Life, 1910-11-17 · page 9 of 44
Life — November 17, 1910 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a public dispute between inventor **Thomas Edison** (who denied the immortality of the soul) and **Rev. Charles F. Aked** (a clergyman attacking Edison's position). The article mocks Aked's argument that Edison lacks authority to speak on metaphysical matters, noting that possessing an "unauthorized opinion" doesn't qualify anyone as a spiritual authority—a dig at religious pretension. The illustration titled "Orpheus in Hades" depicts a classical figure descending into the underworld, likely a visual metaphor for Edison's materialism or the broader clash between scientific rationalism and religious belief about human spirituality. The satirical point: both sides claim authority on unknowable matters.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Edison vs. Aked HE Rev. ‘Charles F. Aked seems to have much the best of it in his attack on Thomas A, Edison for denying the immortality of the soul. With the unerring skill of the trained logician, Rev. Aked immediately found the weak spot in Mr. Edison’s armor. “What metaphysical problems has Mr. Edison ever solved?” he asks. Precisely. What metaphysical problems has any one ever solved? What metaphysical problems has Dr. Aked ever solved? “What,’’ asks Dr. Aked again, “has he ever done to en- title him to be heard as an authority on the human spirit and its relation to God? ”’ That’s exactly it. What has he done? What could he possibly do “to entitle him to be heard as an authority on the human spirit and its relation to God,” especially if his opinion is unorthodox? Even Omar, as metaphysically abstruse as he was, did not dare to speak authoritatively. He merely wondered, thus: “ Strange, is it not, that of the myriads who Before us passed the door of darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the road Which to discover we must travel, too?" Mr. Edison should stick to his buttons. He should realize that only a diploma from a theological seminary qualifies one in metaphysics and metaphysics is something which can neither be proved nor disproved. Therefore, the soul is immortal. Q. E. D. What of It? ATANIC MAJESTY (pointing with pride): Hell. New Yorker (wearily): Well? E can forgive any man his prejudices—provided they don’t conflict with ours. comicbooks.com