Life, 1912-01-04 · page 30 of 108
Life — January 4, 1912 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the early 20th-century fad of "aura" pseudoscience — the belief that spiritually advanced people could see invisible energy fields surrounding individuals. The text mocks this credulity by presenting increasingly absurd "rules" for auras: they vary by geography (Boston auras differ from Brooklyn ones), they can be "ironed out smooth" if they bulge wrongly, and they require careful nighttime storage like household items. The large illustration (captioned "They Shall Inherit the Earth") appears to depict an aerial view of crowded urban or industrial activity — possibly factories, vehicles, or crowds — suggesting the satirist's view that this spiritualist nonsense appeals to the masses rather than genuinely enlightened people. The inserted anecdote about celery ("That's queer, never saw a piece of celery in my whole life!") seems a non-sequitur joke, typical of Life's absurdist humor style. The satire targets both gullible believers in spiritualism and the pseudo-scientific charlatans marketing aura-viewing technology to them.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The New Aura Era QWs to the intervention of col- ored glass, a scientific man has at last been able to locate the aura, so that it can be seen by any intelligent human being, who is sober and respec- table, and lives at home with his par- ents and moves in good society. The aura is a sort of illuminated fog which envelops a person, no mat- ter what clothes he may be wearing, If it bulges out in certain places, it means trouble of a particular kind, according to the location; thus, by means of careful observations, we shall in time be able to place the race on a new footing, The mo- ment any aura is noticed bulging out it _ can be removed and ironed out smooth. The aura has long been known to a select few. Those of us who are pos- sessed of second sight have often ob- served it in others, and have frequent- ly been annoyed by its presence as it hangs idly about some one to whom we have taken a violent dislike All auras, however, are not dis tasteful. The writer has personally “THEY SHALL INHERIT THE FARTH” known an aura belonging to a beauti- ful young girl with golden hair, that he has often longed to lay his hands on and sway back and forth as it gently, although somewhat impalpably, reposes in his arms. Some auras must be seen to be ap- preciated; and, above all things, we 1 THAT'S QUEER, SAW A PIECE OF CELERY IN MY WHOLE Lire! should never judge any aura hastily; it is easily possible to misunderstand an aura and to hurt its feelings. Star- ing rudely at any aura you may sec, especially if it belongs to a lady, is not good form. Auras differ greatly, according to locality. For example, a St. Louis aura is not the same as a Brooklyn aura, while a Boston aura differs radically from either. If you should see a Bos- ton aura coming, walk right up to it bravely and slap it on the back, first putting on your fur-lined gloves. With regard to your own aura, you should learn how to take care of it, so that it will last and not go back on you at some critical moment in your career, when you need it most. Many people's troubles are due to the fact that they are careless and indifferent toward their auras and leave them lying about. Always fold your aura up neatly at night before going to bed, and put it in a safe place, where you will be sure te remember it in the morning. It is very disagreeable to leave your aura behind you for the baby to play with, or for some total stranger to ap-