Life, 1908-02-06 · page 12 of 36
Life — February 6, 1908 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes pretentious intellectualism through a dialogue mimicking Plato's philosophical method. The top illustration shows a classical philosophical discussion, while the bottom cartoon depicts modern reality: ordinary people crowded on what appears to be public transportation (a streetcar or train). The text mockingly uses Socratic dialogue to debate whether a surgeon's skill differs from a tailor's skill—a deliberately mundane topic elevated to philosophical importance. The satire's point: modern people fancy themselves philosophers while discussing trivial matters in unglamorous settings. The caption "THE MAN WHO FORGETS TO MOVE ALONG" suggests social commentary on commuter behavior—someone blocking the train's efficiency. The contrast between classical ideals and crowded, mundane modern life is the core joke.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEW PLATO On Surgeons (Socrates Is the Narrator) I AS just about to remove my sandals, there being no one present but Aga- thon, when Appollodorus came in with Eryximachus, the physician, or perhaps I should say surgeon, for I believe there is a distinction between them. And Ap- pollodorus introduced him to me as be- ing the most distinguished and costly of them all. it here, Eryximachus, said I, for I have a desire to converse with you. And first tell me how you came by your vogue. asmile. I pe and I culti knowingness which prevented my pa- tients from questioning me too closely. For this filled them with awe of me, and I can assure you that this is my most valuable asset. Well, now, I said, I would have you consider how far your skill entered. into it. Also if there were any others like you who could have done the same for less money. You are insolent, Socrates, he said, and would have moved his seat, but Appollodorus reminded him who I was and he calmed down. Remember, I said, I am concerned only for the truth of the inquiry. Per- haps then you will tell me what skill is. It is experience added to native talent, I should say. Well, then, there is the skill of the tailor, the shoemaker, the weaver. And is yours the same skill, or is it different? I should say different. The tailor sews cloth with his hands, and you sew flesh with yours. THE MAN WHO FORGETS TO MOVE ALONG comicbooks.com