The Happy Prince an episode of Columbia Workshop -

Please enjoy The Happy Prince a great episode of the legendaryColumbia Workshop - - A Classic Old Time radio Show

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
For the direction of urban reeks.A happy Prince by us the wild.

(00:25):
High above the city, on atall column stood the statue of the Happy
Prince. He was gilded all overwith leaves of fine bone or eyes.
He had two bright sapphires, anda bright red ruby glowed in his sword
hills. In the winter, theHappy Prince was alone, but in the
summer he was much admired by everyonewho came. How high do you think

(00:51):
the sato is? My childhood?I do you have no mast? Ever
so high? Ever so high?That is not very tight? I gave
you hit the conference. Could youcompute the difference from the hip of his
nose to the history thought? Ithink I could master. But he looks
just like an angel, a goldan angel. How do you know?

(01:11):
Have you ever seen one? What'smaster? In my dreams? My dream
you will probably right now? There'sno effect uden dreams. And I do
not approve of children's dreaming. Ido not at all. Why the happy
Prince, my boy, happy prince? Who was the happy Prince? Did

(01:34):
you not read about him and yourstory books? He lived in the palace
of Samson Sea, where sorrow wasnot allowed to enter. That must have
been a strange and wonderful palace.It was more magnificent than any in the
world. And what did the happyPrince do there? All day long?
All day long, my boy,he played with his companions in the garden,

(01:55):
and of the evening he led thedance in the great Hall, and
didn't stay in the palace. Alwaysyou see, round the garden ran a
very lofty walls. And the princenever cared to ask what lay beyonder?
Why not, because everything around himin the palace was so beautiful, and
he was so happy. And whathappened to him? Why nothing happened to

(02:16):
him, my son, nothing exceptthat he tasted all places and never wept,
never all father, he never shedso much of a single tear.
And that is why the courtiers calledhim the happy Prince, For indeed happy
he was. Oh yes, misterMayor. He is beautiful as a weathercock,

(02:42):
but not quite so useful, Thatis true, mister Mayor, he
is not quite as useful as aweathercock. I am a practical man.
Also. He will reign over themarketplace for many generations, and visitors from
far off Flans will say, whata hell town that can boast the statue
like the happy French. Yes,and they will also say, what a

(03:07):
sensible town council, and what awise male. Thank you, thank you,
they might say, of those verywords, Little swallow, Little swallow,

(03:40):
Little swallow, light on my shoulderfor a moment. I am the
happy Prince, and I want totalk to you, little swallow. I
have often watched you fly down tothe river and scoop low amongst the reeds.
You love one of them, andthat is why you linger in this

(04:00):
cold town amid the winter snow,instead of joining your brothers in Egypt.
But your read was fickle, wasn'tshe She would not go away with you.
And so to morrow you start forthe land of summer. But first,
will you do me a small favor, a small service. They have

(04:23):
set me high above the town thatwill swallow, And I, the happy
Prince, who never wept in lifein death, weep for the ugliness and
misery that he sees all about him. My heart is made of lead,
and yet I cannot help but weepbecause I see, far away, in

(04:44):
a poor little house in the meanstreet, a mother who stitches my candle
light, and on a straw padetby her side, her little son is
wasting away with fever. Pluck theruby from the hilt of my sword,
swallow and take it to her asfast as you can, and then come

(05:04):
back and tell me about her.What kind of flowers are you kitchen,

(05:31):
and address mother Tatius flowers, mychild, passion flowers on a satin gown
for the loveliest maid of honor.Think of it, my darling, she
waits on the queen at the stateball tomorrow. I should like to see
the queen. Will I ever bewell enough to see the queen who rides

(05:51):
by in her coat? With God'shelp, you will be well soon enough,
My sons, Then why are youcrying? Look at the gown,
dolly, it's so lovely. Seeand hold it up to the light.
Yes, I like yellow. Italmost seems that if the sun is shining

(06:13):
through the window, doesn't it.Yes, Dolly, I'm so hot low.
So first I should like some water, mother, just a little.
May I have some water? Mother? Yes, of course, my boy,
I'll give it to you. Thankyou. But you are getting the
river water again, and it isso bitter. Oh, it is the

(06:36):
only water we have. Child.Try to drink a little. Love it
please, I'll try, but ittastes so horrible. I should like an
orange, a big rollen orange.How wonderful it would be. Can you
get me an orange? Mother?Oh, my dolly, I should like

(06:58):
to bring you heap and heaps ofgolden oranges. But until I finish this
dress for the Queen's lady, Ishall not have money enough to buy even
one golden Try to sleep, mydolly, and I'll stitch as fast as
I can. Yes, mother,but I'm so thirsty, so hot.

