Life, 1915-09-16 · page 8 of 48
Life — September 16, 1915 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a controversy at the University of Pennsylvania regarding Professor Scott Nearing. The text explains that university trustees dismissed Nearing not for "radical views or free exercise of speech," but because he made himself "the center of angry controversy." The main cartoon depicts a man labeled "Temperance" attempting to control a demon (representing anger or unrest) emerging from a bottle—a visual metaphor for prohibition-era tensions. The accompanying article argues that universities shouldn't hold professors responsible merely for sparking controversy. The satire suggests the trustees' claim to defend free speech while firing someone for causing anger is hypocritical and anatomically impossible—you can't be hit by chips if no one gets angry.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
500 Life’s Fresh Air Fund Inclusive of 1914, Lirz’s Fars Aix Fux has been in operation twenty-eight years. In that time it has expended $150,987.38 and has given a fortnight in the country to 36,767 poor city children, The Fund is supported entirely by bequests and voluntary contributions, which are ac knowledged in this column, Previously acknowledged * Sierra” R._ Stotes Mrs. C. Peter Vosbi Joseph Sillman . Elizabeth S. Daskam Frances J. Woodward . Proceeds of a play give Lake, in the Adirondack !a'and Sallie Sage, a McElroy, Henry Ro ter Sage and Grennill Miss Dorothy 3 Jocelyn Stebbins . Genevieve G. Hoa ACKNOWLEDGED WITIL THANKS One box of clothing from Mrs. S. H. Miller, Mrs. G. O. Smalley, Miss Olen- dorf and Mrs. W. I. Halliwell, Cedatholm, Bound Brook, N. J. One package of clothing from Miss Mary Bailey, Ridgefield, Conn. ‘A treat of candy to all the children from Mr. W. J. Hussey, Stamford, Y, IKEY 1 DUNNO; E TALKING ISS STILL DONE BY MAND” “coop HEAVENS! ARE YOU THE DEMON RUM?” “NO; I'M THE ANGEL PROHIBITION.” Truth and Anger CCORDING to the Outlook, it is claimed by the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania that they did not dismiss Professor Scott Near- ing because of “radical views or the free exercise of speech,” but because “he made himself the center of angry controversy.” This is very like a distinction with- out a difference. Nobody ever made himself the ‘center of angry contro- versy by proclaiming swect, harmless nothings. Free speech and angry con- troversy seem to be inseparable com- panions. It is impossible to tell the truth about many of our institutions without getting on some one’s toes, and toes are proverbially tender. But we should not try to hold Professor Nearing responsible for a simple ana- tomical fact of that kind. The ques- tion is, Is a university professor to be allowed to hew to the truth line with- out regard to who gets hit by the chips? . comicbooks.com