Life — October 11, 1906 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Ditties on Divorce" - Life Magazine Satire This page satirizes divorce and its effects on children through a poem titled "What Shall We Do with the Children?" The illustrated header shows cherubs with divorce-related imagery, establishing the topic. The satire argues that divorce harms children more than parental imperfection. It critiques the era's growing acceptance of divorce, presenting it as selfish. Key points include: children are "victims of parents likewise," divorce leaves them without stable homes or proper moral instruction, and remarriage offers false solutions since "Sacraments can't be renewed." The central illustration depicts a troubled child, emphasizing emotional damage. The satire ultimately urges clergy to discourage divorce, suggesting financial support ("tithe") is preferable to family dissolution—reflecting conservative Victorian attitudes toward marriage and children's welfare.