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Oh dear God, let my fingerswork faster so that I can get money
enough to save my little son's life. Oh I'm sorrial, so you mother?

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Mother? What's up? What's thematter? Heavens? I fell asleep
and the gown not half finished?Oh what will the Queen's ladies say?
I let a little mother, andnow I am quite coold. Let me
feel your folleay, darling? Why? Yes, your feever's going down?
Oh, thank you dear God.My son will get welp, sou I'm

(08:22):
not very ill now? Am Isleep again? Child? And while you
do, my fingers will work likelike me. The dress will not take
long? Now? Why what isthis on the table. What have you
found, mother? This must bea ruby. I have seen them in

(08:43):
the shop windows. A ruby,a real ruby. Where did it come
from? Why? I haven't beenthe idea. Perhaps some one in the
palace heard of my troubles and sentthis ruby to help me. Yes,
that must be it. There aresome good people in the world, world,
my son, good people, Andthey put it on the table while

(09:03):
I slipped, and didn't even waitfor me to wake and take them.
Will I be able to have anorange then, mother, Yes, my
darlings, I shall buy you asmany oranges as you can eat, and
a lot of other good things besides. And soon you will be out of
bed and playing in the sunshine.Akay you, thank you, little swallow.

(09:39):
You have done a good action,and that is why you feel less
cold. But I suppose that youare now thinking of men and in Egypt
on his granite throne, when thecrocodiles lying warm in the sun, and
the sphinx as old as the worlditself, and you want to join your
brothers who are building a name thanthe temple of Baalback, And hear the

(10:03):
pink and white doves cooing to eachother from the eaves the first to put
me across the town to a gaddett. But a young man sits writing.
His hair is brown and crisped,his lips so vad as pomegranate, and
he has large and dreamy eyes.Nor little swallow, I have no rule

(10:24):
before him, But my eyes aremade of rare sapphires. Pluck out one
of them and take it to him. Well, do I not have my
other eyes? Pluck out the stoneand take it to this young man,
and hears something of his story?You no know how steel it all is.

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Why would I have a curse towrite? Place? I should be
better off delivering loaves to the baker, Oh nose of bread, fragrant and
sponge. How hungry I am?And when shall I be able to buy
another meal, or build a firein the grate, or wear a fine

(11:13):
coat, or even mend the holesin the roof to keep this biting window?
Yes, only the birds make theirhome with me. How sick of
it all I am, and vainperhaps to think I can write? Uh,
I'll give it up, I think, Yes, little bird, I

(11:35):
shall stop this fool's task and workwith my hands, and then I shall
be warm. Why? Why thisis remarkable. A swallow, Yes,
a swallow. And what are youdoing in this cold town? That'll swallow?
If I were you, I shouldbe in Egypt, where the sun

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is warm on the great palm trees, and with the yellow lions come down
to the edge of the river Nileto drink. They'd have eyes like green
beres, greening bells. Hight letus the piece of grass that the swallow
was brought in his beak. No, it's a sapphire, a beautiful growing

(12:24):
sapphire. What providence scents that burden? Here? I shall buy food,
I shall throw away these raggs.I shall be warm, and my play,
Oh, you wonderful swallow, Ishall finish it. I shall finish
my place, and you must leaveme, a little swallow. It is

(13:00):
only right, But here it isa bit of cold and sure death for
you. Whilst there you will singabove the mountains of the moon to the
king who as black as ebony,and you will talk to the green snakes
that coil in the palm trees,and watch the leaves that war with the

(13:20):
butterflies. But before you bid thehappy prince farewell, fly down to my
feet. It'll swallow and listen fora while to the match girl, Poor
little swallow. How wonder if you'reas cold as I am. I don't

(13:45):
think you are. You fly awayto a warm man. I should like
to be warm. I should liketo take all these matches and build a
fire, the blazing fire. Andmy father would beat me if I went
home. Would even a single boxon souls? Do? I was flying
away? Good bye, Swallow.Perhaps you are going to a land where

(14:09):
the sun shines after all, littleswallow, Little swallow, pluck out my
other eye and give it to thematch girl down there. She has neither
shoes nor stockings, and her littlehead is bare. You must do as
I bid you, a little swallow. It does not matter if you make

(14:33):
me blind. I have seen enoughof joy with that poor little girl down
there. Pluck the sapphires and droppedit before her. She will take it
home and her father will not beather. You must do as I say,
little swallow, or I shall bevery unhappy. No, you will
not hurt me. Take the stonedown to the little match girl. Are

