[SEXUALITY] [EUGENICS] [SOCIAL FICTION] HEATH, Oscar Morrill

Composts of Tradition. A Book of Short Stories dealing with Traditional Sex and Domestic Situations

Chicago: O. M. Heath & Co., [1913]. First Edition. First printing. Octavo (19cm). Purple ribbed cloth, spine and cover titles in gilt; 303,(1)pp; portrait frontispiece and five unnumbered leaves of photographic plates (halftones). A tight, clean copy, free of markings, with just a hint of sunning to spine cloth; very Near Fine.

A collection of six short tales, each intended to illustrate a different aspect of "the prevalence of degeneracy in the modern era" (jacket). Composts of Tradition was self-published and marketed aggressively in contemporary periodicals, including The Masses and Pearson's; one such advertisement, in the January, 1915 issue of Pearson's, outlines the book's intention: "It is not a book for prudes either male or female. It is a book for aggressive and advanced thinkers. Among other doctrines, it advocates: (1) Sterilization of physical, social and mental defectives; (2) Annihilation of the stigma attached to the bar-sinister; (3) Encouragement of reproduction upon the part of the fit; (4) Maintenance of all children by society; (5) Monogamy, but marriage ceremonies to be optional, not obligatory; (6) Divorce by collusion." At least one of the stories, "Maid of the Neptunian Strand," has fantasy elements.

Oscar Morrill Heath (c.1872-1952) was a Chicago secondary school teacher and lecturer-for-hire on social subjects; beginning about 1905 through at least the 1920s (we lose sight of him around 1930), he was the proprietor of a Chicago correspondence school for schoolteachers, The Cultural Review School, through whose auspices he issued a few ephemeral publications as well as a monthly magazine, Teaching As A Profession. Additionally, thanks to the trade card mounted in the front, we know that Heath was the proprietor of at least two Chicago beauty parlors. From contemporary newspaper acccounts it appears that the current work landed Heath at least temporarily in hot water; the Chicago Tribune for November 6, 1913 includes an article stating that Heath's status as an instructor at Englewood High School was "under review" pending publication of a book that was "critical of the nuptial bond," and seemed to condone childbirth out of wedlock. It is quite possible that Heath lost his position over the book, as in subsequent years we find him advertising his services as a freelance instructor in a variety of topics, including a review course in math for candidates to Army Officers' Candidate School during WW1.

Despite its fetching title, the current work is somewhat uncommon, with fewer than 20 locations in OCLC (most apparently in circulating collections). SMITH H-442. Not in Bleiler, despite clear fantasy content.

Price: $300.00

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