Page 1 : 14. On the eve of John's arrest, Robert Baldwin, sent him an e-mail persuading him to close down, the bank. Draft the e-mail for Robert Baldwin., To:
[email protected], Sub: Closing down the Bank, Dear John, I have got some definite information that the police, will come and arrest you soon. Somebody has, complained against you and accused you of, misappropriating the bank’s money. I was going, through the records and I find there is much, incorrectness which we can’t explain to the police,, if they come to the bank to investigate the matter., So in the best interest of all, I strongly recommend, that you close down the bank. Keeping it open will, bring you more troubles. With more time in our, hands we can see how we can settle the things in a, proper way., I hope you will take my suggestion seriously and, close the bank down., Robert Baldwin
Page 2 :
15. Robert Baldwin decides to join Third National., He writes a letter to Mr. Marshall expressing his, willingness to join Third National. Write the likely, letter., From, Robert Baldwin, II /37 Kennedy Street, New York, To, Mr. Marshal Smith, President, Third National, Lincoln Street, New York, Dear Sir, Sub: Willingness to join Third National, Thank you for your offer letter dated November 20,, 2013. I am willing to take up the job., I request you to give me a period of three weeks to, settle certain matters with which I am busy at the, moment., I will be able to join on 10th December., Thank you!
Page 3 :
Yours faithfully,, Robert Baldwin, 16. Read the excerpt from the play 'The Hour of, Truth.', Evie: And Mr. Gresham hasn't done anything really, wrong., John: It's a technicality, that's what it is. Nobody, loses a cent. Nobody wants to see him punished., Do you agree with Evie and John? Substantiate, your views in a paragraph., I don’t agree with Evie and John. Both of them, know Mr. Gresham has misappropriated bank, money. If Robert Baldwin, their father, simply says, three words during the trial of Gresham, he is, promised a bribe of 100,000 dollars. For the poor, family, this is a huge sum. If that money comes to, the family, Evie and John can do so many things., Now they are unable to do so because of the lack, of money. So they are making excuses to make, their father accept the bribe., Evie says Mr. Gresham has not done anything, really wrong. John dismisses the misdeed of, Gresham by calling it a mere technicality. Moreover
Page 4 :
he says nobody will lose a cent and nobody wants, Gresham to be punished. So his logic is there is, nothing wrong if his father takes the 100,000, dollars offered to him., Evie and John are true representatives of this, modern world where money moulds the choices., Both of them knew very well that Mr. Gresham has, misappropriated the funds. This is the typical, attitude of the modern world. Honesty, integrity, and truth have no meaning to most of the modern, people. For the modem people, money is God., They are prepared to sacrifice anything – their, conscience, soul and spirit – for money., 17. The employees of John Gresham under the, leadership of Donovan, the assistant cashier,, decide to take all possible steps to put John, Gresham behind the bars for the wrong he has, done. On behalf of Donovan, draft a letter of, complaint to the Chief of Police highlighting the, need to curtail such illegal activities in future., From, Donovan C., Secretary, Bank Employees Union
Page 5 :
John Gresham Bank, New York, 10 November 2012, To, The Chief of Police, Police Headquarters, New York, Sir,, Sub: Misappropriation of Bank Money by John, Gresham, As the representative of the Employees of John, Gresham, I want to bring to your notice the, misappropriation of Bank money by Mr. Gresham., He has misappropriated a very huge amount, causing the crash of the Bank. Currently he is in, jail awaiting trial., Mr. Robert Baldwin is the governor of the Bank., As far as we know he is an upright person who will, do nothing against his conscience. So, the sole, culprit is John Gresham., Banking is an industry built on faith and John, Gresham has done great damage to that faith. We
Page 6 :
