Life, 1914-04-02 · page 42 of 68
Life — April 2, 1914 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page contains two satirical pieces mocking early 20th-century progressive ideals, particularly eugenics. **"Imaginary Conversations"** depicts a poor woman visiting a medical research institute to see her baby. A doctor casually describes experimenting on the infant with serums and surgery, callously noting that if the child dies, the institute will cover burial expenses. The satire targets the callous dehumanization of the poor by medical institutions conducting experiments without consent—a darkly comic critique of medical exploitation. **"Eugenic Wisconsin"** by Arthur Guiterman sarcastically praises Wisconsin's progressive governance, specifically its embrace of eugenics and forced sterilization policies. The poem mocks the state's confidence in scientific control of human reproduction—"rightly mated" couples, marriage requiring "a doctor's tag on." It references Robert La Follette, Wisconsin's progressive senator, suggesting progressivism's dangerous intersection with eugenics pseudoscience. Both pieces expose the era's troubling faith that science and expertise could—and should—control human biology and society, critiquing this ideology as inhumane and overreaching.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Wonderful constitution—your baby!” Imaginary Conversations *“Coute I see my baby?” The poor woman who had ap- plied at the Great Institute for Medical Research looked anxiously at the doctor, “I was compelled by the Board of Health to leave him here yesterday morning.” “Let's see—your number is—oh, yes, 4214. Sorry, madam, but we are not quite through with him yet; we are still experimenting with him.” “May Task, sir, what you are doing with him?” ‘ * “Certainly. We are trying out some new serums on him; we have operated upon him. Wonderful con- stitution—your baby! He stands it very well, We are quite in hopes he may pull through.” “ And if he doesn’t?” “Don't be alarmed, madam. If he doesn’t it won't cost you a cent. He'll be buried at our expense, including flowers. We know our duty, madam.” also “You are ever so kind, sir.” “Don’t mention it.” Eugenic Wisconsin ET no one underestimate The Potency of Knowledge! Our justly-famous Badger State Is governed by a College. That Unexampled Commonwealth Whose progress baffles guessers, Imbibes the rules of Civic Health From erudite professors; And every call for learning’s fruits Receives a quick response in The Institute of Institutes Which educates Wisconsin. ‘Tis there the Farmer studies beans,— Both how to plant and hoe them. (I read such things in magazines, And that is how I know them.) And every other Seeker gets Exactly what he pleases— The art of selling chiffonettes, The art of making cheeses. From there the Legislator draws High Thoughts and Fine Ambitions; He learns the mode of making laws For Bettering Conditions; And, nobler still (though Judges flout And Legal Lights disparage), The proper way to bring about Your True Eugenic Marriage! You look askance?—You think per- chance, I’m jesting for the nonce in My lofty song?—Nay, nay! you're wrong; T reverence Wisconsin! A glad Utopia I see, Advanced while others lag on, Where none may wed on any plea Without a doctor’s tag on; Where every law is wise and sound, Each couple rightly mated, Each Wicked Merger tightly bound, Each Railroad regulated ; Where every house is crammed with books, Where money fills each wallet, And every Well-born Baby looks Like Robert M. La Follette! Arthur Guiterman,