Life, 1901-07-11 · page 9 of 20
Life — July 11, 1901 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Content Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains two distinct pieces: **"Rushing Westward"** (top): A poem about a character named Minnie who married a man, moved to Harlem with him, but found married life disappointing ("no more smiles and no more laughter"). She ultimately leaves him to pursue "western freedom" and "the land of the Hereafter"—obtaining a divorce and moving to Dakota. The satire mocks both unhappy marriages and the period's fascination with westward migration as an escape route. **"What It Meant"** (bottom): A dialogue between "Winkleton" and "Plodderly" debating children's education. Winkleton advocates rigorous academics; Plodderly defends letting his six-year-old son remain uneducated, claiming he's "building a dog house." The satire criticizes parental negligence and anti-intellectual attitudes toward childhood development. Both pieces target contemporary social attitudes through exaggeration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ Rushing westward.” What It Meant. HAVE lately,”’ said Winkleton to his friend Plodderly,‘‘ become very much interested in the subject of the education of children. I am a parent, as you are, and I think it is the duty of every parent to provide suitable paths of knowledge for children's minds to travel in.” Plodderly made no reply. -EDRE* And he won the fair young Minnic— Took her to his home and mother, Took her East to live in Harlen— Ina little flat to smother— Work for him, and slowly smother! Then began a year of trouble ! No more smiles and no more laughter— Minnie longed for western freedom— He, the land of the Hereafter— For the land of the Hereafter ! Once again we see our hero— Hiawatha, rushing westward To the Stato they call Dakota— To tho land of rest and freedom ! Can you gness what for? Of cour-se, Gone to get a quick divor-co From the girl now grown more skinny ! Such is life ! Well, ta-ta, Minnie !! W. C. Smith, “My boy,’’ continued Winkleton, ‘is just six years old, I started him in at the kindergarten at three, wishing to give him tho full advantage of all the educational blessings that this country affords, at as early an age as possible. He has now finished this threo years’ course, and while he looks a little peaked, he has already shown promise of a wonder- ful mind.” “TI have no doubt of it,’’ said Plod- derly. “T have been looking up the mat- ter,”? went on Winkleton, ‘‘and I shall push him right : ahead through the primary with all possi- ble speed. The spare time he is home he is occupied with some of the latest educa- tional games, 80 that he is prac- tically not los- ing a moment except for his meals. When he is a little older, and has 4 YOUNO PAN AMERICAN. gotten through the elements, I shall begin to ground him in History, Physics, Latin and Greek, Higher Mathematics, Hydrostatics, Biology, Psychol- ogy, Modern Languages, Biblical Lore, Geology, Stat- ics and Dynamics, Astronomy, Conic Sections, Meta- physics, Sociology, Political Economy and any other branch that in the meantime may have been discov- ered. What are you doing with your boy?" “Nothing,” said Plodderly. ‘He has never been to school. He just fools around, Atpresent he is building a dog house.”* “ And do you intend,” said Winkleton, with a sneer, ‘always to keep him in such dense ig- norance?” “Thope to,’” replied Plod- derly, ‘You see, Lam in hopes that some day that boy may do something really worth while.”