Life, 1915-01-21 · page 11 of 44
Life — January 21, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Left cartoon:** Depicts a well-dressed woman (likely representing American consumers or the wealthy) surrounded by a chaotic street scene filled with people and "SALE" signs. The caption reads "PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON HER WAY TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT," satirizing materialism and consumerism during what appears to be a post-WWI period. **Right section:** Contains social commentary criticizing American priorities. While sending relief aid and military resources to war-torn Europe, the text argues Americans should prioritize domestic needs. The cartoon "EUGENICS" (bottom right) appears to critique pseudoscientific eugenic theories popular in that era. **"Telling It to the Children":** Discusses a Michigan educational debate about teaching sex hygiene in schools—a controversial topic then. The page overall critiques American consumer culture and questions national priorities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VORTRAIT OF A LADY ON HER WAY TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT Telling It to the Children N educational association in Mich- igan recently sent this question to three hundred and seventeen repre- “sentative citizens: “Do you believe that sex hygiene should be taught in the schools?” Ninety-two answered, “Yes.” One hundred and seventy-five answered, “No”, and the rest of the answers were qualified. Thus the number of parents who didn’t believe in sex in- struction was nearly twice as many as those who did. In the meantime, while the school- people are hacking and filling as to whether to introduce this latest fad, would it not be a good idea to find out what sex hygiene means? Here are some definitions which might be used as a basis: 7 Sex hygiene is the sum total of all the ignorance about sex which a particular group of people have acquired. Telling a burnt child how to strike a match. A consensus of about how to supply school-children with a substitute for nature. disagreement “LOOK HERE, YOU FOOL! 1 THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT IF WE BUILT OUR NEST IN THIS THING WE WOULD NEVER GET wet?” America First or Humanity First MERICAN relief funds are sup- plying food and clothing to the widows, orphans and the homeless and Starving in war-shattered Europe, and sending surgeons and nurses to patch up the wounded. At the same time we are shipping over thousands of cavalry horses and our steel mills are turning out fifty million dollars’ worth of war munitions to be used in making more widows, more cripples, orphans and destitute—to whom to send more relief shii Surely the American spirit of charity, liberality and love of humanity is comprehensive! EUGENICS