two celebrated stars, Basil Rathbone and Thomas Mitchell. Our play is a little known and unusual story of George Washington during the first months of his administration as president. Be sure to listen to Cavalcade next week at the same time when our stars will be Basil Rathbone and Thomas Mitchell. Tonight's original DuPont Cavalcade paging Miss Ellen was written by Virginia Radcliffe. Featured in tonight's play with Geraldine Fitzgerald and Collier as Professor Richards. Music was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Donald Brian. This is Ted Pearson inviting you to listen next week to the president and the doctor starring Basil Rathbone and Thomas Mitchell. Cavalcade of America is presented each week from the stage of the Longacre Theater on Broadway in New York and is brought to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.