Life, 1917-04-05 · page 52 of 70
Life — April 5, 1917 — page 52: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes free speech and social hypocrisy in early 20th-century America. **Main Article:** Count Ilya Tolstoy (son of the famous Russian writer) visited the U.S. to lecture on his father's pacifist doctrines but was refused admission to Columbia University. He complained about America's supposed commitment to free speech. Life's editorial argues that "free speech" means the *right* to speak freely, not the *right* to a specific venue—universities can refuse speakers without violating free speech. The piece suggests Tolstoy was like "Mrs. Bluebeard," wanting what he couldn't have. **Small Cartoon:** A profile sketch with caption "Getting Away from Cigarettes, y' know"—likely mocking men's claims to quit smoking. **Wedding Cartoon:** Two bridesmaids joke that the bride "Kitty" flirted throughout the ceremony, even with the clergyman—satirizing superficial social behavior. **"Very Important" Dialogue:** Two society women discuss feuding families whose *cooks* quarreled—satirizing how trivial servants' disputes can cause upper-class social rifts. **"Attention, Ostriches":** Metaphorically criticizes people ignoring serious political/economic crises (likely WWI-era tensions).
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
596 Free Speech and Count Tolstoy I" is doubtful if Count Tolstoy, by many considered the greatest figure of the nineteenth century, and certain- ly the greatest man of Russia, if he were alive, would be greatly pleased over the action of his son, Count Ilya. This gentleman, a visitor to the United States, in order to expound his own and his father’s doctrines, was recently in- vited to lecture at Columbia University, but was afterwards refused admission to the university because of some im- personal objection to his doctrines. Thereupon the Count made a great to do and said many forceful things against a country which heretofore he had presumed to believe was the land of free speech, The fact is, of course, that speech is free in exact proportion to the number of people you can get to listen to you. Count Tolstoy could have delivered his lecture in a nearby hall, with a guaranteed audience, but somewhat like Mrs. Bluebeard, he wanted to talk where he wasn’t wanted. In short, the only place in America where speech is not free is where, if you did talk, you might disturb someone. It is absurd to say because a university doesn’t want a man to lecture in its hall that it is necessarily against free speech. The students of Columbia, and indeed all of our universities, are prac- “ GETTING AWAY FROM CIGARETTES, y’ KNow.” One Bridesmaid: NoW THAT KITTY 1S MARRIED I HOPE SHE'LL CUT OUT FLIRTING, The Other: curt ovr ruirtt ! WHY, ALL THROUGH THE CEREMONY SHE WAS MAKING EYES AT THE OFFICIATING CLERGYMAN, tically unrestricted. If they want to hear Count Tolstoy, or anyone else, they can easily make arrangements to do so. Freedom of speech is not a matter of locality, but is what is in the words. That is the final test. Every good word is bound to come into its own. Very Important RS. DASHER: ‘o, dear; you mustn't invite the Fannings and the Jeromes for the same evening. The two families don’t speak. DasHer: Fell out over the children, I presume. Mrs. Dasner: No; their cooks quarreled. Attention, Ostriches IF there are any great number of os- triches hereabouts, they are hereb: respectfully advised that this would | a splendid time for them to take thei heads out of the sand. There is mucl doing these days. Political, social and economic lightning is striking in nev places daily and there is no knowins what ostrich it will next choose to pr loose from its fancied security. Thi is a time when ostriches need sand iv their heart and none in their eyes. A word to the wise ostrich is suffi cient. 'OR the Kaiser hell is paved with Belgian blocks. comichooks.gom