(15:07):
you hearing them, little swallow?I wish I could take you home with
me, but I think would becolder than you are now. H w
are you carrying in your bitch?I have the piece of glass sheet bl
like this sky in summer. Idon't think you want me to hide it
jun't a little swallow or so pretty. Perhaps if I take it home to

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my father, he'll forget to withme. Oh, with a lovely bluestone
things A little swallow? Thank you, she was laughing, A little swallow,
wasn't you that sound? Three mea thousand times with the loss of
my eyes, you have been asplendid message of dear little swallow. And

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now you must stop in your journeyto Egypt. You must not stay in
this cruel cold any longer. No, little Follow. It is kind of
you to say that you will neverleave me, But I do not need
you any longer, and so flyaway to your brothers in Egypt. I
have heard you sigh for the scentof the lotus flowers, and I know

(16:15):
that you miss your sleep in thetomb of the great Kings. So go
with my blessing for all the helpyou have given me. Do you really
mean what you say, Little Follow? Or are you speaking out of kindness
to me? Yes, it couldbe my eyes by day, and at
night you could sleep at my feet. Well, then it'll swallow, fly

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over the city, fly swiftly,but miss nothing. Tell me of the
misery, and want you buying there. I have a plan to lessen somebody.
Go a little follow, return soonand tell me what you have seen.

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It is colder the bridge here thereare no doors to shut out the
wind. Even if we set outthe wind, we could not set out
of our hunger. I wandered nearthe meat shops today, and there were
succulent sides of beef, as therewas mutton, and sweetbreads and kidneys.
And then I will past the baker'shouse. His ovens smells sweet. I

(17:29):
asked for a loaf. He gaveme a kick. Why while you talk
of all this, it will notmake it like hungry, No, nor
more so. Ah, that istrue. Hunger and cold and the lack
of bed of one. To uswe are beggars. The poor can spare
nothing, and the richer stingy.I wandered near the fruit merchants. There

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were bunches of glistening grapes. Therewere melons and bananas from hot country.
Please, there were three day Youpromised to pay me on the first of
the month. It is now thesecond, and still you don't have the

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money. I shall have it foryou next week. Ie, Truly,
my husband will be very deady abench. He is a good workman,
and we shall be able to payyou with all the interest. Next week
is not this week. Your husbandwill not hesitate to give me the money
if I go to your shop.Oh no, you must not do that.
Do not do that, I prayyou. He must never know that

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I borrowed money from you. Ohwhy, oh why, pretty lady.
You know that it was for mybrother who was in trouble. Yes,
of course, sweet lady, fora brother who was in trouble. It's

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not a very heavy ring. Ishall give you a two shilling part,
only two shillings. It is agood price. I think I must buy
food, and that ring is mywedding ring. When it is gone,
there will be nothing left to sell. Perhaps you could let me have three
shillings on it. Three shillings.Here, I shall give you two shillings
if I said it's a good price. It is good to have a fire

(19:33):
to light. There are many withouta fire to light, and we have
some bread in the larder. Ibought it from the baker boys. It
fell from his basket and with onlya little bit dirty. You must look
very closely see the jaws on ittoo, And I shouldn't whatever you wear

(19:56):
that coat. But just one dayall far afoord drugs talking easy. We
could not find any with a farother build must be paid somehow we could
move to his mother rule. Itwas beautiful and nousious. We've always gone
ragged again, been all this timein the tavern. Now the fevers will
give us sooner or later. Callit not for the pool I had met

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one. Both were what is ourline to help my children in safey?
And my nights my were both together. We may be warm, and we
are hungry. We are cool,We are in pain. We are ill.
We are guys. But left mancries honor? Will cool we are?
Why do we live? We arehungry? We are in pain now

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hungry? Well, yes, littleswallow, you have missed nothing. There
is great suffering, and we cando so little. But listen, I
am come all over with fine gold. Every night you will strip a leaf

(21:03):
of this gold from me and takeit to some needy soul. And thus,
as I slowly lose my own luster, you shall shine in the eyes
of the down from me. Isall done, little swallow, all done.

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I have not even one speck ofmy former brightness left. I was
once so proud, a happy prince, and now I must be a fatyful
sight. I heard the mayor talkingabout me this morning, and I know
that he will soon have me pulldown. I am not sorry, But
you, faithful little swallow, whowill never again see the sun blood red

(21:55):
on the pyramids, or hear theriver horse and the reeds by the sea.
You are, and I am sad. Is you going to the house
of death? And yet death isonly the brother of sleep? Is he
not? And I am tired.So wait a moment. Now I shall

(22:18):
come with you. Dear, dearlittle swallow. We shall be together.
You are a dead little swallow,and my heart is cold and king.

