Life, 1917-11-15 · page 25 of 40
Life — November 15, 1917 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"A Mystery of the Connecticut Law"** (main article with cartoon): This exposes a legal loophole in Connecticut. When philanthropist Edwin Gilbert died in 1910, he left stock dividends to support a children's farm (Lire's Fresh Air Fund). The trustees—led by David H. Miller—have accumulated over $10,000 in accrued funds but refuse to distribute them for the farm's needed improvements (sanitation, dormitory fireproofing). The law apparently allows trustees to withhold money indefinitely. The cartoon shows a dog with fleas, captioned with dialogue about fleas "doing their bit"—a visual metaphor for parasites draining resources. Life sarcastically questions whether Connecticut's governor, attorney general, judges, and legislators will address this injustice, concluding Connecticut is "not a good place to die in for a man with philanthropic intentions." **"Whitman—Barnard"** (brief commentary): Discusses sculptor Barnard's Lincoln statue, defending it against critics by noting Walt Whitman faced similar objections to his poetry, yet his Lincoln poem is now considered excellent.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Carlo Rover: ves; A Mystery of the Connecticut Law ERE is a curious case of how in- justice may exist under the laws of the State of Connecticut. When the late Edwin Gilbert of Red- ding, Connecticut, died he left in trust three hundred shares of the stock of the Gilbert Manufacturing Company with the following instructions: “ The dividends and income thereof to be used for the support and maintenance of the work carried on at said farm,” the reference being to the work of Lire’s Fresh Air Fund carried on at the Lire farm at Branchville. Since the stock passed to the keeping of the trustees in December, 1910, the “dividends and income” have accumu- lated to the extent of considerably more than ten thousand dollars. The trustees who have received the stock and the accrued money are Davip H. Miter of Georgetown, Con- necticut Daniet Dav necticut ; Dr. R. W. Lowe of Ridgefield, Con- necticut, sport of Bridgeport, Con- MANY FLEAS Now? AND THEY ARE ALL DOING THEIR BIT and certain relatives and employees of Mr. Miller. Repeatedly, but in vain, Lire’s Fresh Air Fund has asked that the accrued money be devoted to the purposes for which Mr. Gilbert intended it. There is urgent need at the farm to add to the safety of the children by improved sanitation, increased sleeping space and the fireproofing of the dormitories. These are fixed investments not con- templated in the subscriptions made by Lire’s readers. Mr. Gilbert's gift contemplated an active and charitable trust. The trus- tees act as though he intended they should keep his money permanently. Under the laws of the State of Con- necticut they cannot be compelled to carry out his apparent wishes. What does the Hon. Marcus H. Hol- comb, Governor of the State of Con- necticut, think of this condition? How does the Hon. George man, Attorney-General of the State of Connecticut, and therefore its chief law officer, regard this possibility of injus- tice? What do the judges of the Connecti- 797 cut courts think of this interpretation of Connecticut law? What do the two hundred and twenty legislators of the State of Connecticut think about it? Connecticut doesn't seem to be a good place to die in for a man with philanthropic intentions. Whitman—Bamard ERCY MACKAYE, in a letter to all the papers, says that the objec- tors to Barnard’s Lincoln are giving Barnard the same treatment that Walt Whitman once received as a poet But no one objected to Walt's Lin- coln. It is now regarded, and always has been, as one of his best efforts, perhaps his best. There is no general objection to Bar- nard’s art, though there was to Whit- man’s. There is objection to Barnard’s Lincoln, not because it is bad art, but because it is not Lincoln. As a work of the imagination it is interesting. BOILING WATER DREAM OF A SHIP'S COOK comicbooks.com