Life, 1905-08-03 · page 17 of 44
Life — August 3, 1905 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features reader letters responding to recent cartoons, primarily addressing two controversial topics: **The Cartoon References:** 1. **A cartoon attacking John P. Haines**, President of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. A reader defends Haines as a respected, self-sacrificing citizen, objecting to Life's satirical portrayal of him as objectionable. 2. **A cartoon about Episcopal Church divorce policy**. A reader defends Life's criticism, noting the cartoon depicted a priest with a whip driving "illmatched" horses—a metaphor for the Church's strict, inflexible stance against divorce. The reader argues the cartoon effectively critiques the Church's irrational refusal to recognize that divorces can be beneficial. 3. **"Sermons in Stone"** cartoons about divorce receive praise as effective social commentary. **The small cartoon visible** shows a man and woman with the caption about a dog that "only bites"—likely a humorous commentary on social courtship obstacles. The page demonstrates Life's role as a vehicle for satirical social criticism on institutional rigidity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Necessary. ** QHALL we elope 2" he asked her, And her color came and went. ouldn’t like to go,” she replied, “ Without papa’s consent.” From Our Readers. (0 THE EDITOR OF LIFE. Dear Sir: Vam pained t paper for ave had so mui readin a h respect hich T as yours, the rude and John P Haines, the President of the American Soci. ety for the Preve: you have recently printed of and to sce therein a cartoon representing him as a most objectionable person. 1 wish you would derstand, is one of ovr most respected citizens, and ia public life one of our most picturesque figures. How self-sacrificing he is in the cause which he tells us takes up so ! How noble and how A look into his eyes © confidence and assurance much of his time han inspires absol Jsome a man he is! t honesty and trustworthy character which all who know him, well enough, mire. His re le abilities, amou to genius, in so many spheres of labor, are astounding to close observers of his work as editor, executive officer, worker at Albany, ete. Yours truly, he New Your, July 10, 1905 0 THE EDITOR OF LIFE T J noticed in Live of July 13, protest from Jared S. Moore against a cartoon which appeared i9 a previous number, entitled “Is this the attitude of the Protestant Episcopal Ch Mr. Moore claims that the cartoon isan attack on the Episcopal Church represents a priest driving an “illematched As arule, yc de of this Church is, tself, as it with a whip, rreaders haow what the attitu that it does not allow di that marriage is binding until dissolved by death, Merely because a man or woman sues fora imply that been entered into hastily.” divorce does arriage bond has“ Thousands of ases have occurted where divorces have been a real blessi formed by new marriages y unions fc To say that the Church recognizes relief in the form of a sep. nly understood y one using a little cc sumble, It was not an attack upon the Church, but did hit an irrational conception of marriage Yarstoua Pot, Mass. D™* LIFE: I want to thank you for the two stron; Sermons in Stone” © preached by you—one on ** Divorce,” and one entitled * For He's a Jolly Good Fellow recently The former Hes 1 WOULD COME OVER NUT 1 AM AFRAID OF YOUK DOG. She: OM, ME ONLY atTES inst those en who take the opposite is an unanswerable argument ag well-wishing clergyrr view to the one so stron gly put forth by your and constitutes the best exposition of 2 What God hath put asunder, Iet no man keep together.” drawir the whole subj:ct ever published The other picture should be framed and hung in every club in the country—and would 143 thus ease more heartaches and do more good than many sermons from pulpits I believe more good would result from the ures than tof a church Sincerely yours, Chas, A. Hyde. Nrw York, June 16, 1005. wide distribution of these two from the building nd endowme comicbooks.com