Life, 1911-02-09 · page 17 of 44
Life — February 9, 1911 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces typical of *Life* magazine's humor: **"Bear It, Pennsylvania"** defends the nudity in sculptor George Barnard's statues for Pennsylvania's state capitol against local objections. The editorial argues nudity in art educates and refines public taste without moral danger—a progressive position mocking provincial prudishness. **"At the Zoo"** is a brief joke playing on theological logic: if lions don't go to Heaven but ministers do, what happens when a lion eats a minister? The humor relies on the absurdist premise. **The courtroom cartoon** shows a domestic dispute where both parties traded insults and violence. The judge's deadpan "Well, go on" suggests mutual guilt. **"Beware of These Doctors"** satirizes Emperor William II (Germany's kaiser) accepting an honorary Doctor of Medicine degree despite lacking medical knowledge. The jab at Harvard's Charles W. Eliot suggests even prestigious educators award degrees to unqualified men—a critique of credentialism and institutional prestige.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“1 SHAY—THAT. FELLOW MUST A BEEN PARALYZED ”” Bear It, Pennsylvania HERE seems to be a rather serious stir in Pennsylvania about the nakedness of the groups of statuary that George Barnard has made for the State capitol. It is practicable to put drapery on them, and possibly it may have to be done. That would be a great pity. The statues in their natural state will do the Pennsylvanians good; educate their ar- tistic sense and improve them mentally without the least eventual damage to their morals. It is not because they are bad that sculptors and others favor the nude in marble, but only because they are en- lightened. Pennsylvania is old enough to have learned that, but not too old to learn it now. She needs those statues just as Barnard sculpted them. Literary Note CPATANGER is an English novel much commended, of which the American equivalent is Straphanger. It is about folks in that walk of life. At the Zoo OHNNY: Grandpa, do lions go to J Heaven? Graxpra: No, Johnny. Jounny: Well, do ministers? Granora: Why, of course you ask? Jouxny: Well, suppose a lion eats a minister, Why do | LUI eT IIE LALIT - Mh Witness: SWE CALLED ME A BRUTE, I THEN SHE KICKED ME AND CALLED Judge: WELL, Go on. “ WELL, THEN WE STARTED TO QUARREL.” Beware of These Doctors ME German University of Prague has offered Emperor William the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine, and he has accepted. That will make at least two Doctors of SNe ANS lif lll SLAPPED HER FACE AND CALLED HER A LIAR ME— Medicine, of high degree, who don’t know their job. The other is Charles W. Eliot, M.D., Harvard, 1909. Don’t call in either of these physicians except for very simple cases comicbooks.com