Life, 1914-04-02 · page 60 of 68
Life — April 2, 1914 — page 60: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page showcases Life's satirical commentary on early 20th-century American society. **"Eugenics and Economics"** critiques the eugenics movement, which advocated breeding "superior" humans. The piece sardonically imagines 30 million superhuman Americans—each combining Jack Johnson's strength, Edison's intellect, and Lincoln's morality—yet notes the economy remains unchanged. The bitter joke: even supermen would face unemployment, breadlines, and poverty. It exposes how eugenics ignores systemic economic inequality; biological perfection cannot solve structural problems. **"The Polar Expedition"** mocks Arctic exploration's cultural cachet. It cynically describes expeditions as exercises in producing "heroism with fewest results"—heroes die or disappear, nations erect statues to honor them, and families "struggle on." The satire questions whether dangerous expeditions serve humanity or merely satisfy romantic nationalism and individual ambition. Both pieces reflect Life's progressive skepticism toward contemporary enthusiasms—eugenics and imperial adventure—revealing their actual social costs.
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Eugenics and Economics The Eugenists dream of a race of Su- permen and Superwomen. Let us dream of them, too. Imagine such a race sud- denly created in the United States. Thirty millions of Superpeople—each one having the strength of Jack Johnson, the mental efficiency of Edison, the moral greatness of Lincoln, Meanwhile the economic scheme remains unchanged— a small class of Superpeople owns all the land and machinery, while the other Superpeople compete with cach other for jobs. What about the Superpcople who don't get jobs? Supermen in the breadline, Supermen Filing into the Bowery Mission to get out of the wind and the rain, Super- women on the streets selling their bodies for bread, Supermen on the street-cor- ners in the Supercold of a winter eve- ning. waiting for some Supermillionaire to give them the price of a night's lodging, 6. It is a pretty scene, and provokes re- flection, P.H. D., in the Masses, [N these days when most men wear fine hosiery —silk or very thin lisle—the PARIS GARTERS No metal can touch you button and clasp shown below, is very import- ant. It holds the sock between rubber and rubber; can’t possibly tear; holds with abso- lute security. Be Sure You Get PARIS GARTERS ‘No metal can touch you If you prefer Plain Ends ask Cork. Tips in the Milo for the Milo Red Box Yellow Label Box The Polar Expedition HE idea of a polar expedition is to produce the greatest amount of heroism with T the fewest results. Most polar expeditions are, therefore, successful. The ingredients of a polar expedition are a ship, a crew, a pack of dogs with sledges, pemmican, some sleeping bags and a traitor who will step out at the critical moment and leave you in the lurch. Leaving behind you your friends, family and the reporters, you plunge onward through many miles of snow and ice until you reach an imaginary spot, over which you place a tent, and which you photograph and bring home to lecture about. When you don’t reach home—which frequently happens—your country places your statue in its hall of fame, which is visited by several people on the days when it happens to be open to the public—and your family struggles on without you the best it can. Polar expeditions are justly celebrated for many things; among others may be mentioned the following: Not averting wars, not reducing child labor, not increasing the number of desirable families, not reducing the cost of living, and not making anybody happier. Otherwise they are splendid. SPECIAL Many persons were unable to secure from newsdealers copies of the issue of LIFE for March 5th (The Proper Number). The great demand for the number exhausted their supplies. It will be sent prepaid to any address on receipt of the price —ten cents—by LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 17 West 31st Street, New York City