Lost1913PrincessOne reelDrama

The Law of Humanity

Name: The Law of Humanity
Genre: Drama
Released: 1913-12-19

No copy you can watch online. No print is known to survive. What follows is what does: the release, the cast, the story, and what the trade press said at the time.

The story

“A delay in blasting causes serious injury to Pat Coogan. His wife goes to his employer, pleading for help—but Brown refuses to recognize his liability for the accident, or to give the Coogans aid. Nell Coogan, who has followed her mother, finds little Beth Brown playing on the sidewalk. She does not know who she is, and coaxes her new playmate home with her. The children eat headache pills—and are discovered very ill. This time, Mary Coogan goes to Brown to tell him that his little girl is dying. The night of intense anxiety which Brown spends in the Coogan cottage, cures him of his indifference—and employer and employee are bound together by one ‘law of humanity.’”

Summary from Reel Life · 13 December 1913

What the papers said

3 reviews · 2 articles

Read in full · 1 min

“Muriel Ostriche, as the wife of a laborer, is really too pretty for the part, but that is not a very serious objection. Boyd Marshall is the laborer and others in the cast are Marie Eline, Arthur Bauer, Morgan Jones, and Claude Seixas. An employer refuses to help a laborer who is hurt by a mistimed blast. Later the laborer’s little girl and the daughter of the wealthy man are playing together and take some pills which make them very ill. After a trying all night vigil at the laborer’s home the doctor pulls the little folk through. This incident creates a bond of sympathy between the employer and the workingman which results in greater happiness for both.”

The Morning Telegraph · 21 December 1913

Read in full · 1 min

“Coogan is injured by a delayed blast. Brown, his employer, refuses aid when requested by Mary Coogan. Nellie Coogan, following her mother, meets Beth, Brown’s daughter, who has strayed from home. Beth forgets where she lives, and Mary, returning from Brown’s, ignorant of Beth’s identity, takes her and Nell to the Coogan home. Left alone, the children eat headache pills, and when discovered are seriously ill. Both are put to bed, and Mary is again dispatched to Brown to tell that Beth is dying. The Browns, after a night at Coogan’s, forget caste, and Brown’s indifference of a few hours before dispels, and he recognizes the law of humanity.”

The Moving Picture World · 20 December 1913

More reviews

3 January 1914The Moving Picture World1 min

“The young husband’s eyes are injured in an explosion and his employer refuses to aid himself and family. Later the children eat poisonous tablets, thus bringing the two families together in a common affliction. Muriel Ostriche and Boyd Marshall appear in this number, which makes quite an appealing little story.”

December 21, 1913 (Sunday)

No release because of 2-reel Jack and the Beanstalk the preceding Friday.

Articles2 · 13 December 1913

13 December 1913The Moving Picture World1 min

“The Princess brand of Mutual pictures is springing an innovation. On Friday, December 19, they release The Law of Humanity. The innovation lies in the nature of the picture—dramatic. Hitherto, Princess films have been farces without exception. Indeed, the ‘leads,’ Muriel Ostriche, Boyd Marshall, and Marie Eline, were recruited because of their abilities in the line of farce. Hence, it will be interesting to note their work in The Law of Humanity, which is an emotional drama of pronounced type.”

13 December 1913Reel Life1 min

“NEW CHILD WONDER FOR PRINCESS: The Princess brand in the Mutual list has a way of garnering bright children. Now it’s a two-year-old. Marie Eline, a featured Princess girl, is only 11 and even Muriel Ostriche, the leading woman, hasn’t passed 17. The two-year-old is Dorothy Benham, and she has a specialty already. It’s a ‘cry” and the most natural you ever saw. At a given signal by her mother, Dorothy will simply cry her eyes out. There’s nothing ‘fakey’ or forced about it. See for yourself when Princess’ Law of Humanity is released, Friday, December 19th.”