Life, 1905-10-12 · page 13 of 26
Life — October 12, 1905 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct items: 1. **"The Lonely Auto"** (main story with illustration): A satirical fable about automobiles that break down in sequence, each unable to help the next. The moral warns that "it's an ill smell that blows nobody any good"—suggesting mutual misfortune provides no benefit. 2. **"Revised Version"**: A single-line quip: "Set an insurance president to catch an insurance president," playing on the phrase "set a thief to catch a thief." 3. **Christian Science critique**: A longer editorial passage criticizing Christian Science as overly materialistic despite its spiritual claims, questioning whether its faith-healing practices have actual validity. The page uses humor and moral commentary to critique social institutions—automobiles (emerging technology), insurance fraud, and religious practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ENGLISH. “opp THAT WE ARE ALWAYS SO SHORT WHEN WE AXE BOTH $0 TALL." The Lonely Auto. N automobile that had broken down was standing disconsolately by the wayside shedding great gasolene tears at its own forlorn state, when another automobile came up and, secing the condition of its brother, asked if it could do anything, Yes," replied the miserable one. ‘* Please tow me home."" So the other put out a rope and pulled and pulled. But the strain was too great, and in a short time the friendly auto had also broken down, and was unable to proceed. Pretty soon a third auto came along. It was immediately hailed by the two unfortunates. “Oh, brother, tow us home So the third auto put out a rope. But alas! In a few moments he too had broken down, and there was nothing to do but lament his lot with the rest. Other automobiles continued to come up, and as they did, each one-shared the fate of the rest. Finally there were so many of them stalled that no one could pass, and the first auto, the one that had caused all the trouble, having been promptly repaired by man from a garage who had been sent for, had to go back the it came, ‘ing blithely as it went off : “Farewell, brothers, sorry to have detained you, but I was lonesome."’ MORAL. It's an ill smell that blows nobody any good. Revised Version. GET an insurance president to catch an insurance president. HRISTIAN SCIENCE professes the mastery of spirit over matter, but practically it makes Christianity more materialistic than ever. How many people would be Christian Scientists, if it were not for their bodily ills, which they hope their faith will cure? What is Christian Science, indeed, but another aspect of that frail straw which the drowning in the flood of disease are forever catching at? Has a nostrum any valid claim a~ to the name of religion ? “Scns, comicbooks.com