Life, 1913-11-06 · page 19 of 56
Life — November 6, 1913 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The page presents two distinct pieces: **Top Image**: A classical engraving titled "Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors," depicting the Biblical story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. This appears to be from Life's historical print collection. **Lower Text & Photo**: A satirical essay on "Imagination" that dismisses it as an "obsolete form of power" now replaced by modern "higher psychology." The piece argues that imagination—once essential for creating myths, heroes, and culture—has been superseded by practical efficiency and modern management tactics (playground supervision, department store methods, child labor regulations, etc.). The accompanying photograph shows a girl "practicing for a visit to her city cousins," likely illustrating how modern children lack imaginative play compared to previous generations. **The Satire's Point**: Life mocks contemporary society's rejection of imagination and creativity in favor of bureaucratic efficiency and utilitarian control—suggesting this represents cultural decline rather than progress.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ay: eolds clothes . FROM LIFE’S COLLECTION OF OLD PRINTS JOSEPH AND HIS COAT OF MANY COLORS Imagination : N obsolete form of power, at one time used in making countries, religion and literature, but now super- seded by the higher psychology. In former times imagi- nation was employed by children in playing games, and in the making of mud-pies out of mud and real soldiers out of wood. It is the father of many dead heroes, among whom may be mentioned Theseus, Jack-the-Giant-Killer, King Arthur, Caliban, Robinson Crusoe and Santa Claus. It is still discovered in the extremely young. At one time, when man was crude, imagination was thought to be serviceable. This notion, however, along with mythology and other follies, has long since been exploded, the greatest efficiency having been demonstrated to lie along the lines of least resistance, which includes among other things playground supervision, department store tactics, child labor, white slavery and currency reform, PRACTICING FOR A VISIT TO HER CITY COUSINS comicbooks.com