The Passing of Mars: A Modern Morality Play

A Modern Morality Play
By MARGUERITE WILKINSON Author of “In Vivid Gardens” and “By a Western Wayside”
Once, long ago, a peasant greatly desired to visit his king that he might obtain of him judgment and equity, and perhaps find favor. But he said within himself, “I am a faulty man; a homespun smock will scarce commend me to a king. I will stay at home and let others plead my case.” And when his case was taken before the king, (who was a good and just man) the king said, “Why did he not come himself? Homespun I can forgive if a man bring his soul and stand before me bravely. I will have no dealings with go-betweens.”
Here then, is my work, faulty, and plainly clad, but brave enough to go humbly before you who read and think, and by your thinking rule. If it find favor, it can be clothed anew in finer raiment. If judgment and equity prevail against it, surely it is well enough shrouded.
Copyright, 1915, by Marguerite Wilkinson
To the memory of my father, a strong and valiant lover of the soul of man, and to his brave mate my mother
Mars, the ancient god of war.
Soul of Man, his immortal enemy.
Religion, two personalities.
Cult, the bastard brother of Religion, a fantastic poseur .
Flip, a modern, the sophisticated intellect of large cities.
Science, a strong youth in laboratory costume.