The lesson contained in the poetic lines of Mrs. Aldis’ little tragedy is a bitter one for all those medical men who have made strenuous efforts to let the public share their deep and vast knowledge without so much as asking for the slightest compensation. It shows beyond a doubt that not only are the Ellies of this world unwilling to imbibe science in a popular form, but also the Aldises of a much higher intelligence. It shows that the lure of patent medicine is a very strong one and that a doctor’s “vague advice” cannot offset it. Strange, indeed, that a doctor’s “vague advice” should be so inconsequential opposite so patently fraudulent a preparation as “Caldwell’s Great Obesity Cure,” but stranger still is what we are about to record—namely, the failure of our medical propagandists to combat in an intelligent way that most simple of all our metabolic disturbances—obesity! A Vers Libre Prize Contest Through the generosity of a friend, THE LITTLE REVIEW is enabled to offer an unusual prize for poetry—possibly the first prize extended to free verse. The giver is “interested in all experiments, and has followed the poetry published in THE LITTLE REVIEW with keen appreciation and a growing admiration for the poetic form known as _vers libre_.” The conditions are as follows: Contributions must be received by August 15th. They must not be longer than twenty-five lines. They must be sent anonymously with stamps for return. The name and address of the author must be fixed to the manuscript in a sealed envelope. It should be borne in mind that free verse is wanted—verse having beauty of rhythm, not merely prose separated into lines. There will be three judges, the appointing of whom has been left to the editor of THE LITTLE REVIEW. (Their names will be given in the next issue, as we are hurrying this announcement to press without having had time to consult anyone.) There will be two prizes of $25 each. They are offered not as a first and second prize, but for “the two best short poems in free verse form.” As there will probably be a large number of poems to read, we suggest that contributors adhere closely to the conditions of the contest. Margaret Sanger Will speak at the Chicago Little Theatre SUNDAY, APRIL 30, at 8:15 “The Child’s Right Not to be Born” Margaret Sanger “Birth Control” West Side Auditorium TUESDAY, APRIL 25, at 8:15 MAURICE BROWN, CHAIRMAN AUSPICES BIRTH CONTROL LEAGUE Taylor and Racine Avenue Admission 25 cents THE EGOIST An Individualist Review