Life, 1911-10-26 · page 21 of 50
Life — October 26, 1911 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This *Life* magazine page contains two satirical pieces: **"The Pessimists' Club"** mocks gloomy public discourse by listing absurdly bleak lecture topics (babies as criminals, resource depletion, marriage causing sorrow, rising coffin prices). The accompanying caricature depicts a "composite portrait" of corrupt public officials—senators, politicians, police captains—unified as a single grotesque figure. The satire suggests these officials are interchangeable villains responsible for society's pessimism. **"Rip Van Winkle"** updates the classic tale: the sleeping character wakes to find nothing has changed. He asks about major reform issues (tariffs, trusts, Taft's promises, slum clearance, cost of living), receiving "No" to each. The newspapers still urge caution. Disgusted, he returns to sleep. This satirizes Progressive Era reform rhetoric—constant debate without actual progress, suggesting the public should give up on change. Both pieces express cynicism about American politics and social improvement circa the 1910s-1920s.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
be delivered by prominent pessimists, are: Monday—“ How Can Your Help Being a Criminal?” Tuesday—“ Our Natural Resources; Will They Last Another Ten Years?” Wednesday—“ Matrimony or bach- clorhood—Which Causes More Grief and Sorrow?” Thursday—* The Recent Rise in the Price of Coffins.” Friday — “Friendship — a Hollow Mockery.” Saturday—“ The HOME.” Sunday —“ Woman— Man's Relent- less Enemy.” Baby Delusion Called A COMPOSITE PORTRAIT OF A U. S. Senator, State Legislator, Strike Agitator, City Magistrate, Customs Officer, U. S. Congressman, Political Boss, Corporation Lawyer, Police Captain, Ship's Steward, Waiter, Porter, Bell Boy, and Shoe Black. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW YEARS MAKE We offer no inducements or encour- agement for anyone to join the Pessi- mists’ Club, It is merely a meeting place for those who have nothing to live for—where they can talk it over. And Then He Went Back to Sleep IP VAN WINKLE awoke and made his way cautiously into town. Meeting a pedestrian, he asked: “Has the tariff been lowered?” “The trust question solved?” “Taft redeemed any of his prom ises?” “Slums abolished 2.” a scientific basis?” No.” “Cost of living regulated?” “And the newspapers still caution- ing us to be careful and saying it wouldn't do to settle any of these questions without considering and in- vestigating them with the utmost minuteness?” “ Exactly.” Rip Van Winkle yawned. “Oh, blessed sleep,” he exclaimed as he turned upon his heel and returned whence he had come. Ellis O, Jones. The Basis of Opinion ON'T you sometimes wonder at your own opinions and at the te- nacity with which they hold you? You needn't. Most of them are feel- ings rather than results of reason; feelings that represent not only you, but all that is behind you. The mak ing of most of our important opinions is born in us. When you and Lucifer Smith take different sides on—say, the woman suffrage question, is a made him for generations back, op- posed to all that made you. That is one reason why arguments work so slowly. Also it is one reason why we should be tolerant of each other’s views and accord them part of the road. comicbooks.com ALL AGI