all lost our jobs and we are in trouble. We request, you to take necessary measures against John, Gresham and recover the misappropriated amount, from him. He should be given severe punishment, so that it will be a warning to the people who want, to cheat people. I hope that you will look into this, matter and take necessary action which you deem, proper., Hoping you will take immediate action,, Yours faithfully,, Donovan C., (Secretary), , 18. Akash, a journalist has jotted down the, following points when he went to cover the fraud in, Gresham’s Bank., , , , , , , , Financial misappropriations in the bank, Chairman Gresham arrested, Employees are ignorant as to the real culprit, Baldwin, the close associate of the MD is the, only witness, Depositors worried
Page 7 :
Now, help him to prepare a news report on the, financial misappropriations exposed in Gresham’s, Bank., Bank Crashes – Misappropriation Suspected, Washington DC: The FBI today arrested John, Gresham, president of the John Gresham Bank, in, connection with financial misappropriations of, funds. The Bank has crashed. It is now closed and, sealed. Customers are anxious to know what has, happened., During the investigation, the police also, suspect that the governor of the bank, Mr. Robert, Baldwin too, may be involved in the fraud. The FBI, has not questioned Baldwin yet. But it is expected, that he will give evidence in court tomorrow., None of the other employees in the bank had, any idea that there was anything wrong until the, crash came. Mr. Donovan, one of the employees, even told our reporters that Mr. Gresham had been, a good boss and had been very kind to his, employees. Mr. Donovan has been working there, for the last 8 years. He claims that the closure of, the bank came as a rude shock to him as he had, married on the strength of the job and salary from
Page 8 :
the bank. The employees are also worried than, even the customers!, The police say that John Gresham has taken, away huge sums from the Bank and invested in, many businesses. Since Mr. Baldwin is the only, witness to this financial fraud, everything depends, on what he has to say in court tomorrow. Being the, close associate that he has been to Mr. Gresham, it, may not be easy for him to testify against the, president. The trial of the case will begin in 24, hours., 19. Trace the bond of friendship between Baldwin, and Gresham. Explain why Baldwin wished to, attribute some credit to his friend., Baldwin and Gresham had been friends since their, boyhood. They had known each other for over 35, years. Baldwin was an honest, diligent and, hardworking employee. He was very kind and loyal, to his friend Mr.Gresham. Gresham was the, president of the Bank. Baldwin considered Mr., Gresham as a good boss. He had even named his, son after Gresham. Gresham had been arrested for, misappropriation of money at the bank and, Baldwin was to testify against him. Gresham had, offered Baldwin a hundred thousand dollars, if he, would utter the words “I don’t remember” in the
Page 9 :
court, during the trail. Though he was a good friend, to Gresham, he had rejected the offer. The family, members also forced him to accept the offer and, also save his dearest friend of 35 years. Finally, Gresham had confessed his crime. He knew that, Baldwin would not tell lie. He appreciated, Baldwin’s honesty. He changed his mind and, surrendered at the end for the truthful attitude of, his friend Baldwin., 20. Go through the excerpt taken from 'The Hour of, Truth', John: They're going to punish Gresham, aren't, they?, Baldwin: I'm afraid so., John: What for?, Baldwin: For misappropriating the fund of the, bank., John: Oh, I know that. But what crime has he, committed?, Report this conversation from Martha's point of, view., John asked Baldwin whether they were going to, punish Gresham. Baldwin replied that he was
Page 10 :
afraid so. John again asked what it was for., Baldwin replied that it was for misappropriating the, fund of the bank. John commented that he knew, that and asked but what crime he had committed., 21. Why is the play "The Hour of Truth" so titled?, At what stage of the play is the "truth" revealed?, The play "The Hour of Truth" is titled quite, accurately. Truth and honesty is widely discussed, in this play. It is said that the truth has to pass so, many tests in life. Truth has to suffer but it wins in, the end. The play is titled The Hour of Truth, because the hour following the offer of bribe brings, out the truth about the character of the Baldwin, family. The hour of truth comes when Mr. Baldwin, refuses Mr. Gresham's offer and decides to testify, in court everything he knows about the case. This, is truly "the hour of truth" because it shows us Mr., Baldwin as someone so true to his morals and, integrity. As a result, his hour of truth came with a, great reward, which was a recommendation for a, new job. Similarly, the other members of the family, also realize that their honesty is lost when Mr., Baldwin is offered money. After the offer of money
