American adventure; Free man

The University of North Carolina presents American Adventure a study of man in the New World. His values and his characteristics who he is what he believes what he lives by. Written by Johnny Lee and directed by John Clayton American Adventure is produced and recorded by the University of North Carolina communications center. Earl when director tonight story deals with Joseph Palmer old Hugh Palmer as he was called in 1830 by some of the people of Massachusetts though he was not old and was not a Jew but he did wear a Jew's beard long and full and flowing and the people of his community told him to take it off. But Joe Palmer wouldn't do that. He said his face and his whiskers were his own that he was a free man. What a preposterous thing it has Palmer standing there at your own trial with that massive hair. It is my own Your Honor and I kind of take it offered a trial and put it back on again. Well

you'll tell this court why it is that you must wear a beard yes if you will first explain to me why it is a man will scrape his face with a razor every day of the year. Surely you know that there is not a minister around who has not said from his pulpit that it is a sin to error there. What do you say to that. Your honor if the good Lord wanted me to shave then surely I would have been born equipped with a razor. Mr. Obama you do admit the charges I admit nothing. You do admit that you attacked three men in the township of Pittsburgh. No your honor. And with a pen knife did maliciously injure two of them. I cut them a little marble in the bed a little and then they ran away and said you would beat it. I admit I cut them yet on it but it was in self-defense. They set upon me with straps and razors and were intending to shave my face and so I protected myself and what again. But it was not unprovoked assault on my part.

Mr. Palmer because holds that you are guilty but under the circumstance stances that's the fine law that only $10. Now please pay the fine and be part of this courtroom dismissed. Your honor your honor. Before I go may I ask what will happen if I refuse to pay this fine jail until you change your mind then lock me up your honor I will pay no fines for defending what is mine. Down it will do no good to walk up and down the jail cell like a thing possessed. Perhaps it was foolish to defy the judge Nancy. But it aggravated me.

I can hardly blame you dear for indeed the whole town knows that those three men set upon me that I did not provoke them I was coming out of the Fitchburg hotel having just delivered some meat for his restaurant and they started walking toward me with straps and razors and one carried a rope which I suppose he intended to bind my hand oh let's not talk about that whole town knows it and I won't pay that fine. Be quiet you're getting excited. How much was the fine. $10 very little for a man with 10000 acres of land and mourn a thousand dollars put away. You're making much over little Joseph my dear Nancy. It is not the money not the fine it will cost money for you to stay in jail because food must be brought to you. And it will be Dampier your health will be bad. I was thinking that perhaps it would be wise for you and Tommy to move into town and and rent a place near the jail. Leave the house leave it for a while and move close by then and Tommy could bring me food and bushels of corn for a fire.

Joseph please I don't want to move ever since I married you I've lived in a large house and I have to move everything I know but but never mind it is more important that I do not pay this fine. A man must not bow to what is wrong. Now that's all me. We've said enough. Go home and get your things you're one Tommy read a house nearby. Be sure to bring some food and take this. What is it. Some thoughts I jotted down by the editors office. Tell them to printed if he dares. Yes Joseph and Nancy don't look mournfully. It may seem strange that I should put such emphasis on this fine but you would not want me to pay it when I feel that it is wrong would you. No of course not dear we heard a long I'll be all right here. Not long you've been in there. I wake. Is this the first day for you too.

Is that your employer that brings you food. Yes that's that's Tommy. He looks like a normal healthy body isn't strong. Did you notice the bruises around his face. No I did didn't do you have. Oh yes. Bruises. Why ask him when he comes back I will I will indeed. All men tell me something. Why do you wear that thing. Because people told me I could not who Polish people formed a prejudice without knowing why. So I flooded the prejudice and now I'm in jail. Or do you think a man should wear a beard I don't know that it matters. I think it does. Don't you have. I think it's a bad habit. You want to shave Plummer. Well what did they put those in the same cell with you anyway. I don't know. Don't you. What do you mean. Is there some reason some reason oh man this is the reason the razor. That's right.

