Life, 1915-01-28 · page 26 of 40
Life — January 28, 1915 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"Modern Fable"** mocks progressive education reforms. Schools have been appropriated for political meetings and women's suffrage events, leaving nowhere for children. The genius "solution"—returning to basic education (the "three R's") at home—is presented as absurdly novel, when it's actually outdated common sense. The satire targets the displacement of education's primary purpose by activist agendas. **"A Combination in Restraint of Trade"** is a lost-and-found advertisement satirizing the U.S. Navy's apparent decline. Built under Republican administration, the Navy was once impressive but has deteriorated during the European War (WWI). The finder should contact "Congressman Son-in-law-of-Senator-Lodge Gardner," mocking political nepotism and suggesting the Navy's weakness reflects government incompetence. The top cartoon showing the "Young Ladies Seminary" depicts schools converted away from education—visually reinforcing the fable's critique.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Modern Fable 'HE schoolhouses having at last been wholly given over to political and woman-suffrage meetings, not to mention entertainments, moving-pic- ture shows, dances, religious exercises and old home weeks, it became a ques- tion as to what to do with the school- children. One party, who contended that the schools were built for school- children, was immediately ruled out of court as being a relic of the past. The matter was greatly complicated by the fact that, child labor being no longer permitted, there were more children loose than ever. It is true that, being compelled to play in the streets in larger numbers, a more than fair pro- portion continued to be run over by autos. Still, however, they continued to increase, to the positive menace of everybody. It was at this point that a genius arose. “Why not,” he exclaimed, “go back to first principles and keep them all busy learning the three R's? This re- quires practically no equipment and can be done even at home.” This plan—heing so long out of date that it was positively original—was im- mediately adopted, and everybody lived happily forever after. {OUNG LADIES SEMINARY ANY | A COMBINATION IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE. Lost | ge Strayed or Stolen—A Navy. Built at great expense under the best of Republican auspices. When last seen it was showing off to wonderfully spectacular advantage in the Hudson River. Shortly after the beginning of the European war, however, the said Navy was observed showing signs of being on its last legs, until all that can now be seen of it are a few antiquated remnants of its former magnificent self. Finder will please communicate at once with Uncle Sam, care Congressman Son-in-law-of-Senator-Lodge Gardner, Wash- ington, D. C, “ NOW THAT THE LADIES HAVE GONE, JACK, LET'S IEAR THAT STORY” comicbooks,