Life, 1914-04-02 · page 56 of 68
Life — April 2, 1914 — page 56: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two editorial essays on family size and feminism's social progress. The first argues against eugenics movements—claiming Nature favors large families over "quality" breeding. It's skeptical of human attempts to control reproduction, suggesting Nature will override such efforts. The second piece traces feminism's expanding reach over three decades. The satire is chronological: thirty years prior, feminist meetings excluded married women; twenty years ago, husbands weren't present; fifteen years ago, men stayed home with children; ten years ago, men were barred from meetings entirely. The implicit humor and concern is that feminism has progressively infiltrated institutions and domestic life, with men now apparently welcome at gatherings—suggesting either feminism's success or (from the author's perspective) its troubling normalization. Both essays reflect early-1910s anxieties about women's expanding rights and changing family structures.
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oe a bl Es oe The breakfast beverage You will find that Welch's fits in fine as the fruit course at breakfast, and it is a good way to start the day, as the Welch habit is a health habit. Welch's "Che National Drink” the “flakes” —over the moming cereal, sanitary Welch way, give you Nature's best flavor and quality AT is best, Order a case today, Do more than ask for “Grape Juice” —say WELCH'S and GET IT! A booklet suggesting many uses for Welch's sent on request, If you cannot get Welch's from your dealer, we werct Saute. for #3: Senge Yor botte Toe, The Welch Grape Juice Company Statement of the ownership, management, circulation, ete., of Lrrz, published weekly at New York City, required by the Act of ‘Au t 24, 1912: Editor, J. A. Mitchell, 17 West hirty-first Street, New York. Business Man- agers, Andrew Miller, James S. Metcalfe, 17 West’ Thirty-first Street, New York. Pub lisher, Life Publishing Company, 17 West Thirty frst Street, New York. Qwners:} A. Mitchell, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York; Andrew Miller, 17 West. Thirty-frst Street, New York. ' Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders: George C. Foster, care Guarantee Trust Com: pany, Fifth Avenue Branch, Fifth Avenue and ‘Forty-third Street, New York; United States Trust Company of New York, 45 Wall Street, New York. James S. Metcalfe. Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 11th day of March. 1914. (Seal) Wm. Krone, Notary Public. As to Families you. and I, thinking soberly, are ready to prefer quality to quantity, as regards families. By all means, say we, let us have good families rather than big families, provided we can't have both. But Nature, that persistent old dame who though she may be cast out with a pitchfork, will, nevertheless, come back—what does she think about it? By every token her notion is not ours, Nothing can be more certain than that Nature, at least, desires quantity in families to the sacrifice of everything else. She has the one command for every creature: “Multiply and re- plenish the earth!” From midge to man she bids all life reproduce itself— she asks no more, Frankly, hasn't eugenics much the look of another pitchfork, and isn’t it as futile as the rest? Nature laughs in her sleeve and comes back when she gets good and ready; give me an abundance of babies, says she, and I will see to it that enough of them are the right sort. The Triumph of Feminism The Feminist movement is growing broader all the time. Thirty years ago a Feminist mass-meeting would have in- cluded few women with husbands, few women who wanted husbands or hoped for husbands. Twenty years ago it would have in- cluded many women with husbands, but there would have been no men present. Fifteen years ago the husbands would have been made to stay at home and take care of the children. Ten years ago men would have been checked at the door. E ANDORRA WAY is to grow, train and frequently transplant trees and shrubs of distinctive varieties, so that spec- imens are produced which will make landscapes of beauty in months rather than years The superb Tulip Tree. the robust Lindens. the quick growing Pin Oaks, the sturdy Norway Maples grown in The Andorra Way, are here in transplanted large sizes, which will give quick and satisfactory effects “ See Andorra, Write if you cannot come. Our experience and unmatched stock are at your command. Spring catalogue now ready. ANDORRA NURSERIES ‘Wan. Warner Harper, Proprietor Box 36, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pa. This new member of the large and growing family of Whitman sweets weighs 19 ounces. CHOCOLATE COVERED Fruits and Nuts Supplied by our sales agents almost everywhere. Retails at $1.25, except in Canada and extreme west. Sent postpaid if no agent is convenient. STEPHEN F. WHITMAN & SON, Inc. Philadelphia Makers of Wfita2® Instantaneous Chocolate and Marshmallow Whip. Five years ago men would have been admitted, but not on terms of equality— they would have been present, but not voting. To-day there are almost as many men as women in a real Feminist meeting. and they are admitted on terms of abso lute equality. To-morrow—supposing the movement continues to broaden—there will be more men than women—and that will be, will it not, the triumph of the Feminist movement ?—Evening Sun. comicbooks.com