Life, 1916-03-16 · page 19 of 44
Life — March 16, 1916 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1854 *Life* magazine satire mocks pseudoscientific "psychology" conventions of the era. The cartoon depicts Abraham Lincoln being tested at an American psychologists' convention using the "Whipple system" to measure intelligence. The joke: Lincoln fails to define obscure technical terms ("chamfer," "mitosis," "synecdoche," "peneplain") but succeeds with "gambit"—a chess term. The psychologist concludes Lincoln is 82% unintelligent, fit only for sheep-tending or potato-picking. The satire targets the pretentiousness and absurdity of early psychology as a pseudo-science. By having Lincoln—who would become a revered president—declared mentally unfit by arrogant experts, the article ridicules how these psychologists use jargon to make baseless judgments about human capability. The final line, declaring everyone except psychologists "mentally unsound," hammers home the satire's point about expert pomposity and fraudulent science.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE OF ATTILA THE SECOND. CHAPTER VIII ON A VISIT TO ROME HE TEACHES POPE LEO THEOLOGY As It Might Have Been he Psychologists Are Correct) jes ARY 30, 1854—At the Ameri- psychologists’ convention last iUan interesting demonstration was en of the Whipple system of deter- ning a intelligence. An linary-looking man was selected. Name, please?" the man was asked. \braham Lincoln,” he replied. Well, Mr. Lincoln,” remarked the jsychologist-in-charge, “will you be kind enough to define the word ‘ cham- person’s “*Chamfer’?” drawled Lincoln in puzzled manner. “I can't say that —it hasn't got anything to with a horse, has “No, nothing to do with a replied the psychologist: with smile. “Perhaps you “dibble’ for us.” “That's a new one on me,” replied Lincoln regretfully, “ but that reminds. me of a story about—” “Just confine yourself to the ques- please,” interrupted his que: tioner, “Can you define ‘mitosis’? ‘Synecdoche’? ‘Peneplain’? ‘Gam- bit'?” Lincoln’s dejected features lightened by an expression of relief. “*Gambit’?” he cried joyfully. “ Yes, yes! A gambit is an opening in a chess game in which an advantageous attack is obtained by sacrificing—” “Quite right,” broke in the psy- horse,” a cold can define tions, were ckologist impatiently and with just a trace of annoyance. “And now can you define ‘testudo’?” “*Testudo’?” ruminated “That reminds me of a little story re- rding—" Gentlemen,” interrupted the chologist, rising abruptly to his feet and dismissing the abashed Lincoln with a wave of his hand, “ gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to report to you that the person who has just ap- peared before us is 82 per cent. unin- telligent. He is mentally equipped for no tasks higher than sheep-tending or potato-picking. If you will now pass into the Main Hall, we will demon- strate that everyone, with the excep- tion of psychologists, is mentally un- sound.” Lincoln. psy- comicbooks.com