Life — May 20, 1915 — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“TEESE * From Our Readers Disavowed To tue Epitor or Lire: Christian Scientists did not join in the recent opposition to a bill in the New York Legislature which proposed to require teachers in public schools to read the Bible to their classes. The report that they did so, which Lire took from a newspaper, was not true. Although the Christian Science Church has never adopted a definite attitude with reference to this subject, the view of most Christian Scientists is that a cer- tain amount of moral and religious train- ing could and should be given in public schools by selecting and reading appro- priate parts of the Bible, with due re- gard for differences of opinion on the part of pupils and their parents. Yours sincerely, Currrorp P. Sait, Bostox, Mass., April 22, 1915. “Typhoid Mary” Epitor or Lire: In view of what we all know of thc attitude of the majority of physicians regarding “disease carriers", and of the conservatism of the lay press, as well as of the medical journals, I am moved to ask if you can’t strain a point and say a word on the right side just now when we read that “ Typhoid Mary” is again a prisoner. “Mary Mullen, typhoid germ carrier, is back under quarantine in her old quarters in North Brother Island, where she spent three years"! Now, the truth of it is, that practically all fevers result chiefly from indigestion and consequent auto-toxemia (self-poisoning), from the absorption into the blood of putrescence in the in- testine. What we call “typhoid fever” is the product of the prevailing treat- ment for the primary fever; namely, con- stant feeding, appetite or no appetite, and “downing the temperature” that goes up and keeps up because of the maintenance of the intestinal cesspool by the treatment described. Mary Mul- len is a star cook and in great demand by good feeders because she concocts so many delicious and mischievous made- dishes; the members of her families are tempted to eat excessively, and, hence, dyspepsia and resulting complication: They become feverish, call the family doctor, and he does the rest! It is a shameful and humiliating criticism of the medical profession, the brutal mis- treatment that has been handed out to this good woman, who never “carried disease” in any other way than above described. Cnartes E, Pace, M.D. Boston, Mass., March 29, 1915. “Catholics and the Schools” Epttors or Lire, Gentlemen: Lire, issue 22d inst., be- fore me. Article by E. S, Martin, “Catholics and the Schools” noted. S'pose that was a contribution, not an editorial. I write to express my appreciation, That was fine, gentlemen, fine. He closes by saying: “ Protestants who do not grudge the Roman Catholics their separate schools,” etc. I wish to enter my weak voice as one who docs grudge them that fact. If all denomi- nations had separate schools the public school system would go into the discard rather fast. Not for what is taught (and that is quite important, and how it’s taught), but for the association, the rubbing of elbows. A Swedish lad learns that “that red- headed Irish-Catholic kid next to me is a pretty good sport after all, no mat- ter what my father does say”. The American public school system is an integral part of our Republic. ‘A pronounced and nation-wide turning away from that institution is an act of moral treason. The Roman parochial school is very conducive to jealousy, bitter partisan- ship and religious bigotry ; the very things that in a democracy all must strive to allay. What a smooth and beautiful appear- ance the religious cloak can give to so many schemes! Our good old U. S. A. has the best Roman Catholics in the world. Yes, granted. It couldn't very well be other- wise. They must keep up with the pro- cession. It's in the air. Maybe we have the best of the Roman Catholic priests. I don’t know. It wouldn't be saying very much, anyway. But just so long as the Roman clergy and their people believe in and claim temporal power for their Pope by divine right and as long as they believe in and \ A COLLEGE GRADUATE practice auricular confession, just so long can Catholics be ready to receive the suspicion of the American people toward their several schemes and polit- ical moves. Timely articles, as per Mr. Martin’ published now and then in the leading magazines are what we must have for the good of all. Do not expect too great commenda- tion for publishing his article. You may receive enough opposition. Neither you nor I can estimate the probable good, on both sides, that the publi: one article has done and your satisfaction be in your own minds and hearts. I am, ete. Ray W. West DututH, Mixy., April 20, 1915. Apporr, If we have the best Roman Catholic priests in this country, that is much to say, for there are very many good priests. As to confession and the claim of temporal power for the Pope, the latter has a punctured tire just now and the former belongs to the practice of the Roman Catholic (and also of the Greek) Church, and is a concern of religion with which Protestants can- not profitably meddle. Activity of Protestants to relieve Catholics of confession would be too much like a joke. So long as Catholics can stand it, Protestants can. 1f one starts out to punch the Cath- olic Church and cannot be dissuaded, it is highly important not to punch it in the wrong place. E, S. M. comicbooks.com