Life, 1914-01-01 · page 12 of 44
Life — January 1, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct items: **"A Sign of Progress"** (top): An editorial praising Public School 72 in New York City where children rejected hymns lacking rhyme/reason and refused vaccination without rational justification. The piece celebrates this as evidence of critical thinking and independent judgment among students—a positive development for education. **"A Post-Xmas Equation"** (middle): A visual math puzzle showing children plus Santa equals a woman minus a handbag, suggesting the post-Christmas period involves returning unwanted gifts or resolving gift-related complications. **"Impressionistic"** (bottom): A satirical dialogue where an American reporter claims exclusive celebrity access while other journalists merely "write out the interview," mocking journalistic pretension and competition for exclusive stories. The imagery supports these satirical critiques of education, consumer culture, and press practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
12 A Sign of Progress HE children of Public School 72, New York City, rebelled against singing certain hymns which, though possessing rhyme, were devoid of rea- son, and they rebelled against vaccina- tion because it had neither rhyme nor reason. This dual revolt is one of the best signs we have seen for a long time. It indicates more than a mere whim or passing fancy; it indicates, rather, a habit of mind, a well-oiled determination to examine all things that their teachers tell them and hold fast only’ to the true. What could be better for our schools than that spirit? We have long felt that if anything much was ever to be made of our public schools, it would have to be done by the children them- selves, and we are glad to see that they are beginning to agree. It is to the children’s interest to bring the schools up to date, while the tendency of teachers is to do the same thing to-day that they did yesterday. We do not know what particular concatena- tion of circumstances makes Public School 72 the leader in this “ new free- dom”, but certainly a mighty beacon has been lighted for the guidance of ambitious pupils in every community in the land. “The child is father of the man” seems to be as true as it ever was. “LIJOW is your Shakespearian Club getting on?” “Splendidly. We learned two new steps last week.” A POST-XMAS EQUATION A JANUARY WHITE SALE Impressionistic MERICAN REPORTER (to celebrity just landing): Under our new system you see only me. I give the interview on your impressions to the rest of the boys, Saves time. Cevesrity: But the other reporters are not even with you. Reporter: Dear me, no. They are writing out the interview. Cetenrity: But, my dear sir, I have no impressions of America. Reporter: You will have when you read the papers in the morning. comicbooks.com lo |