Life, 1914-03-05 · page 24 of 60
Life — March 5, 1914 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of satire: **Top Section:** A philosophical essay defending laughter about propriety, arguing that human nature requires the ability to laugh at incongruities (like Church fathers discussing corsets). It mocks those who deny propriety has any universal basis. **"A New Joy for Travelers":** A satirical travel article about Mount Vesuvius descent expeditions. The humor lies in deadpan recommendations—wear minimal clothing, bring ice water that will boil immediately—treating a dangerous volcano visit as casual tourism. The concluding line is pointed political satire: recommending the trip to American politicians and "bosses," suggesting Vesuvius (hell/damnation) represents their deserved fate. **"Puritanic Old Lady" Cartoon:** Shows a scandalized elderly woman complaining about immodest ballet skirts, representing outdated Victorian prudishness that Life's editors mock throughout the page. **"Mrs. Thompson" Dialogue:** Dark humor about a laundress whose own husband died after a doctor's consultation, now hearing Mrs. Thompson's husband is having one—darkly suggesting medical consultations are fatal.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
400 go EE beled oe only thing that still has a whole theory of human nature. And human nature must laugh at some things, especially at some combinations of things, or it ceases to be human. So long as man is the image of God he will do what a cow cannot do; that is, he will laugh at the idea of a venerable father of the Church in contemplation on the subject of corsets. Such laughter is proper; that is, it is proper to the occasion, But the bishops were guilty of impropriety, not because they talked of what are called improper topics, but because they did not expect to be laughed at when they were laughable. It is only fair to say in conclusion that there are wild asses compared with whom all these criticized here are quite human and humorous. The ultimate and elemental asses are those who say that because propriety varies with the occasion, it therefore is an arbitrary convention, and rests on no general principle of modesty and dignity at all. These are like people who should deny the abstract existence of hunger because some people eat with fingers and some with forks. These philosophers should be soundly beaten; but whether with a scholastic argument or a thick stick is again a question of the Instinct of Propriety. A New Joy for Travelers CCORDING to a report in the Scientific American, several successful descents into the crater of Mount Vesuvius have been made during the past year, one by Professor Malladra and friends, and another by the cele- brated photographer, Mr, Frederick Burlingham. The latter remained for twenty minutes near a pool of boiling lava at the bottom of the vent. Mr. Burlingham reports that there was little or no fishing in the pool. Puritanic Old Lady: 1 NEVER SAW SUCH IMMODEST BALLET SKIRTS; WHAT Gre WE COMING TO? LICENSE ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD In view of these facts, it seems not improbable that a visit to the interior of Mount Vesuvius will be in the near future a part of the itinerary of every well-informed traveler, There are so few new sensations in travel that no doubt this will be a welcome addi- tion. Tourists, however, who desire to make the trip, should prepare them- selves beforehand. It is desirable to wear as little as possible. A light linen duster and a palm-leaf fan are about all that will be needed. One should also be supplied with a canteen of ice water. Nothing is more refreshing when standing, on some sultry day, drinking in the beauties of the Vesuvius lava pool, than a few sips of ice water. It is better, however, to take it almost immediately upon your arrival, or be- fore it comes to a boil. We recommend this trip to all Amer- ican politicians, particularly bosses. It may give them a taste of what the future holds in store for them, RS, THOMPSON: is seriously ill, consultation now. Launoress: Glory be! A consulta- tion is just what was after killin’ me own husband, My husband He's having a comicbooks.com