FRAU LUND. Very seriously; this young man perhaps does reach the stage where he sincerely pities your so-called abominable creature. Then he has really advanced in his morality. Let the pity impress itself deeply upon him and your abominable creature has preached better to him than all your high-sounding phrases. BOLLAND. I am simply dumbfounded. DR. WASNER. Then you even believe that our society exerts a bad influence? FRAU LUND [very positively]. Yes. BOLLAND [with irony]. Fancy! University Professors, philanthropists and a general who are with us in this work--they are, of course, the ones who are likely to corrupt the morals of the younger generation. Frau Lund, no doubt, would like to send our young men to the good Ladies of the Pavement. DR. WASNER. In what way is our influence bad? FRAU LUND [with warmth]. The young man who joins your society does it only to ape you and to advance his own ends and vainglory. He forever deprives himself of understanding the meaning of life and of becoming helpful to those who suffer. BOLLAND. Well what do you think of such statements? FRAU BEERMANN. They are splendid. I would be very thankful if my boy would embody the ideals of Frau Lund. BEERMANN. Lena, I simply forbid you to say such things. FRAU BEERMANN. Really? BEERMANN. Everybody knows that Frau Lund is a radical, but I don't want you to fall into that habit. FRAU BEERMANN. I don't acquire new habits as rapidly as you. HAUSER [to Beermann]. Don't get excited. A politician must give everyone an opportunity to express his views. DR. WASNER. I teach young people and I heartily wish they'd continue to seek their ideals among high minded men and not in the dark city streets. BOLLAND. Right! And not in the dark city streets. FRAU LUND. Nor there, Herr Kommerzienrat, where the veil of shame is rudely torn from inborn sensitiveness and it is shorn of every secret charm. DR. WASNER. Correct! We do want to deprive it of its charm. FRAU LUND. You succeed in doing that; no tenderness can survive the brutal frankness of your meetings. DR. WASNER. It is not a national German trait to sugar-coat sin. FRAU LUND. Why do you confound all lack of refinement with the national character? DR. WASNER. Because it is good German to call a spade a spade. BEERMANN [getting up]. Why argue to no purpose? Let's start our game of skat. BOLLAND. Because it appears to be a conflict of two different philosophies. BEERMANN [rises, goes to card table, opens a drawer, takes out a deck of cards and opens them]. It's always the same old story. Never start anything with women! They must have the last word. [Sits down at card table. Bolland gets up and sits beside him.] FRAU LUND [laughing]. Spoken again like a typical reformer. DR. WASNER [rising]. I don't want to continue this argument, but if by any chance you have gained the impression that I regard this matter from a prejudiced view point, I will cheerfully admit it. I do.