Life, 1914-01-29 · page 11 of 40
Life — January 29, 1914 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon ("The Prodigal's Return"):** Shows two men shaking hands at a doorway while a crowd gathers inside. The caption references a "prodigal's return," suggesting someone unwelcome or controversial is being brought back into a group or organization. **"For the Spread of Dirt" Article:** This satirizes Frederick H. Robinson, president of the Sociological Fund, who leads a committee backing theatrical productions like "The Gully Man" and "The House of Bondage"—plays apparently suppressed by authorities. The satire mocks Robinson and his committee members for pushing morally questionable dramatic enterprises under the guise of sociological interest, despite public opposition and police action. The cartoon and article together critique using intellectual pretense to justify spreading salacious content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN ma For the Spread of Dirt awiut} FREDERICK H. ROBINSON, presi- dent of the Sociological Fund Committee of the periodical of which he is editor and publisher, is not only busy hacking up the white slave moving pic- tures against the action of the police and the decent sentiment of the community, but threatens all sorts of dire conse- quences to anyone who opposes the presentation of those choice dramatic enterprises, “ The Guilty Man” and “ The House of Bondage”. The latter play has already been once suppressed by the authorities. The committee which is backing these delightful enter- prises has for its chairman Mr. Norman Hapgood. Among its members are Mrs. O, H. P. Belmont, Ella Wheeler Wil- cox, Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, Sr and Dr. William J. Robinson. The names of Mrs. Inez Milholland Boisse- vain, Mrs. Catt and Mrs. Blatch do not appear in this particular list, although they have given public testimony to their interest in undertakings of the sort. Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., has withdrawn from the committee. The name of the committee isn't definite enough. It should call itself “The Society for the Dissemination of Filth”. HERE are some men so timid that, when they advance a positive opinion, you respect it because you know they would not have advanced it unless they had obtained it from some good authority. | “sO YOU'RE THE FOOL THAT KOCKED THE BOAT. CAN'T COME ABOARD THIS CRAFT!” WELL, YOU