Life, 1914-01-15 · page 13 of 40
Life — January 15, 1914 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains an architectural illustration labeled "Proposed Design for a College Building" topped with a baseball, alongside satirical editorial commentary on child labor. The main text, titled "Whereas and Therefore," sarcastically critiques the Episcopal Church's recent General Convention resolutions on child labor. The church condemned child labor "uncompromisingly" but used vague language about "time or place" that wouldn't actually prevent it. The editorial mocks this as hypocritical—the church provides fine-sounding principles without enforcing specifics. The small cartoon (left) depicts a figure with a whip, likely representing exploitative employers or authority figures continuing to abuse children despite the Church's toothless condemnation. The satire argues that unless the Church explicitly prevents dividends to shareholders profiting from child labor, its resolution is meaningless rhetoric protecting economic interests over children's welfare.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PROPOSED DESIGN FOR A COLLEGE BUILDING Whereas and Therefore HE last General Convention of the Episcopal Church where- ased most threateningly and un- compromisingly concerning child labor, but its conclusions were much more mete and cooful as follows: “ Therefore, be it resolved, That the General Conven- tion of the Church condemns the employment of chil- dren in labor beyond that adapted to their age and strength, and at time or in places which would deprive them of opportunity for education suited to their capa- city; but it recognizes that labor is honorable and that every child should be trained according to his natural aptitude so as to qualify him to labor truly to get his own living. . . .” Let us hope that the many earnest advocates of progress will not examine the above too critically. The best way to get the full benefit of it is to close the eyes partially and go half to sleep. Under such ideal conditions, the resolution seems almost to fulminate and bombinate with righteous indignation at the child labor atrocities which are known so well. It is only when one awakes and opens one’s eyes full width that one wants the good House of Bishops to be a little more specific as to time and place, and that one thinks of embarrassing questions, such as, Should the children receive any monetary stipend or wages in addition to the wonderful opportunities for honorable labor furnished to them by their respective and respect- able God-fearing and philanthropical employers? For the sake of peace in the family and continued gen- erous contributions in support of the dissemination of the Christian spirit, let us assume that the Church has said enough to protect children from further oppression and imposition, but not enough to interfere with the dividends of any worthy communicant, E.0.J. ma j comicbooks.com /