Life, 1912-07-18 · page 21 of 44
Life — July 18, 1912 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The illustration depicts a rural scene with figures on horseback, while the article satirically praises the "Ass" (donkey) as genuinely happy—immune to worry, argument, boredom, and sympathy because it lacks intellectual sensitivity and self-awareness. The satirical point: humans torment themselves with consciousness, philosophy, and social awareness. An ass, being oblivious and unfeeling, achieves contentment the clever person cannot. This inverts typical hierarchy—the "stupid" creature is superior by virtue of its stupidity. The second piece, "Awful," presents a dialogue between doctors opposing a proposed law requiring patient *consent* before surgery. They view informed consent as bad for medical profits. This satirizes physicians' resistance to patient autonomy and regulation—mocking their prioritization of revenue over ethical practice. Both pieces use humor to critique human folly: one celebrates ignorance as bliss; the other exposes professional self-interest masquerading as expertise.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DREAMS, Advantages of Being an Ass LEV people are almost invariably unhappy. The ass, that universal object of derision, has so many advantages that it seems singular no one has thought to enumerate them. Did you ever see a genuine Ass who wasn't serene in his own asininity? Nothing disturbs him. He is obliv- ious to philosophy or fun. Wit and wisdom are alike to him. He has risen above them both, Not being sensitive, he i apable of being offended. This alone would make him superior to the majority. Then, again, no one ever attempts to argue with him. His reputation preserves him from every kind of im- portunity. He is never bored, and never lonesome, for inasmuch as he has been associating with himself all his life, nothing else tires him. He has the wonderful qual- ity of eternal blandness. His health is always good. No Ass was ever in a hospital, nor was he ever an object of sympathy. The very idea of sympathizing with an Ass is ridiculous in itself. This is conclusive evidence that he never needs it, and, therefore, that he is happier than most of us. No matter from what angle you view the Ass, you will see in him something which, if you had it, would make you more contented with your lot. And, moreover, there is nothing that you can do to him to make him aware that he is an As Best of all, the genuine Ass rarely loses his temper. The nearest approach to this unhappy condition that he ever reaches is to set back his’ears and his legs and wait for others to move him. Awful R. CUTTEM: What do you know about this for a new law that will cut down our business and profits ninety per cent.? Dr. Sawest: Great Scott, what is it? Dr. Curte: nmebody wants to pa . doctor must have the consent of the patient before going on with an operation. comicbooks.com