In the shoulder of the worm is a teacher. His tongue laps the war-sucked air in drought, but he yells defiance at the red-eyed eagle, and in his ears are the bells of new philosophies, and their tinkling drowns the sputter of the burning sword. He shrieks, “God damn you! When you are broken the world will strike out new shoots.” His boots are tight, the sun is hot, and he may be shot, but he is in the shoulder of the worm. (_Over_) A dust speck in the worm’s belly is a poet. He laughs at the flaring eagle and makes a long nose with his fingers. He will fight for smooth, white sheets of paper and uncurdled ink. The sputtering sword cannot make him blink, and his thoughts are wet and rippling. They cool his heart. He will tear the eagle out of the sky and give the earth tranquility, and loveliness printed on white paper. * * * * * The eye of the serpent is an owner of mills. He looks at the glaring sword which has snapped his machinery and struck away his men. But it will all come again, when the sword is broken to a million dying stars, and there are no more wars. * * * * * Bankers, butchers, shopkeepers, painters, farmers,—men, sway and sweat. They will fight for the earth, for the increase of the slow, sure roots of peace, for the release of hidden forces. They jibe at the eagle and his scorching sword. One! Two!—One! Two! clump the heavy boots. The cry hurtles against the sky. * * * * * Each man pulls his belt a little tighter, and shifts his gun to make it lighter. Each man thinks of a woman, and slaps out a curse at the eagle. The sword jumps in the hot sky, and the worm crawls on to the battle, stubbornly. This is the war of wars, from eye to tail the serpent has one cause: PEACE! The Logical Extreme GEORGE SOULE (_The first of a series of three Dramatic Extravaganzas to be called “Plays for Irascibles.”_) CHARACTERS: GENERAL HEINRICH VON BUHNE MARYA RUDINOFF SCENE: A private dining room in the General’s house in Berlin. It is decorated in black and white, and designed to impress one with the luxury of austerity. A chaotic but strong cubist bust in black onyx is at the left. The dining table, right center, is prepared for a meal. The effect of the room is that of a subtle beauty compressed and given terrific force by a military severity. There is a door at the rear and an entrance for servants at the left.