Life, 1898-07-14 · page 5 of 20
Life — July 14, 1898 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 25 This page contains several satirical pieces rather than a single unified cartoon: **"A Plea for Stupidity"** argues that cultivated ignorance provides security and serenity unavailable to sensitive, intelligent people—a tongue-in-cheek defense of blissful obliviousness. **The ostrich cartoon** (captioned about calling yourself an "ostrich") uses the bird as a metaphor for willful ignorance or avoidance of reality. **"Cupid's Liquid Glue"** advertises a fictional adhesive product through humorous verse, playing on the notion that romantic commitment "glues" people together. The remaining brief items are conversational humor and social commentary: advice to vacation travelers, a quip about a disastrous dance, and observations about love and blessedness. The overall theme celebrates deliberate ignorance and avoidance as paths to happiness—typical of Life's satirical social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Plea for Stupidity. TUPIDITY, after all, has its merits. Toconvincea stupid man of his own stupidity is generally impossible, which in itself isa source of invulocrability from outside discomfiture. The sensitive, high-strung, nervous organism has no idea of the security that goes with gen- eral stupidity, Among sensitives, the cultivation of a judicious stupidity is more to be desired than much fine gold. A proper culture in dullness is a source of serenity which rarely comes except to old age. Not to know that you are un- derstood is oftentimes better than to know that you are misunderstood. The Sparrow: WHY DO YOU CALL YOURSELF AN “OSTRICH”? The Cassowary: 8 '!—XUT 80 LOUD, THAT IS MY NOM DE PLUME. UPID'S latest! Why not try it? “Cupid's Liquid Glue.” Broken hearts, When mended by it, Just as good as new! Shattered vows can bo cemented, Lovors’ quarrels be prevented, By a drop or two. Wandering fancies stuck togetber! Roaming couples brought to tether! Maidens false made true! Wayward youths no more unstable! Use tho only (on the label) “Cupid's Liquid Glue.” Burning passions don’t affect it; Or to chilling looks subject it; Cracks do not ensue, When with unshed tears diluted, Then its power’s undisputed. Directions what to do: Sprinklo woll all nooks secluded, Stairs and landings, halls included, Where tho lights are fow. "Twill recover stolen kisses! Lost loves found! And vanished blisses Quickly brought to view! Agents wanted, terms are ample, Mention Lire and send for sample * Cupid’s Liquid Glue,” Mary Theresa Hart. O THE TrRED Man Wno Mept- TATES SPENDING H1s Vaca- TION AT Home: Whatever else you do about your vacation, don't spend it at home, You couldn't make a greater mistake, Gosome- where! You may think that, with noth- ing whatever to do, you can rest and recuperate delightfully at home; but, a8 a matter of fact, hanging around homo won't do you a bit of good. You may need rest, but the chances are that you need moreachange, At home you will seo tho samo familiar objects day after day, and get the samo dull impressions repeated over and over again; tho rest there won't benefit you at all; you would better have kept on at work. What you want Is to see something different, Go somowhere, it it’s only into the next county; you will flnd it all new there. Have your plans all ready, and,whon the time comes, light out on the morning of the first day! Forget tho old routine, and give your dull self a chance to rebound. What you need is a change. Go somewhere! Alvin Dipperton. T is better to have loved and bossed, than never to have loved at all. Decidedly. Brass: That was a great dance. I hope I made an impression on that girl. Gricas; I guess you did. She has been limping ever since.