What do you aim to do you know we're here to wait but just the right moment. Yeah when you go to sleep I see right arrow just as soon as it goes to sleep. Gentleman I would not advise it. I would not touch me if I were you I am not a weak man. I have plywood with new rules a New England soil and I'm as strong as I am big. So let me be your go honestly bomber goddess leave jail or jail are innocent at that. What good are the jailer doing in jail I don't know where it's going ot be quiet in there. Gracious man hold your tongue to see what is it. These men intend to shave me and I insist that they be taken out of this jail cell. You told him what we play and which was a foolish thing for you to do what harm can he do jail Union in week the town will get about the business. She gave him but he ain't asleep. Gentlemen I want to help you. There will be three of us to get it done. I would not come into the center with that

intention of if I were you who has the resume. Stand back from a herald you grab him to. Don't leave that hulk of a man to me alone. I understand look out he's got a job down put it down a deed I would put it down on top of you if you come one step closer. Bless me this is a jail nothing open street and I'm the jailer not another step come on. Now I want you. To. Get out of it and I want to do. Whatever you. Want I'll put off the modem if he's crazy. Close the door but the dealers and they're always like. How did you leave me. However I quit I quit. Get up stand that I am I am. Now I want your word that you would not go so long as you live permit any man to shave my beard in this job. I promise you no word my word before your maker before him. Yes and I'll get out of here. There's the key open the door.

Close it. Oh right you have asked for it and you will get it. I have your word here so I know what I gave you no promise not to put you in the dungeon and that I will if I must get 10 men to carry you with their. You will be thirsty hungry and cold until YOU BIG me for a razor Good night old man. Good night. He's in there Reverend. Call me when you want out. Joseph Palmer Yeah where are you. Here on the cop preacher

if you came to tell me about the wrath of God go on home. Why is it dark in here. Why are the shutters closed. Because I was in a dungeon. But the sheriff made the jailer take me out. So the jailer put me in here and closed me up. Ask him how long have you been in darkness. I don't know. Start of the 22nd of September. It is now December the 20th is it. How many days is that. Almost three months. And it's not as long as I had thought. Your son brings you food when he can. The jailer is a hungry man. And what a preacher. Never fear and never mind. I seek no help from you. I am God seven Joseph and then the Epistle to the Hebrews it is clearly written down to visit those in jail are brothers brothers. Sir I'm not a brother to such as you. I have not forgotten No nor has God Himself. How I note there with the others and you brought around the cup and others

took communion and when you got to me you have passed me over to try to understand the feeling of the people. That was months ago passed me by as if you were the one to determine who should be acceptable to God. What you did say was not totally acceptable either. You had no business taking up the silver goblet and drinking from a Joe self I love my Jesus as much as any man. And when a preacher will not give me communion I will throw you over the altar as Jesus would. As Jesus would if Jesus had been there do you think he would have refused me communion because I had a beard. Perhaps he would he would know sacrilege when he sees it. Are you suggesting that he would have shaved his own. Are you preaching to me. Isn't it time somebody preached to you and those imbeciles out there you call your congregation. Who have locked me in this cell and darken my window and I've been water for days at a time. Look here my friend. I've heard enough. I will not help you. I came in

here half afraid I would find a man who had lost all faith in a God I worship and the people around and so you have. Well you selected this path. Now go down to your grave as a Jew have dug it. I won't help you wear your beard. I intend to wear it. Go on defying my will defy you are aware it is a banner a banner jailer. Come let the preacher out. He must go into town and tell the people to pray for me at the. Feet. You know I'm a come out of there and that maybe I'm out. Come take the food if you want good food. Here take do you see my son read it. Your son brought chicken.

Me and my wife had taken me and so I brought you some. And here's some dressing and some water. Why Christmas is on today. And right now it's 2 o'clock on Christmas afternoon. And this is a Christmas present for me as a jailer. Call it what you may to soothe you also. Doesn't that bring it in. Look here take it you are so bring it in and put it on the stool. What makes you think I will soon throw it in your face you know you would you would go home as miserable as you were this morning. Do you know how I feel this morning because I know what Christmas does to people who have a weight on their conference. So soothe your conscience with a piece of turkey and some dressing and a glass of water out of jail or put it on the stew. There you are you are forgiven. I ask to no pardon and I don't intend to take down the blinds and let the air

enlighten neither. Nor to change my ways a bit. But on Christmas it seemed to me at least that where I am then leave me alone and I will eat your apology. I sent word to your wife and son that they could call on you this afternoon. They will I guess you want a most generous man there. Now go well go on. You have done your good deed Mr Palmer I didn't come here to ask no pardon. What I have done has been done in good faith. What do you mean every man went around here looking like that with one of them. I don't like it. It's none of your business but even so I've got to hand it to you Mr. public. I've been a jailer here for many a year. What are you trying to say did I. We have just this tonight after your family has come to see you then decide Josie decided to pay the fine. It's

but ten dollars and then go on home. I hope you will. I don't want any more of the kind of action I've had to take with you during the past months. You can let me go whenever you choose jail you know. You've got to pay the fine. Think it over by we should go home. You. Don't know what. You have any more trouble in school with fistfights timing. I don't know father. What's the matter with the boy and Nancy. He won't say what is a boy. You think nothing will come on I don't think he wants to tell you while I'm here so I'll leave you to do yourselves I'm tired of being in this room anyway.

