Life, 1910-12-22 · page 16 of 44
Life — December 22, 1910 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page commemorates **Mary Baker Eddy's death**, founder of Christian Science. The obituary essay acknowledges her as a shrewd businesswoman who profited from "intangible commodities" (spiritual healing) while remaining enigmatic—the text notes uncertainty about how much she was genuine "secress" versus "quack." The **cartoon about the refrigerator** satirizes Depression-era burglary: a burglar demands valuables from a householder, who jokes that the refrigerator's combination is the only "valuable" he owns—commenting on widespread poverty and empty pantries. **"The Fault"** satirizes fickle public opinion: crowds destroy their own celebrity idol, then blame the idol for taking their adulation seriously. It critiques mass hysteria and the public's responsibility for their own hero-worship. **"Exclusive"** mocks snobbish class pretension: a woman claims "high" (Anglican) church preference solely to avoid appearing "common or vulgar," revealing her values are purely social status, not spiritual.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1148 -LIFE- Exit, Mrs. Eddy RS. EDDY, the organizer of Christian Science, dead this month in her nineticth year, lived her time well out and demonstrated in her own person that the methods she advo- cated for the maintenance of health are not necessarily un- healthy to those who practice them. More has been said and less known about her than about any surviving person that comes to mind. The facts of her life have been searched out and duly imparted in the maga- zines and newspapers. The theory and practice of the religio- medical system of which she was the head have been set forth in books that anyone may buy and read and understand if he is able. But for years past she has been a veiled prophetess, living in retirement, seldom seen, and an object of recurring speculations. How large or small a figure she really was, what part of her was quack, what part of her was secress, how much she was a leader and how much « tool, are all mat- ters about which opinions vary and which the public con- templates with philosophical curiosi At least she scems to have been a shrewd person. She traded in intangible commodities, gave satisfaction to her cus- tomers and made plenty of money. Her public utterances showed discretion and an excellent temper, and so far as out: siders could tell, she handled her affairs and those of her society with very good ability. What effect her death will have on Christian Science, whether a new leader will succeed her, whether the persuasion will continue to spread or gradually decline, are all matters as to which it is less convenient to predict than to wait and see Sound or not, Christian Science has held. a_light by which some obscure processes have been inspected at very moderate cost, considering the valuc, actual and potential, of the inspection Any kind of a light may serve the turn of Truth for lack of a better one. URGLAR: Better tell me where the valuables are. Hovsenorvex: Well, old man, here's the combination of the refrigerator. “1 pon’r care! The Fault HE fickle populace having smashed the popular idol, an interested ob- server asked: “Why did you smash him?” “ Because he thought he was our popu- lar idol.” explains the fickle populace. “ But you made him your popular idol” objects the interested observer. “True enough, but he took us seri- ously,” explains the fickle public again. Exclusve HE NEW CURATE: And what are your leanings, Mrs. Abercrombie. high church or low? Mrs. Anercroarnin: Dear me. high, to be sure; I never could abide anything common or vulgar. HE progress of religion is the his “(WHO HAD DE NOIVE TO TACK DIS UP ON ME SLEEPIN’ QUARTERS?” tory of heretics Ccomicbooks.com