Life — September 11, 1913 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

eTTEE. What Do You Think? We are Constantly in Receipt of Important Letters Which are Too Long for Our Limited Space. Brevity is Desirable That Troublesome Fly To tne Enitor oF Liv: The Ictter of J. B. Bilderback, of Portland, Oregon, appearing in Lire of August 7th, is very interesting. After such an carnest defense of the fly-swatting Regular Profession, Doctor Bilderback may reasonably be pardoned for having forgotten to attach the “M. D.” to his name. Doctor Bilderback is a most estimable gentleman and a very highly educated physician, a specialist in the diseases of children, with a recent tour of medical Europe to his credit; but, like many eminent and absolutely sincere physicians, the doctor is prone to center his attention upon the bacillus and the fly without giving due consideration to the all-too-frequently enervated and auto- toxemic human environment into which the bacillus is introduced. The fly is pestiferous and exasperating —we may all agree upon that point— and I think the majority of us would delight in his extermination; but if we will be careful to treat our alimentary canal with due consideration and respect through the moderate and intelligent cat- ing of simple and non-toxicogenic foods, and keep our Iungs constantly and deeply ventilated with pure, fresh air, we need not be so apprehensive as to the spe- cific and particular name of the bacillus which the fly has deftly deposited upon our mashed potatoes. Keep the body clean and wholesome through a moderation in living, and the “ germs" necd not greatly alarm us. Very sincerely yours, Custer J. Stepway, M. D. Fort Steve Ore., August 7, 1913. The Important Letter P To tHe Epitor or Lire: The appearance in the Army and Navy Journal of the verses entitled “A Cynic’s View of Army Life”, which were trans- ferred to your columns, would hardly be understood by your readers without the explanation that the appearance upon the shirt of the writer of the letter “ P” signifies that he is a military prisoner. Upon such prisoners is imposed the task of “policing”, that is, keeping in order the grounds of our military reservations, cutting grass included. As these men are suffering for their offences, and would otherwise be confined in a cell, they have no reason to complain of being compelled to do such work as every small houscholder in a country town docs cheerfully on his own premises. As we have no “service corps” in our army the work of keeping Government Property at military posts in order is necessarily imposed upon the enlisted men, Every good soldier recognizes this necessity, and complaints do not come from them, but from the violators of military law, who are required to do as much as possible of the work not strictly military. Wat. Conant Cuurcn, Editor, Army and Navy Journal. New York, August 14, 1913. For Mars Dea Lire: I heard a dreadful rumor that you were thinking of publishing another awful number, namely, against war. Now, you have been steadily preaching for some years against the great vices of peace and the false gods, such as luxury, spying, intrigue, women’s control, effemi- macy, and confusion of rank which bring nations to be dependencies. War is a medicine; and medicines are not always pleasant, but yet they are less deadly than the diseases which they cure. War is a means to an end, and its only end to carry into action the policy which during peace has brought about the war. If a war seems dreadful, it is not war which is dreadful, but the policy and the government which brought about the war; for no sane person will deny that war to avoid voluntarily abandoning a position of strategic importance, war to incorporate conquered nations into the conquering state in order to improve the citizenship, and war to stand by one's allies as oneself is honorable and profitable. No great man has ever spoken against war, but rather against injustice; Christ himself preached, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Study but for a moment those who are opposed to war; they are fraudulent property and effemi- nacy, as against aristocracy and honor, which are always jealous for a just cause of war. Old women who must have a finger in every pic, Jews that are afraid to fight, and ex-shopkeeper billionaires whose souls all the prayers of a com- passionate Christendom cannot save from everlasting purgatory, these are the op- ponents of war and also of justice. Must you, after having fought all the vices of peace, insult their great correc- tive, war in a just cause? Yours very truly, Joun Terre L. Jerrases. Mittox, Mass., July 28, 1913. A Guilty Public To te Eprtor or Lire, Dear Sir: I wish to express my admiration and respect for your spirit in regard to the justice and mercy that should be done helpless animals, and the continual fight you wage for them in your interesting Paper, Why will the public be so blind or thoughtless in regard to the great need of tortured creatures? Can nothing be’ done to compel the attention and action! of the people and relieve much terrible suffering? The public is responsible, and can accomplish wonders if only it can be persuaded to act. With best wishes for your continued prosperity and kind heart, I am, Yours sincerely, A Friexp or Aximats. August 14, 1913. THE MODERN MAID She: YES, 1 WILL BE YOUR WIFE FROM YOUR PASTOR APPROVING OF DOCTOR SHOWING YOUR PHYSICAL ENDORSING YOUR FINANCIAL F You YOUR PERFECTION, CONDITION, PRESENT SATISFACTORY CERTIFICATES, RITUAL WELFARE, FROM YOUR AND FROM YOUR BANKERS comicbooks.com