Life, 1913-05-01 · page 13 of 48
Life — May 1, 1913 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes Dr. Gotterdamerung von Turtleheimer, who claims to have discovered a "serum for a sense of humor" derived from a Cheshire cat. The joke mocks both medical quackery and the absurdity of commercializing humor itself. The visual gag works on two levels: the cartoon shows fashionable people amazed at someone playing piano *normally* (with hands), suggesting they've become so dependent on artificial stimulation or unusual entertainment that ordinary activity seems remarkable. The testimonials below reinforce this satire—people claim the serum cured their sense of humor through ridiculous pseudoscientific claims. Life magazine thus ridicules both dubious medical treatments popular in this era and society's gullibility toward them.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“on, MaMMA! The Greatest Discovery of the Age E take great pleasure in announc- ing that through the great dis- covery of one of our staff doctors, the celebrated Dr. Gotterdamerung von Turtleheimer, we are at last able to place within the reach of all a serum for a sense of humor. By simple in- oculation any one can develop a sense of humor in about ten days. Dr. Dingby has been offered a mil- lion dollars, but has refused, as he wishes to give the world the benefit of his discovery. The serum was obtained from a Cheshire cat after countless experi- ments. If you have no sense of hu- mor, apply at once. Here are a few testimonials : “T have been an ardent suffragette for the past four years, after having left a happy home and three children to be- On my last trip to England come one. IANO RECORDS | HERE’S A MAN PLAYING THE PIANO WITH I helped blow up four public buildings I marched both to Albany and Washing- ton and have spoken in the public about two hundred times and written a hun- dred or more special articles bearing on the subject. Two weeks ago I was in- duced to take your treatment and almost immediately [began laughing so hard at myself that I was ashamed. It’s grand to be home once more—all due to you. Luty B “ Wasitixctox, Since taking one of your treatments I am a changed man. W. J.B.” “Ovrtoox Orrice. Please let us know what your club rates are. L. A. T.R H.W. M.” “Tur Caratact Comic Orera Co. Dear Sirs: If we are ever able to afford it we shall sue you for damages. After tak- ing only one of your treatments we cou no longer act, we were so ashamed of ourselves, and we have had to go out of business.” Dr. Von Gotterdamerung Dingby, when interviewed last night, said: HIS HANDs! “My serum is absolutely free. Io three treatments I positively guarantee to the most hopeless case a sense of humor. This means that war will be abolished, poverty will become ridiculous and our ‘educational system will go by the boards.” “ How long will this take?" he was asked, The good doctor smiled. “Tt will naturally take some time,” he replied, “to inoculate the whole American people.” PS. One more testimonial: “ Dear Doctor: Your serum is really wonderful. 1 have taken only one treatment, but it has already given me strong hopes that, after all, I shall be able to get out a Humorous Number, Gratefully yours, Lire.” HE GOVERNOR (sternly): When I was your age, my boy, I was making an honest living. Tue Boy: And now look at you! comicbooks.com