Life, 1912-12-12 · page 12 of 48
Life — December 12, 1912 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The dramatic black-and-white illustration depicts a New York City street canyon dominated by towering skyscrapers, with human figures appearing tiny and prostrate on the ground below. This visual metaphor critiques Wall Street's dominance over ordinary people—the buildings literally dwarf the humans, suggesting financial institutions' overwhelming power. The accompanying text sections ("Have Courage, Doctor!" and "Flips") discuss medical experiments and romantic encounters, appearing unrelated to the main image. However, the juxtaposition suggests Life magazine's satirical commentary on American society: while doctors experiment boldly and people pursue fleeting romantic encounters, Wall Street's massive financial structures loom indifferently above, dominating urban life and human concerns.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2440 The Artist H, the beat of the heart too swift, too swift, The leap of the joy too sweet! If one perfect moment the flame we lift What matter if life be fleet? Oh, the throb of the love too mad, too dear, The stab of the sudden pain! Vor one instant’s passion untouched with fear— Who ms-murs that life is vain? Ji I hold one second upon my soul A rapture untold, unspent, J shall know no dread of the Signal’s roll But pass, in a full content. —Leolyn Louise Everett. Have Courage, Doctor! A special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune said: Having kept alive for 103 days a heart from its organism, Dr. Alexis Carrel has now added to the wonders of his surgery the transfer of a heart, stomach and kidneys from their casement of flesh to the oratory, where they are now living and per- forming their normal functions removed vessels in his This experiment is in progress in the Rockefeller institute the of ne of ns, of course, is that of a human being. Not on public exhibition, no. But is this thirsty “researcher” going to “T suppose they keep that ax to frighten little dogs away” WALL STREET forego the excitement of human in- teriors? It is merely a matter of sentiment, and “sickly sentiment” is not held in much esteem by vivisectors. Hospitals supply rich material, and if filthy diseases are squirted into un- suspecting patients and the sof girls in orphan asylums are used for experiment why be squeamish about stomach and kidneys? Meanwhile dogs are cheap, and if the benevolent Carrel keeps at it long enough we may see a tail still wagging one hun- dred and four days after its owner's death Flips HEN eugenics comes in at the door love flies out the window. One swallow doesn’t make a sum- mer, but it breaks a New Year’s reso- lution. Truth is stranger than fiction, but not stranger than woman. Liabilities sometimes may be lic- abilities. “T LIKE your cheek.” he said, kiss- ing her. “Don't be faceric coldly. she responded comicbookMee |