Life, 1916-11-16 · page 15 of 46
Life — November 16, 1916 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic satirizes a philosophical charlatan who preaches positive-thinking theory to a depressed man. The "theorist" (the taller figure in each panel) expounds pseudo-intellectual concepts about mental influence and the power of smiling, citing "highest authorities" and abstract principles about cause-and-effect on mood. The joke's progression shows the theorist becoming increasingly animated and convinced by his own theories, while the other man remains visibly miserable throughout. The final panel reveals the theorist's hypocrisy: when the depressed man can't endorse the theorist's own note, the theorist admits his depression "only because I can't meet that note you endorsed for me." The satire targets both self-help quackery and the theorist's disconnection from practical financial reality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mixby, and that is a great mis- 2. “The highest authoriti 1. “You look depri ae convince me that one may be outward evidences of cheerfulness. take. You should pressed, i ver permit yourself to look depressed. 3. “Thus a smile exerts a reflex influence on the mentality and causes us subconsciously to feel joyous. . “And therefore the mere effort of relaxing the risibles 6. “My dear fello reiroacts in such a way as to promote an inclination to meet that note you e laughter.” mind it’s all right.”