Faksimile

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box 38/4
2. Cuttings
" Das Vermächtnis. (“ The Heritage.“)
A Play in 3 Acts by ARTHUR ScHNiTzLER.
Created a profound impression at Vienna, Berlin, and all the
theatrical centres in Germany and Austria.
Scene: Vienna (can be transferred to any English town.)
Time: The present day.
Synopsis:
The family Losatte: father, mother, their sons
ACTI. Huge, (26) Lulu (13), and their daughter Franziska,
live in a large town in comparative luxury. The plav opens
in Hugo’s room, a friend comes to fetch him, finding him
out enters into conversation with Lulu, they are soon joined
by the other members of the family, and by an aunt and
cousin of Hugo. He who is out riding becomes the subject
of conversation. They comment on his amiability and are
pleased that he is such a general favourite. Still it has been
noted by his people that of late he har appeared quiet and
absorbed, often as if his real life was led apart from them.
Especially has this impression been made on his aunt, his
former confidant, and on his cousin Agnes, who is deeply
attached to him. Afriend of the family, Dr. Schmidt, a man
risen from the masses, cold, unsympathetic, intending to
further improve his position by marrying Franziska, arrives
and makes some cynical remarks. At last the two girls are
left alone, from the window they see two carriages approach¬
ing and bet on which will first pass their house. To their
surprise and dismay one of the carriages stops at their door,
and a man, whom they recognise as Hugo, is carried into the
house. He has been thrown from his horse and mortallz
injured. Feelirg how near death he is, still conscious, he
tells his mother that, not legally married, he has a wife and
son to whom he is devoted. He begs her to send for them,
that he may say farewell, and extracts her promise to
acknowledge them and allow them to live in the house after
his death. Hugo’s father, dismayed by the news and by his
wife’s promise, decides to fetch the wife and child himself.
The death scene where the relatives, the wife and child with
their varied emotions, the cold and cynical Dr. Schmidt
attending the patient, are all present, is most thrilling and
dramatic. Atthe end Hugo’s mother whispers to her dying
son:" Be at peace, my child; these two, your wife and child,
have found a home.
A week has elapsed since Hugo’s death; the family
ACT II. have accepted the situation, and Toni and her boy
are living in the house. The grand-parents love thechild and
do their utmost to gain his affection; and though not unkind
to Toni make her feel her position. Only Franzisk. and ihe
aunt Emma are really good to her; Agnes, stirred byher love
for Hugo, tries to make a friend of Toni, but jealousv and
conventionality stand in her way. Toni often speaks o“ her
past happiness, and she and Franziska visit the former home
of the happy trio together.
No friends of the family have visited since th. death of
the son, and they feel they are social outcasts in consequence
of the unconventional step they have taken. Dr. Schmidt
considers such action justifiable, and is much shocked that
Franziska has been allowed to go out with Toni. He is told
she is the mother of their grandchild and shares their home.
She retorts that they should have adopted the child, but
thrown over their son’s mistress. The husband of one of the
married friends is announced as a visitor, and the parents go
to receive him. Franziska returns touched bythe signs of love
and devotion she has seen in Hugo’s own home; Dr. Schmidt
reproves her for having gone there with Toni. He says
though friends will give them up, he will remain true to them
in consequence of his attachment to Franziska, whose hand
he asks in marriage. On the parents returning they report
that the friend has intimated that his wife and daughter can
no longer visit. Toni returns bringing photographs, amongst
them one of her late father. This Dr. Schmidt recognises
having attended him in his last illness, he died alone, his
daughter preferring to remain with her lover. Toni replies
that she wishedto visit her father after her union with Hugo,
but he had refused to see her. Suddenly from the ante-room
one hears the child cry for its mother, Toni goes and returns,
excitedly exclaiming that he seems very ill. The doctor and
the family rush in to the boy. Franziska is left alone, and
says:“ Oh, my God, Vou will not take little Franzi from us!“
as the curtain falls.
The boy is dead. A heavy gloom seems to hang
ACT III. over everything. Franziska and Lulu are busy
packing up the child’s playthings during the mother’s absence.
She soon returns looking sad and ill, her only hope that as
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