1913] The Unseen Empire 



There I gave two or three addresses and made a 

 number of new acquaintances and friends. Not 

 long afterward in New York I also met Atherton 

 Brownell, a young journalist, author of a drama 

 concerning which he asked advice. This having 

 been in. a way inspired by my "Unseen Empire," 

 with my permission the play was later named "The 

 Unseen Empire." Its action centers around the 

 inheritance by a young German woman of a gigantic 

 ammunition plant. But reacting to the wholesome 

 influence of a sagacious American minister and a 

 forthright young electrical engineer, she came to 

 believe that war is essentially wicked. Consequently, 

 upon the declaration of war by Germany against 

 Britain, she refused to allow the use of her establish- 

 ment, and when it was seized by the government, 

 touched a secret spring prepared by the engineer, 

 which exploded the entire works. 



The play is forcibly written and well exhibits con- 

 trasting features of German and American polity 

 militarism against democracy. Elaborate arrange- The play 

 ments were soon made for its presentation in both 

 London and New York, but the London censor re- 

 fused his endorsement because it might hurt German 

 feelings in its implied criticisms of their theory of the 

 State and their attitude toward war! Nevertheless, 

 the desired permission was finally given, to be re- 

 voked in 1914 on the ground that the play was so 

 tolerant toward Germany it would certainly stir up 

 opposition in England. Rising feeling at home then 

 seemed to preclude its presentation in New York. 

 In any case, it is worth reading. At Oxford, in the 

 fall of 1913, I wrote an introduction for the published 

 edition. 



n 451 3 



