Life, 1914-01-01 · page 15 of 44
Life — January 1, 1914 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct satirical pieces critiquing early 20th-century American culture: **"The Exiles"** (main story): Beauty and Art—personified as classical ideals—lament their displacement in modern society. They fear the Futurist Movement and hide from it, suggesting artistic tradition is being destroyed by avant-garde innovation. The "American Highbrow" who appears at the end represents the pretentious intellectual elite who claim to patronize Art and Beauty while actually drugging them into irrelevance—a jab at self-important cultural arbiters who corrupt rather than preserve artistic values. **"A Simple Matter"** (editorial): Sarcastically attacks doctors for promoting disease propaganda to maintain their profession's necessity, rather than genuinely advancing public health. **"The Joy-Rider"** (cartoon): Shows Earth as a reckless vehicle, labeled "1914 Danger," suggesting the world is speeding toward catastrophe—likely referencing pre-WWI tensions. The overall tone reflects anxiety about modernization destroying classical culture while charlatans profit from chaos.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BRINGING IN TUE EAUTY and Art were discussing things in general. “We scarcely ever have a chance to meet any more,” said Beauty to Art. “Do you remem- ber those old days in Egypt, Greece and Rome! Ah! What times we had to- gether! A revel! Now, what with these new movements, I am afraid of my life.” “You'd better be,” said Art. “ Our meetings are generally clandestine. Who's that over there?” They both shrank back shadow. “That's the Futurist Mpvement,” whispered Beauty. “Don't let him see into the “Pooh!” said Art. “He wouldn't know either of us if he did. There goes another.” PLUM PuppINGs! THE JOY-RIDER A Simple Matter “It is difficult to understand the lack of interest by the medical profession in the opportunity opened by this state of affairs to point out to educators the supreme importance of keeping the body strong and healthy as the prime requi ite in racial supremacy.” Dr. James M. Anders. HY should it be so difficult to understand? It is not necessary to the interest of the medical profession to point out the way in which the body may be kept strong and healthy. On the contrary, it is to their interests to keep up a continuous propaganda of diseases in order that they may invent new cures for them. If everybody should be instructed by the medical pro- fession (and should follow those instructions) just how to live a natural healthy life, why, then everybody would soon be in a condition where they would realize the super- fluity of all doctors. Thus there would be no occasion for The Exiles “Yes, that’s Modern Literature. imes I have a great longing “Get near all these poor unfortu- nates and comfort them? Yes I feel that way at times,” said Art; “but it doesn’t pay. Whither art thou bound?” “ Alas!" murmured Beauty. “I know not. I am not at home anywhere. Yesterday I passed through a Mag- nate’s palace and was nearly ill for an hour afterwards. It would be the death of me to put up at any modern hotel, and as for the country, Nature no longer rules.” “It’s the age of advertising,” Art in her turn wept. “Sister!” she said, “I too, am a wanderer. We must hide ourselves and in silence and secrecy at last dwell together.” the medical profession, At this moment both shuddered. A strange being of rather pleasing as- pect was drawing near. “My dear friends,” he said with/a false smile. “Be not afraid. Hege, take this sleeping potion.” He made them drink from a mission cup. They sank together in each other’s arms. “Tell me,” said Beauty, sleepily, “who is the kind stranger who has volunteered this long sleep to both of us.” Art smiled sleepily. “ Dear me,” she said, “you ought to know him. He is so ubiquitous these days, you know. That is our intellectual and supercilious patron of Art, Music and Letters, The American High- brow.” comicbooks.com