Life — February 16, 1911 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page presents a letter-to-the-editor debate about "Prana" and the "Imaginary Life"—spiritual and mental practices gaining popularity in early 20th-century America. A correspondent questions whether Life magazine should promote mental disciplines and "Prana" (rhythmic breathing exercises) as viable alternatives to ordinary existence. The editors respond skeptically, dismissing the concept as essentially an "advertising dodge" designed to extract money from credulous readers. The cartoons mock practitioners: one shows someone in exaggerated meditation posture; another depicts a figure labeled "Henceforth, Imaginary Life for me!" in a satirical surrender to the trend. The satire targets the era's proliferation of wellness fads, New Thought movements, and self-improvement schemes promising mental transcendence—suggesting they exploit vulnerable people seeking meaning.