Life, 1907-01-24 · page 10 of 24
Life — January 24, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents winning entries from a contest asking readers to explain a gentleman's distressed facial expressions shown in repeated caricatures down the left side. The two winning submissions use humor to critique early 20th-century professional life: **"The Unexpected Happens"** satirizes a doctor (Dr. D.D. Johnson) receiving an unwanted house call from a patient at night, disrupting his personal life. **"A Fatal Suggestion"** mocks a physician (Dr. Smug) whose patient consultation via telephone leads to medical misadventure—the patient's rich patron calling by phone about his mistress's illness results in a treatment that worsens her condition, forcing the doctor to contemplate the consequences of remote medical practice. Both entries humorously critique professional boundaries and the emerging technology of telephone consultation in medicine.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LAE Awards in the “What's the Matter?” Contest FTER a very careful judgment of the large number of answers sent in competition for the four $50 prizes for the best explanation offered of the feelings expressed on the face of the gentleman at the telephone, those that follow have been chosen as easily the best in form and originality of idea. Checks for fifty dollars each have been sent to the successful contestants : The Unexpected Happens A Fatal Suggestion LLO! Dr. D. D. Johnson? This is David Dudlaw White, Whom so heartlessly you ordered From your domicile last night LD Dr. Smug at ease stays home And sees his patients all by phone. And I call you up this morning To bid you a sad farewell, For in just a half an hour T'll start on a trip to—well, His richest patron called one day— That is, by phone, of course—to say Though I can’t go where you told me— It’s a bit too warm just now— I would sail away forever, ‘To avoid another row. Her old-time ailment had come back. She feared to have a bad attack. As for Angelina Mabel (Fairest daughter of her race, She said his methods at long range You, her proud and honored father, i ‘ Had quite convinced her that a change Know too well her charm and grace)— = She, at last, with much persuasion, Has agreed to take this trip, 1 NG To longer range might work a cure, Darn my socks and do my mending, Ly ¢ His absence did so much for her. While upom this blessed ship— She, who stands beside me blushing, Wishes me for her to say: “Ta, ta! See you later, Daddie; We were married yesterday.” his telephone appliance, She thought she dared try Christian Science. : Sent in by Catherine G. Ross, 62 East Thirly-sixth Sent in by Margaret Ayars, Wilkes-Barre, Pa Street, Chicago, Il. comicbooks.com