Page 11 :
by Gresham, they try to convince Baldwin that, Gresham’s fault is minor. Similarly, Gresham who, had been dishonest throughout his life decides to, confess his crime during the course of the play., Thus, the title, The Hour of Truth is very apt as the, play depicts an hour of truth in the lives of all, characters., , 22. When Mr. Marshall enters the scene and speaks, about Gresham's confession Martha, Robert's wife, feels extremely proud of her husband. She speaks, talkatively on the ideal qualities of Robert Baldwin., Write it for her., (Hints: speaks truth – honesty - self-confidence commitment towards the family etc.), My husband Robert is a great man. I can say, that he is a synonym for honesty. He always, speaks truth. He has practiced it all his life and he, has been trying to instill it into our two children, and also me. He gets only a small salary but he will, never think of increasing his income by any other, means. He is a man of self-confidence and he is
Page 12 :
sure of himself. He is very self-less and is highly, committed to his family., He could have easily taken the money offered, by John Gresham and we could have lived a more, comfortable life. He loves John Gresham and that, is why he named our son John. He leads our family, in truth. He is living with integrity and purpose. He, is a strong man., 23. Prepare a speech to be delivered in the school, assembly about the topic “Honesty in Public Life”., (March 2016), Respected Principal, teachers and my dear, friends…Today I am standing here to say a few, words about Honesty in Public Life”., Honesty is one of the greatest virtues. Honesty, is generally based on trust and truthfulness. A, person who is honest is always honored by his, fellow men and the society. This is why it is said, ‘honesty is the best policy’., An honest person is always truthful in all, aspects of life. He never involves in morally wrong, activities. He lives by ethical rules and morality. He, enjoys lots of happiness and blessings as there is
Page 13 :
no evil in heart. Cheating and dishonesty can, prevail for a while but in the end, honesty will be, rewarded. Honesty helps a person shine through, their career, education, and all aspects of life. So, if, you want to become successful in your business, or career, you need to possess honesty. When it, comes to a relationship, honesty is very important, and essential., Mr. Gresham promised Mr. Baldwin 100,000, dollars just to say “I don’t remember” in the court., Such a statement by Mr. Baldwin would save Mr., Gresham from getting punished. But Baldwin, refused the offer because he is such an honest, man and he values his principle more than money., We all should be like Robert. Thank you., 24. Write a Diary entry which Baldwin might have, written on the day of Gresham's confession (Based, on the one act play 'The hour of truth'), Tuesday, 30th October 2020, God! What a turn of events! Today I was surprised, to hear about Gresham's confession. I had never, expected this but this was bound to happen in
Page 14 :
such circumstances. It looks as if Gresham was, very scared. Mr. John Gresham was my Boss for 35, years. I have always worked on a low salary but, suddenly today I was offered one hundred, thousand dollars to say" I don’t remember" about, the misappropriations of the fund. I decided to stay, with the truth. I could not sleep properly. Gresham, had offered me a big amount which could have, changed my life forever but my soul would never, agree on this., I never thought that my own wife and children, would persuade me to do a dishonourable thing. I, was almost pushed into accepting the bribe. Thank, God, Marshall came at the right time. I have, received a new job offer from the Third National, Bank. I feel pity for poor Gresham., Baldwin, 25. Read the closing dialogue of the play ‘The hour, of Truth’ and answer the questions that follow., “Please! Please! Can’t you see he’s crying?, a), b), c), , Who is the speaker?, Whom does ‘he’ refer to?, Explain the context.
Page 15 :
a) The speaker is Martha, wife of Mr. Robert, Baldwin., b) ‘He’ refers to Mr. John Baldwin ., c) Towards the end we see Mr. Marshall of the, Third National Bank comes to Baldwin, offering him a position in the bank. He also, says to Baldwin’s wife Martha, that she, should be proud of her husband.