(22:44):
I have called you together, gentlemen, to discuss a matter that concerns the
pride of the town. What thematter is this, mister mayle, I
refer to the statue of the happyPrince. As I was walking through the
marketplace this morning, I have tolook up at him, and I noticed
that he was very shabby, gentleman, very shabby. Have any of you

(23:07):
noticed him. It is true,mister mayor. True, the happy Prince
is no longer the pride and ornamentof the marketplace. Ruby has fallen from
his thought. His eyes are calm, and he is golden no longer.
In fact, he is a littlebetter than a beggar. You are very
observant. And then too, Inoticed a dead bird at his feet,

(23:33):
A dirty bedraggle swallowed here, Irude saw the bird. Well, then,
since the statue is no longer beautiful, he is no longer useful.
Do you all agree with me thecause? I agree? And so I
propose that we pass a resolution tomelt down the happy Prince agreed, agreed

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nothing, how ivot I'm hover now, and when he is removed from his
pedestal, I propose that we erecta subsave a substitute not unworthy. I
crush of the place the happy Princeonce held in our heart, good idea,
A happy fly on emerging, howright he is not unwheth he's cobs

(24:18):
you and this substitute me, theMayor shall be well, My friends and
advisers, what could be more pickingthan a statue of myself? If a
tax of himself and it's monstrous andcould be of me? Who I shall
have the sex I have been longwith in calcorate people with me or the
pedestal, and no one else.If we must have a tax, who

(24:38):
I am best statesmen of something?I have a broad brawl, bought myself
with figure of quelling brawl. Letme be a man of action like myself.
Hear they will erect my status sooneror later. Now, the fine
opportunity I had given most of thefigurey they could repay me with this honor.
Oh, let it be a youngman like myself with a bit of
quacker als the mayor. The honorshould be mine. Allowed, I have

(24:59):
a new coat stack you would havewell in a new color. I have
been pulled, and I greatly resemblethe happy figure. How they boast of
their miserable shortcoming. Let the statuebe a fitting one me. For example,

(25:33):
what is the matter with you?You peer into the furnaces, though
you see demons inside. Welcome here, have a look for yourself. Do
you see anything any metal? A? Yes, A piece of lead,
that's all. At least it lookslike lead, because if it were,
it would have melted long ago.It is lead. What I lift it

(25:55):
out of the furnace. Here itis from the tongue. You know that
it hasn't even changed color. Whyit is shaped like a heart. It
is a heart, the heart ofthe happy prince. You mean the statue
that would pull down in the marketplace. That's the one. They brought it
him this morning, shabby and crackedopen as though it had burst. The

(26:17):
jewel from the eyes and the swordwere gone, plucked out by crows probably,
and the gold coat was rotted offby the wind and the rain.
I melted him down, except forthe heart, which will not melt at
all. There must be a greatdeal of stone in it. But throw
it under the rubbish pile over there. Wait, is that a bird there's
swallowed? Yes, but it isdead. But they brought in the statue.

(26:38):
The swallow was lying dead at hisfeet. Well, I should have
thought it still too cold for theswallows to come home. I too,
but perhaps to the sign of anearly spring. Well, throw the heart
beside the swallow. Let us goon with our work. Very well done.
Here, the heart and the swallow. They've put me in mind of

(27:00):
something. Put you in mind ofwhat. Let me think a moment well,
yes, I remember it was atthe play the other evening. The
overseer gave me a ticket. Itis by a young player, right,
And I couldn't understand it, andthe line seemed silly, silly, why
silly? Well? The last scenewas in heaven and God looked over our

(27:25):
town and said to one of hisangels, bring me back the two most
precious things you can find in thetown. And what did the angel bring?
You brought a leaden heart and adead bird. And God said,
you have rightly chosen for in mygarden of paradise. This little bird shall

(27:51):
sing forevermore, and the happy Princeshall praise me. And that is the

(28:26):
story of the Happy Prince. Tunein next week at the same time for

(28:48):
another presentation of the Columbia Workshop.The Columbia Workshop has presented as a special

(29:10):
holiday program Oscar Wilde's The Happy Print. Leopold Krosser adapted the story for radio.
The Columbia Workshop is under the directionof Irving Greece. This is the
Columbia Broadcasting. This is the ColumbiaBroadcasting