Life, 1914-11-12 · page 14 of 48
Life — November 12, 1914 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical courtroom story about a man arrested for "telling" (spreading propaganda). The judge questions the prisoner's character and his plan to lecture boys about "new facts." The prisoner claims he makes "book-shelves" and can "make a very good book-shelf out of manual training tools." The satire targets **educational reformers or progressive educators** whose methods the judge views suspiciously. The story suggests the man lacks credentials ("How much do you know yourself?") yet presumes to teach youth. The accompanying car illustration ("The Ploughman Homeward Plods His Weary Way") is unrelated visual humor. The page also includes a brief "Critical" section about domestic discord. The overall point mocks educational experimentation and self-proclaimed teachers lacking traditional authority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Hard Case ESTERDAY morning the Educa- tional System of the United States was arrested by an officer of the law and taken before Judge Destiny in the Court of Obsessions. “What is the charge against the prisoner?” asked the judge. “Idling.” The judge looked the prisoner over. He appeared to be a tall, ascetic-look- ing individual, with very little character in his face. “What have you to say for your- self?” “I was standing on the corner, Your Honor, lecturing a lot of boys and trying to teach them some of my new fads, when this man came along and took me up.” “Well, you have long been a sus- picious character around here. So far as we can tell by your record, you have been living off the community for years without giving anything in return. What is your idea in lecturing the boys? You didn’t expect to teach them anything, did you?” This made the prisoner smile. “Oh, no, Your Honor,” he replied. “That was furthest from my inten- tions.” “How much do you know your- self?” “ Well, I know a little of everything. I can make a very good book-shelf out of manual training tools.” “Will it hold books?” “Certainly not. The kind of book- shelves I make are not intended for that purpose. I also do some excellent work with raffia.” “You have traveled, haven't you?” “Well, not exactly, Your Honor, but you ought to see the books I have “THE PLOUGHMAN HOMEWARD PLODS HIS WEARY way” —Thomas Gray. “STEADY A MOMENT, PLEASE!” written about it. Some of them are great.” The judge looked around the court. “Is there anybody here to appear against this pris- oner? "she asked. “No, Your Honor,” said the clerk, “ Al- most everybody has some case against him, but, you see, the peo- ple are so divided in RBAN: Svupsuss: their minds that they cannot get to- gether.” The judge thought for a moment. “Well,” he said at last, “I don't quite like his looks.” Turning to the prisoner, he added: “Take him around to one of the machine-shops and set him to work. His language and his looks are all against him, but still there is a possi- bility that he may learn to do some- thing useful.” Critical How’s everything out your way? Very critical, Our cook broke off all diplo- matic relations this morning and demanded her passports. comicbooks.com