Life — May 20, 1915 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "When Life is Young, All the World Seems Gay" This page features a whimsical illustration of young animals (puppies, kittens, and other creatures) playing freely beneath a large tree. The accompanying text by E.S. Marin discusses American social attitudes, particularly comparing Italian immigrant women favorably to native-born American women regarding family size and childbearing. The article argues that education discourages American women from having children, while religion and lower social expectations enable Italian immigrant women to maintain larger families. The cartoon illustrates carefree youth, contrasting with the text's broader commentary on birth rates, immigration, and the perceived decline of "older American stock" due to education and social climbing aspirations among native-born Americans.