Life, 1915-10-21 · page 45 of 52
Life — October 21, 1915 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes advertisements with commentary on academic freedom. The main satirical content addresses **Scott Nearing's dismissal** from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The article criticizes the university trustees for firing Nearing—described as a "radical" but good teacher—not for teaching false doctrine, but for making the institution too visibly associated with his progressive opinions. The piece sarcastically notes that if radicals like Frank Walsh or William Jennings Bryan were professors, they'd be popular with students. The complaint wasn't ideology itself, but that "the University was being used as the tail to Nearing's kite." The cartoonist calls this "the greatest scholastic row since...Princeton," referencing similar academic controversies. The satire targets institutional cowardice: trustees censoring a respected professor to avoid public controversy rather than confronting his actual ideas. The page also includes period advertisements (French Lick Springs resort, Whiting-Adams brushes) and a pun about a "twenty-two carat ring," unrelated to the main commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Carlsbad of America HE cessation of travel abroad has made French Lick Springs more than ever before the health resort of America and Americans. The Fall season at the Springs is now at its height. Autumnal gold and browns make the rugged Indiana country surrounding the Springs a constant revelation of new beauties while the brisk, in- vigorating climate gives new verve to the enjoyment of golf, tennis, cross country walks, motoring and horse- back riding. The baths at the Springs are famous for their curative properties. Pluto Water is recom- mended by physicians everywhere for indiges- tion, constipation, kidney, liver and stomach troubles. No metropolitan hotel offers its guests greater luxury or greater possibilities for en- tertainment than French Lick Springs Hotel. Bunny: THE JEWELER SAYS IT Is A TWENTY-TWO CARROT RING, Students Want Nearing Back IFTEEN hundred students of the University of Pennsylvania have petitioned the provost and trustees to reinstate Scott Nearing as professor in the Wharton School. Dr. Nearing seems a good man and very popular with students. He is a 7 . . radical, but that’s no harm, If there 1% French Lick Springs is any place in the country where a Hotel Company radical might hope to do good, it is Pe rpg mecrraran me the corrupt and conservative town of Philadelphia. . Mr. Nearing is a remarkable adver- tiser; probably he has a great natural gift in that direction like Inez Mil; We will gladly send you illustrated literature upon your request. Address Department A. Pluto Water is bottled at the Springs and on sale everywhere. WHITING - ADAMS BRUSHES Panama-Pacific International Exposition 1915 Awarded Gold Medal THE HIGHEST AWARD FOR SALE BY Dealers Everywhere Send for illustrated literature telling about WHITING-ADAMS BRUSHES MANUFACTURED ONLY BY John L. Whiting-J. J. Adams Co. 690 to 710 Harrison Avenue BOSTON, U. S. A. holland (that was), or Mr. Bryan, or Mr. Daniels, or Frank Walsh. It final- ly got on the nerves of the trustees. Imagine Frank Walsh as professor in the Wharton School! But Frank is doubtless a good man, and obviously a very clever man, and the Wharton students would probably adore him. The complaint about Dr. Nearing, so far as we can make it out, is not that he taught false doctrine, but that he managed to get the University too much identified with his opinions. The trustees couldn't stand the feel- ing that the University was being used as the tail to Nearing’s kite, so they cut the string. Result; the greatest scholastic row since the great Armageddon at Prince- ton. comicbooks.com