Life — August 24, 1911 — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“LIPE* We Are Constantly In Receipt of Important Letters Which are Too Long for Our Limited Space. Brevity is Absolutely Essential to Publication To te Eoitor oF Lire: Stir—It is inconceivable that Lire should so exercise itself about vaccination, unless the editor responsible for this ag’ tation has had some unfortunate per- sonal experience therewith, As a lay- man's opinion upon a technical matter of this sort, this opposition, however de- termined, cannot be regarded as serious ; for the same opposition is urged in num- terless communities under the leadership of failures in medical study. Lire’s one argumentative weapon, as usual, is humor, generously alloyed with smart ness. And this is often conclusive to susceptible intelligences. But putting the matter under the tangent of ridicule, however clever, is an insufficient dealing with the issue for persons of stable per- ception. It is unnecessary here to state the we recognized advantages of vaccination As has been said, the fact that smallpox is now so comparatively rare as to en- able people to become disturbed over vaccination is significant. There is al- ways an element “agin the government,” however excellent and beneficial that government be. The surprising thing is that a “‘soi-disant” intelligent’ paper should permit itself to venture finalities upon matters of which it is obviously ignorant. Or is this simply a foible of genius? Perhaps it is born of the same spirit that rides rough shod over, and brutally assaults, the cherished custom of another nation—in the case of the British coronation—and yet is a great stickler for courtesy and for “ higher civilization.” Secure in both of these, Lire should look with a more genial eye upon the peculiarities of others. Stirtixc Hype. Boutprr, Coro, July 31, 1981. What Shall Women Do? Dear Live: Replying to your question in the num- ber of July 20, “ What Shall Our Women Do?” I would suggest that, first of all, they read Mr. H. Addington Bruce's ar: ticle on “ New Ideas in Child Trainin in the July American, and then put the ideas into practice. This would not, of course, give them an occupation in the sense that a man’s business is his occu- pation, but there is “ something at stake.” Respectfully submitted, Lvey O. Coutixe July 23, 1911 Public Schools ‘ Godless” To tite Epitor or New Yorx Lire: The Baltimore American of July 31 gives a letter you published July Rev. Louis R. Stickney, of the Balti- more Cathedral. He brands as false the words attributed to Cardinal Gibbons by Luther B. Martin, a correspondent of Lire. The Cardinal is alleged to have declared that the public schools wére “godless and breeders of immorality.” Well, if the Cardinal has not said this many other Catholic prelates and editors lave, and if the Cardinal does not in- dorse it, it proves that there is a great difference of public schools in the Catholic Church. There is such a thing as a man saying a thing at one time and contradicting it at an- other, cither by word or deed, of both ‘The greatest Catholic layman of the land has done something on this order—he is Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte, of Baltimore Some years ago Mr. Bonaparte put the public schools on a par with public school houses, and he so angered the patriotic boys that they for a long time called 1“ Soup House Charley.” Now, how- ever, at this very minute he is one of 3 committce of truant officers and of pub- lic school officers working for a compul- sory school law for the whole of Mary- land, Whether Cardinal Gibbons has partaken of Mr. Bonaparte’s chameleon qualities is an open question. A sample Catholic utterance from the Chicago Tablet: “ The common schools of this country are sinks of moral pollution and nurseries of hell.” Another comes from Rev. Father Schauer: “The public schools have pro- duced nothing but a godless generation of thieves and blackguards Any number of Catholic authorities could be given on the above line, while, on the other hand, I can produce Cath- olic priests who have defended the pub- lic schools over their names in the press. As I say, there is no unanimity among Catholics on public schools. Some 85 opinion on the comes “come MINUTE, DEADLY, Away XENOPHON ! TRAP.” PROM THERE THIS THAT'S ANOTHER per cent. of them have been charged with sending their children to them, The edu- cation of the day has engulfed the Catholics in as due a proportion as it has others. The paternalism and socialism of State education has done its work— and a bad one it is. Herbert Spencer and I have long called for the abolition of all State education, and we are Free- thinkers. If Mr. Martin wants to sce a man who ys emphatically that the public schools are “godless and breeders of immoral- y.” let him look my way, Francis B. Livesey. Ciarxsox, Mo, Virginia Heard From Eprtor Lire: Deak Sir.—Allow me to express my preciation of your paper. I like its editorial policy, and especially its attitude toward that relic of Moslem sorcery and fetishism—vaccination. Yours respectfully, R. J. Brosman. P. S—Inclosed find a few jokes, etc., which will cost you fifty mental dollars apiece. In case of rejection, return manuscript by special messenger. 901, W. Main Steeer, Curamtortesvitte, Va, July 25, 1911 Seems a Wise Decision E read in the paper that the en- Ragement between Claude Gra- hame-White, air man, and Pauline Chase, actress, has been dissolved by mutual consent. These friends seem well advised. In order to make marriage succeed, one, at least, of the parties, should be in a position to stay down on the job. comicbooks.com