Life, 1915-09-09 · page 18 of 44
Life — September 9, 1915 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece reimagines the fairy tale villain—the giant killed by Jack—as a misunderstood figure. The giant claims he wasn't a monster but a disciplinarian who gave Jack "an old-fashioned licking" for being a spoiled, irresponsible boy. He blames Jack's mother and modern "psychology" for ruining the child. The satire targets early 20th-century anxieties about child-rearing. It mocks progressive parenting methods (psychology, permissiveness) while celebrating traditional corporal punishment. The narrator's conclusion—that the giant deserves fame for administering harsh discipline—presents this view as heroic common sense. The cartoons "The Sirens" and "The Daily Lesson" (about teaching children about diseases) reinforce the theme of moral instruction and parental authority, reflecting contemporary debates about education and discipline versus modern psychological approaches.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
466 Interviews with Dead Celebrities 'HE ancient castle was overrun with moss and weeds, and at first I thought that, after all, the benefit of having a modern flying-machine to reach it was mostly lost. But as I wandered about the lonely place I was suddenly conscious of a gigantic shape. Sure enough, there he was, sitting on the back steps, in the solemn grandeur of the ruins, doubt- less living in ghostly memory of the past. He could scarcely devour me now, so I sat down fearlessly at his bidding, lost in astonishment over the benevo- lent aspect of his face, for I had been taught to believe that he was a fierce, vulgar and intensely sanguinary crea- ture. “You couldn’t have come up on the Teanstalk,” he began, “because that was cut down long ago.” I signified the aeroplane, just over the neighboring fence. He nodded. He had heard about them, he said. We sat for some time, wordless. Then, remembering my mission and my instructions to get the main facts without ornament, I made bold to question him. “You are undoubtedly the original giant who was slain by Jack the Giant Killer,” 1 said, “although you are a THE SIRENS than I friend, much milder-looking person supposed. But tell me, my what possessed you to want to cat up that innocent little boy? Didn't you have any pity? Didn't you know that you could get good roast beef at the market? For the prices weren't pro- hibitive then.” He turned upon me almost fiercely. “Stop!” he exclaimed. “Really, I can't bear it to have you say all those things. I know what the world has thought of me all these years. But it isn't true. No, sir!” mame THe TEN HOST eRigntFuy DISEASES ANO DESCRIBE THEM UrPUAIN wer THE CRY AIR you sures CvCer Tne, THE DAILY LESSON He buried his face in his hands—I may this. say, quite a large operation, ell me the truth,” I said gently. “I will give your side. Remember that I am not running a Republican newspaper. Speak out!” “Well,” he said at last, “you see, it was this I was only a plain, hard-working giant, with old-fashioned notions, trying to do the best by every- body. And this boy Jack came to visit He'd been spoiled by his mother, he hadn’t learned anything in school, he had no sense of responsi- bility. I think they said he had been treated with psychology—whatever that is. At any rate, that boy needed an old-fashioned licking badly. It the only thing that would have done him any good. And I gave it to him. That's why they've been against me ever since with a trumped-up_ story about my trying to eat him alive. I can tell you, my friend, we giants have had to suffer. Ah, if I could only have kept that boy I might have made a man out of him.” “My friend,” I ing him by the hand, “ you're a hero! I'll put your name down for the Hall of Fame as being the only giant who did the right thing for a young friend and suffered the consequences!" me. was said, solemnly shak- comicbooks.com