Life, 1910-12-22 · page 37 of 44
Life — December 22, 1910 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains reader letters debating **Life's editorial stance on divorce**, which was a major social and religious controversy in 1910s America. Two readers clash: one praises Life's divorce cartoon as the finest satire since Punch's famous "Dropping the Pilot"; another protests that Life—a publication he respects—has attacked the sacred institution of marriage by mocking divorce as humorous. The second writer, from Williams College, argues that such sacred subjects should be beneath Life's satirical domain. The letters reveal that Life had recently published a cartoon titled "Not to be taken from her cross" criticizing the Episcopal Church's stance on divorce. This was evidently controversial: defenders saw it as legitimate social critique; opponents felt it profaned religious matters. The page also contains period advertisements (playing cards, furniture casters, a print shop, perfume) typical of early-20th-century magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
" CLUB LINEN PLAYING CAR im of back ematiched lees, pat d. Colors. sed, blue, teat posipael vn veccigt €f petsear™ for Catalog 146 Peart St. New York, From Our Readers (Concluded from page 1168) the same, as to the Catholics, if he cared to continue his existence. When a satirical journal ceases to satirize it has gone out of business. The Divorce Question My Dear Lire: We Americans, | know, are too lav- ish of superlatives, and I try to avoid them, I must, however. say that I think your recent cartoon on the divorce question is the finest cartoon that has appeared among English-speaking peo- ple since Punch’s famous ~ Dropping the Pilot.” Sincerely, Cutarces St. Chark Wane. Turts Cottecr, MassacHusetts. Against Divorce Dear Lire: Being a member of a family that has always considered you an important addition to the household literature, and a member of two organizations that subscribe to you regularly with- out a murmur of dissent, may I be per- mitted to raise my pen in protest to “Domes of Silence” The Invisible Caster without Wheels Make your furniture glide, keep it gliding always, Highly hardened, highly polished, nickeled domes of steel “Domes of Silence” ghde over carpets, rugs, floors, a lifetime. Same degree of hardness all through—no rough surfaces to catch, tear or scratch. Invisible. Slip easily over the edge of a rug. A few hammer taps adjust, and they stay where put, practically indestructible. There are “Domes of Silence” to fit all furniture. Five sizes, largest one inch—all 15c. set of 4. Rigd foreign and American patents cover “Domes of Biletice” You desler bas or con gif'the qonsine tee pou! Send 5c. for trial set. Mention your dealer's name so that out ineviable repeat orders may be qui and ststactonly led. Dealers: Demonstration sella No one ignores "Domes of Silence! afer having seen them. Duplay matter free. Wate for samples and peices, Domes of Silence Ltd. Henry W. Peabody & Company . American Agents 30 State St., New York your stand in regard to the attitude of the Episcopal Church on divorce? If I am not mistaken you aim to amuse your readers and to attack vice, cor- ruption and tyranny. In your cartoon called, “Not to be taken from her cross,” you have taken it upon your- self to attack that important section of the church universal commonly known as “the Episcopal Church.” You have put yourself on record as thinking lightly of the marriage vow ER SO ae LAST NIGHT moderate prices. The VPRO Cea PERPLEXITIES Ba Rear re ee The Boon & PRINT SHOP The PLACE to find distinctive ri osclitne Guise at aly »Calendars and d Hesped andy ARDS Whimsies Ivory Paster Bored 122 94 West 5Oth Street. seed NEW YORI. AS to exe’ Bala aos and ey exes rf bec foun & E, BOOK & PRINT ‘SHOP stmas ictures, e only. OOKLETS. favor of one of our acknowledged greatest evils—Divorce. I am a member of that body known as the college world, which in some circles is called broad-minded and in others heretical. May I say that I unite with a very great number of my fellows in failing to sce anything clther funny or calculated to do good to society in your cartoon? Do you not think that subjects as sacred as the marriage vow or the church uni- versal, a part of which you attack, are subjects far removed from your do- main of condemnation as a humorous and righteous periodical? Very truly, Junttan D. Han Witttams Couece, WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. November 17, 1910, and being in SANTA CLAUS Artistic Perfumer. His Latest Novelt Caron=Paris tagger | Sold by the Best Stores.