Life, 1914-03-19 · page 14 of 44
Life — March 19, 1914 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon critiques the eugenics movement, popular among early 20th-century American intellectuals. The subtitle poses a provocative question: "If physical perfection is the prime factor, why not make it more evident?" The illustration shows an elegant wedding scene where the bride appears to be displayed or exhibited. The dialogue below suggests the bride (Bessie) is being evaluated primarily for physical attributes and breeding potential rather than emotional compatibility. Characters debate whether she represents an improvement—a "higher harmony"—suggesting people are being assessed like livestock for genetic quality. The satire mocks how eugenic ideology reduced human relationships to biological calculation, treating marriage as a tool for producing "perfect" offspring rather than a personal union.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A EUGENIC WEDDING IF PHYSICAL PERFECTION IS THE PRIME FACTOR, WHY NOT MAKE IT MORE EVIDENT? women like that. (Lowering his voice.) Did you ever hear of Feminism? No, What the devil's that? M God knows—only they've And that isn’t all they've got. got it, I should say that most of the fool women in this country were affected hy it. Jack: he so sensible. Is Bessie in it? She used to Mattay: She's worse than your mother, She has what she calls the new “individual freedom". It's a kind of combination of the community stincts and- absolute irresponsibility which enables her to obey any idiotic whim she pleases, because it is, as she says, in response to a higher law. She is liable to get up at two in the morning and set the house on fire. Jack: Poor girl! Mattay: And what do you suppose your mother sa} She says that male creatures like you and me will be grad- ually eliminated ; that a new element is rising, which will supplant’ man—oh, my boy, they are clean dippy! (At this moment there is the whir of a car, the front door is thrown open, and Mrs. Maltby and her daughter en- ter, Obeying a primitive maternal in- stinct, still lingering, Mrs. Maltby throws her arms about Jack.) Mrs. Mattay: Oh, Jack! (Hugging him violently). I am simply overjoyed to see you. We weren't sure that you would be here to-night, and we had such an important engagement. How big and strong you have grown! Besste (kissing her brother rather nonchalantly): It seems too good to see you, Jack. You look rather dis- tingué in spite of your odd clothes. 1 must take you around and show you off. We had a simply grand meeting to-night! Jack: What happened? Besse: A soul experience meeting. Perhaps you haven't followed Bergson ; well, you must really know him to understand this. “Of course, this meet- ing is a distinct advance on Bergson. It is what I call the higher harmony (turning to her mother). The Swami says I do it best of all. Mrs. Mattsy (proudly): abandon was wonderful. Jack: What happens when you get through? Bessie (raptly): Everything. Your soul floats, Think of it, mother. I can see by Jack's face that he knows nothing of the new movement. Do you, Jack? Really, it isn’t silly, It is one step more toward the ultimate perfection. Jack: Well, I've been out in the woods, away from everything—cooking my own meals, living like an Indian. Haven't read a paper, even. It's new to me. Mrs. Mattny: (to her husband): Think of it! He has missed all the wonderful new world movement. Mattay (who, to keep peace in the Your