Life, 1916-08-03 · page 7 of 38
Life — August 3, 1916 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces: 1. **"The Rift"** (top): A philosophical poem by T.L.M. about human suffering and existential bondage, illustrated with a sketch of a distressed figure. 2. **"Picture of a Church Member..."** (center): A cartoon mocking religious hypocrisy—showing someone claiming golf is more beneficial than sermons. 3. **"Back-Handed Compliments"** (middle): A brief satire on Colonel George L. Upshur's letter, mocking how he "conquered himself" by conquering enemies, then refuses credit or acknowledgment—absurd false modesty. 4. **"Nth Degree"** (right): Jokes about discomfort, including a barber-chair torture comparison. 5. **"Too Good"** (bottom right): Commentary on marriage expectations—a woman who makes a "good wife" is expected to also make a "good husband." The overall tone is cynical about human nature, social pretension, and gender roles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PICTURE OF A CHURCH MEMBER WHO SAID THAT A MORNIN GOLF WOULD DO MIM MORE GOOD THAN LISTENING TO A SERMON Back-Handed Compliments GEORsE L. UPSHUR confides to the Sun that he has sent a letter to the Colonel in which he says: “By conquering yourself you have conquered your enemies.” This must be among the three thou- sand letters that the Colonel says he hasn't been able to answer. Gcor, mistaken about him. He has neither conquered himself nor his enemies, nor will he thank anyone who credits him with cither achievement. That he should have conquered himself implies that he needed a licking. That he has conquered his enemies implies that he need not fight them any more. The Colonel will not accept either sugges- tion. Too Good NGE Mary doesn't have any She'd make some man a good wife. “Yes; but the trouble is, everyone knows she'd make him a good husband too.” offers! The Rift ERY man is a slave, Bound hy the hidden mysteries of life He wears his shackles nobly With head erect, looking in the face of God With steady eyes, or else With head bowed down, he shambles on, \ prisoner of his Fate, cowered by Fear, Dumb with the sense of his own weak- ness. No answer comes to him from out The black night of eternity, His prayers Return, his pleadings are in vain, Until, suddenly, like a swift breaking of clouds, He sees, as in a vision, the Universe Bound by a moral law and Justice Working its own ends, unerring, slow And absolute—all this he monious Within himself! ToL. M. sees har Nth Degree . | ALK about torture.” “Nothing is worse than sitting in a harher's chair with your mouth full of lather watching the boy trying to give another customer your Par hat." THE STONE AGE comicbooks.com