Judge, 1902-03-22 · page 10 of 16
Judge — March 22, 1902 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 20th-century scientific pretension through the character Mr. Tellit and his wife's conversations. The main target is **Dr. Jacques Loeb**, a real biologist famous for experimental work on sea urchin eggs, who claimed discoveries about "perpetual life" and defeating death through controlling nerve impulses—claims that seemed absurd to ordinary people. The satire works through Mrs. Tellit's innocent, practical responses that deflate Tellit's reverent explanations. When he pontificates about electricity in nerves being like "jelly," she interrupts with recipes. When he explains complex biological theory, she applies it literally to her grocer's stale eggs, undermining the scientific grandeur. The surrounding cartoons mock racial stereotypes, poor service workers, and gender dynamics—typical Judge content of the era. The overall point: pseudo-scientific jargon about immortality sounds ridiculous when confronted with ordinary domestic life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mr. Tellit AN IRISH BULL you might get a job on a “Well, who is Dr. Loeb, and what anyhow 2" asked Mrs. Tellit, abstractedly searching through her work-basket for the piece of pink ciderdown that had been left from little Josie’s jacket Dr I marked Mr. discovered the secret of perpetual life. that death may easily be He says combatted, as is merely an active principle that is born into the system with the germ of life, and that all that is neces- sary is to encourage the life yerm and take steps to defeat the death im: pulse, and the result is that one will live forever.” Ne Mrs. Tellit fished up a hand XS ful of odd buttons from the depths of her work-basket, and mildly And how is he do that?” ring to MR. TELLIT ON PERPETUAL LIFE. COTHAT isa great discovery of Dr. Loeb ing down his paper. “Is he the new has rented the place ked Mrs, was trying to match corner velvet with a gobe "said doctor that around the Tellit, who sea-yreen ble ribbon, Teilit with fine scorn. learn to restrain your impulse to return a verdict before the evidence is pre jury some day.” xe “Rastus Bow.ess: Honey (witheringly)—"* De ideah! laik yo"? Whut! haba beau ter beau me around wot's so (But "Rastus had fled.) “Oh, no,” Mit, Dr. answered = Mr. Loeb lives in: Chi- or somewhere out there, and he declares that he has dis” ow, Henry ing one of those patentemedi testimonials? You t know they uso worked up that always ¢ you imagine you see specks be- fore your eyes and have dull pains in your back, and all that.” «Wom: ejaculated Mr. “If you could ever ented has he discovered, SUPERLATIVE DISPARAGEMENT. yo’ beau, honey 2” bow-laigged as yo"? Wha’ "— Itis the ac our sensations and actions. Our nerves are merely a gelatinous substance, and when they do not cohere properly we become coma- tose, butif they can be forced to assume a jellitied condi- tion, then the electric: pulses from the brain are ried through them justlikethe shiver from one side of a chunk of jelly to the other, and we are alive and in good order, But if they don't" —— « Mother used to have the best recipe for making things jell,” interrupted Mrs. Tellit, «Madam, this is the + It was" — ‘Tipping a waiter aftera poor dinner and poorer service— WHAT A MAN DOES. science of life, and not the chatter of the kitchen. yet your mind above": “* Wha’ doan’ yo" pick out dis pickani Me pick a ninny pickaninny «MONKEY BUSINESS." Can't you “Well, how did this Dr. Locb find out so much ?” “With the eggs of the sea urchin, He has discovered that his system of perpetuating life will render them proof against death or deca ~S Mrs, Tellit. just know that that gre cer of ours must have an inkling of Dr. Loeb’s sys- tem and he is working it on hen eggs. Why, that dozen he delivered to-day had been in cold storag for a year, at least.” Then Mr. Telit picked up his paper again and sighed a deep, sad sigh, while his wife pondered over a paper pattern that she had once cut out, but couldn't re- member what it was for now. wep, seer, HER SENSE OF DUTY. Madge Marjo She refused him last night.” So he was her Lenten sacrifice.” » AND WHAT HE FEELS LIKE DOING. ——when this would have expressed his true feelings.