Life, 1913-08-21 · page 11 of 40
Life — August 21, 1913 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains social commentary rather than political cartoons. The main article, "Quick Work," discusses a Rockefeller Institute serum for spinal meningitis, expressing both hope and skepticism about new medical treatments and compulsory vaccination. The cartoon shows "Willie Microbe" (personified germ) telling someone to "come on Jimmy and have a soda" — a dark joke about disease transmission, suggesting casual social interaction spreads illness. "For Bravery" depicts a figure climbing a ladder, likely satirizing dangerous or foolish acts of courage. "A Prayer" mocks someone seeking to lead an organization while avoiding serious commitment — the humor lies in the contradictory desires expressed. The Mellens food advertisement appears at bottom. Overall, the page blends medical skepticism with social satire typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AN ESSAY ON MAN Quick Work ET another offspring of the Rockefeller Institute seems to have fallen by the wayside. There is both faith and hope, while the silent mantle of charity is thrown over the serum for spinal meningitis “ discovered " by the Institute some years ago. The telegraph headline editors arc more brutal, for one of them heads a dispatch from Cincinnati, O. (March 19), “Deaths Laid to Serum for Spinal’ Meningitis.” In the dispatch we read that “out of fifteen cascs treated fourteen have died.” —Homoepathic However, Dr. Flexner must not be discouraged. These new serums, aided by compulsory vaccination, may prove blessings in disguise for overpopulated districts. Willie Microbe: CoME ON JIMMY AND HAVE A sopa! FOR BRAVERY A Prayer HATEVER Gods There Be: dow me, first of all, with those qualities of mind and heart which will enable me to take the great, glorious out-of-doors under my patronage and get away with it, That done, suffer me to take myself so much too seri- Something or Others, ously as to found a League of Boy and conduct a department for these in a number of periodicals. It being understood, of course, that I do not wish the world cured, in my time, of its readiness to fall for pose and piffle. Amen! M -LEN’S food—knockout drops.