April 2, 1917 was a
cherry blossom scented spring day in Washington, D.C. Five thousand individuals stood in front of
the American Capitol. These people were
delegates of the Emergency Peace Federation who were there to lobby against the
United States entry into World War One. Among pacifists was Tracy D. Mygatt
(1885-1973), a devoted member of the Women’s Peace Party and the playwright of Watchfires (1917).
Shortly after her
graduation in 1908 from Bryn Mawr College, Tracy D. Mygatt became active in organizing
the Women’s Suffrage Party in eastern Pennsylvania. In 1913 she moved to New
York City and joined the Socialist Party. When the Women’s Peace Party (WPP)
was established in January 1915, Mygatt became active for its cause and served
as one of the editors of the Four Lights,
the WPP’s periodical.
From 1915 to 1917 Mygatt
was a dedicated activist for peace organizing the Anti-Enlistment League in
1915, demonstrating on behalf of the American Committee Against Militarism and
serving on the committee of the Emergency Peace Federation. Mygatt was also a prolific author who wrote
stories, plays, poems and articles that addressed her political position.
Mygatt had written plays prior to Watchfires. One of her earlier plays was
published by Walter H. Baker Company, Publishers. The House of the Flashing Light: or the Devil’s Eye was published
in 1911 and was written with Joseph Carl Mullen and Lillian Rickaly. Baker
published at least five other plays by Mygatt between 1919 and 1922.
David Starr Jordan
(1851-1931) had served as the President of Indiana University (1884-1891) and as
the Founding President of Stanford University (1891-1913). Jordan wrote the
Introduction to Watchfires, which is
dated March 20, 1917. He states in the opening paragraph of his piece: “Watchfires teaches the most needed
lesson of the day, that humanity knows no national lines, and that all those who
suffer the cruelties of war, suffer alike and together.” In the closing
sentences of his piece, Jordan wished all Americans might read this play since
he believed the play presents a clear sense of international understanding.
Jordan was a peace activist
and served as President of the World Peace Foundation from 1910-1914. He presided over the World Peace Conference
in 1915 and opposed the United States involvement in World War One. He was
obviously highly recognized and a leading voice for world peace.
Watchfires
is
dedicated to Fannie M. Witherspoon (1886-1973). Witherspoon was Mygatt’s
partner in suffragists and pacifists activities from the time of their college
graduation in 1908 until their deaths, within three weeks of each other, in
1973. Mygatt’s dedication for Watchfires
claims Witherspoon’s “fearless scrutiny and creative faith have helped me to
believe that wars shall cease.”
In a review titled Homopathic Literature that appeared in the New York Times “Review of Books”
dated May 14, 1911 there is a description for the term watchfires that speaks
to the title of this play. “For the watchfires, then, were scattered beacons,
far apart, and to be reached by much baffled striving.”
Watchfires
is a play in four acts. Act One is set
in Mrs. Neville’s upper West Side, New York apartment. The time is June 1916. Mrs. Neville’s son, Ned, joined the
United States Army and is about to be posted to the Mexican border. Mrs. Neville’s brother, Sidney Stevenson an
active pacifist, presents his beliefs about the war in Europe and the United
States conflict with Mexico.
Act Two takes place
November 1916. This act is set in
Frieda’s home in Berlin, Germany. Twenty-five year old Frieda, is a Socialist
and a pacifist. She is preparing to participate in a demonstration against the
war. Three of her brothers have died in battle and a fourth is fighting in
Galicia. As an advocate for peace Frieda,
before she leaves her home for a street demonstration, is arrested as a traitor
by German Police.
Act Three is one week
later, but it is set in an East End London Tea shop. The initial conversation
is between a wounded soldier and his young wife. The war has disabled him for life and altered
his view of war. Seated at another table near the wounded soldier and his wife
is Mary. Jim arrives at the shop to meet Mary.
A group of individuals followed Jim since he was wearing a white feather
denoting his refusal to enlist. Mary tries to talk to the gathering crowd about
how the war is making certain individuals extremely rich—particularly munition
manufacturers. Policemen arrive on the scene to stop the demonstration. Many
members of the crowd end the act shouting “We want peace!”
Act Four takes place in
December 1916 just before Christmas. It
is set in a large living room of a private house in New York City. An advocates
for peace meeting attended by men and women is in session. Frieda arrives in
New York to attend this meeting. Her
health has been destroyed while in prison and she is dying. She pleads for the
Americans to make peace. Mary from London arrives to beg the Americans to help
England achieve peace. The last speech of the play: “To light our Watchfires
upon the waters that sweep around the world!”
Sidney from Act One, who makes this closing speech, is referring to
lighting Watchfires for Peace not watchfires denoting war.
This play presents
diverse antiwar sentiments in a moving and bold manner. It dramatizes the thoughts
of many citizens from several countries involved at the time when antiwar
demonstrations were taking place in Europe, as well as in the United States. The
script also refers to a letter smuggled to President Wilson on December 23,
1916 from Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) British philosopher, pleading for the
United States “to bring us peace.” It gives a snapshot of a brief time during World
War One when the people of the war torn nations, as well as those in the United
States, demonstrated for immediate peace negotiations.
Tracy Mygatt self-published
two editions of Watchfires in early 1917. This book drama appeared on the
market around the time Mygatt was standing in front of the Capitol. Once the
United States formally entered the war, Watchfires
message urging the United States to become the broker for an immediate peace
was no longer viable.
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