Life, 1914-10-01 · page 27 of 48
Life — October 1, 1914 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts a social gathering where a man stands center-stage gesticulating dramatically—"the man who has been told that he ought to go on the stage." This is satirizing someone at a party who performs theatrically, seeking attention, apparently believing he possesses theatrical talent because others have suggested it (likely sarcastically). The accompanying article praises Pope Pius X (who died recently when this was published), emphasizing his humility, simplicity, and spiritual integrity. The ironic juxtaposition—pairing vain theatrical posturing with an essay celebrating genuine humility—creates the satirical point: a contrast between false pretense and authentic virtue. The bottom illustration, "A First Appearance," likely depicts Pius X's early life, supporting the article's theme of humble origins leading to greatness. The satire mocks people who mistake casual comments for genuine encouragement and adopt grandiose personas accordingly.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Hil | (th) igi | THE MAN WHO HAS BEEN TOLD THAT HE OUGHT TO GO ON THE STAGE Pius Tenth HE more one reads about the late Pope the stronger is the impres- sion received of saintliness and deep integrity of his character. In some particulars he seemed to be behind his times, but in most particulars he was far ahead of them. Considering what he was, how humble, how simple, how devout, how wonderfully detached from worldly ambition either for him- self or his relatives, it is extraordinary that he should have reached the re- markable clevation that he did. The fact that such a man should have come to fill such a place is fit to give en- couragement not only about the Roman Catholic Church, but about all churches. For there was no place in the Church, Catholic or Protestant, wherein the qualities of Pius X would not have told. They were the great qualities that win in his profession. E.S.M. A FIRST APPEARANCE