Nancy don't worry about the conditions here. No Joseph. I know your strength is the strength of twenty. It's not an easy task to teach a town a lesson. I would do it dear. I wonder if it's worth the sacrifice it is. I wonder Joseph Nowadays I wonder all the time. Good by dear Nancy. Nancy I remember when when you were younger I was thinking the other day of the times we used to run across the meadows out on the farm. Yes. How many times we did that. I think a lot of that in our meadow was the broken trees in the wind and the rolling clouds and the sea at the high rock yesterday. If it relieves my mind. So I spend my days thinking of you in the places we have been and the places we will go when this is done.

Joseph wham. So they let you out. Yes they will. So good bye. We're not that good by the doors the doors open is it. Yes the jailer left it open for us. Tommy what is all this. Start at the beginning the beginning was easy sir. They hit me with their fists at the beginning or did they not. But that didn't work. So then they stopped talking to me except it call me names and ask me what my father would get out of jail. Father I have a friend left in this entire town. Then you never had a friend in this town but I don't talk like that. I know that isn't true but Tommy don't blame it on the people father. It's not them or who is it then it's you. Aren't you to blame to blame for for wanting to be a free man father free. Are you free in here. Look this is a stonewall father. These are stone

steps. These are bars this is a jail me let's say no more about it. Think of something I can do but I cannot surrender I cannot think of it better to be like Socrates to the fire the people drink the hemlock and die in prison and come from a father to be free as a man have to be different. I don't know. Can a man live like others and be free. Yes. Then why not do that father. Why not even shave. You are a strong man sir. You are a wise leader. But no one can follow you. I'm glad you told me this Tommy. Father it's only $10 isn't it. That's all the money to finance. What else is there sir that's worth all this. I don't know what it is Tommy. I only know I've always

felt that it was very important that you go on to your mother father consider. Yes now when I go on goodbyes or. Jail or come lock the door I'm coming out of it. Is it sundown yet. Right at sundown. The sky is red Christmas almost over where Lord Jesus happy but did you decide about what the fied. Are you going to pay your jailer. I have thought about it and I've decided that I don't know which course would require the stronger man right now refusing to pay or paying. Where freedom live decide to pay. Otherwise I don't know what might happen to you with the deep winter coming on. It gets below freezing in here.

There's only one course for me to take Jane or when you come right down to attach rights and I'm going to take it. So lock the door. So I said lock the door come hell or high water I will not pay that fine. Six months today Mr Plumber would you pay that. No jail or not. I wish you no not today. Thank you. So much Mr. Parker. Keeping the fight I will never pay the fine jail or never. You missed him. You know let it be a decade I won't pay the fine. Yeah this is a shared what do you want sheriff

to let you go I believe you would stay on here until you died. So get out go on home go free. You mean the town has decided that I don't have to pay the fine. Well yes that's what I mean you have to have then no May one thing remains before I leave. You see at times food has been brought to me and I have not gotten it and two bushels of KOA which were bought by me were used by this town in the whitewash of the day you want to use cigs or only the TAL knows me some money and I won't leave the jail until it's paid. Your your if you don't go after more than a year. Bummer I'll get I'll get 10 men and put you out of here anyway. Be that as it may. I don't know whether to cuss you out or shake your hand I don't know whether you have a devil or be a saint. When I was shadow Don't concern yourself about it. I'm Joe Palmer. That's what I am my own self my own man. Now go

get your 10 man. I'll wait here for them to come and for the fight to stop it. That evening Joe Palmer was ushered out of the jail beard and all and so his prison term came to an unceremonious and this was in 1830 and Palmer lived 45 years after that. In fact he lived to see beards grow popular. A friend of Emerson Alcott another individualists of his day Joseph Palmer never changed his ways and

never shaved. And when he died a monument was built to him in the north of the minster graveyard in Massachusetts. And this inscription was carved for all to see. Joseph Palmer persecuted for wearing the beard the part of Joseph Palmer In tonight's American adventure program was played by Earl when American Adventure is written by Johnny Lee directed by John Clayton and is produced by the communications center of the University of North Carolina. The series is made possible by a grant in aid from the Educational Television and Radio Center and the National Association of educational broadcasters. American Adventure is produced and recorded at the campus at Chapel Hill. Tonight's program originated from the studios of WAPT Yeff in Raleigh North Carolina. You're.

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