Life, 1916-12-14 · page 37 of 42
Life — December 14, 1916 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes advertising with satirical commentary. The main cartoon (top left) shows a teacher and student, with the student saying "Gee! Jimmie, teacher wuz right about th' center uv th' earth bein' hot!"—a simple joke about a schoolboy learning basic science. The substantial text article, "The Difficulty of an Ancient Art," is a humorous essay about lying. It argues that successful liars must *believe their own lies* to be convincing. The piece satirizes human nature by suggesting that liars who appear confident and indignant when doubted are more persuasive than truth-tellers who remain calm. It's social satire about how conviction—not truth—persuades people. The page closes with a joke about Alexander the Great, suggesting even history's greatest conqueror would pause to subscribe to *Life* magazine—self-promotional humor typical of the era. The rest is period advertising for champagne, chicken dishes, and Bermuda tourism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
recent series, ntally follies 50 net “cee! JIMMIE, TEACHER WUZ RIGHT "CENTER UV TH’ EARTH BEIN’ The Difficulty of an Ancient Art HE art of not telling the truth has been practiced so long that it ought by this time to have reached a great state of perfection. Singular as it may seem, however, there appear to be no well for- mulated rules for lying. In astronomy all the work done by one generation is care- fully preserved for the benefit of the next. So with other well-known sciences. But the art of lying is either spontancous or has to be acquired by training with- out the benefit of tradition, The reason for this is obvious: for the most suc- cessful lies are those which presuppose that the victim is unacquainted with the methods, Thus every true liar trics to conceal his method—otherwise he might awaken suspicion, The most that can be said in favor of any rule for lying is that 4 Sy & 62 av * The Dish for “ee a Gala Occasions a dainty entree, a delightful luncheon, a charming late supper—and always ready to serve ina, i ‘ot emergency — Baily Brose. Chicken elabny Eepeomical elogle or do Sam rane ise and When.” - THE IDEAL WINTER RESORT re'tnervating | BERMUDA PRINCESS HOTEL December 11. Best location and equioment on the islands ro service throughout. Grill room, tiled swimming pool, our of yachts: superb drives, saddle riding, golf, tennis. sea 1m New York. |S. S. Passage of Quebee S. S. OWE & TWOROGER, Mars. Hamilton, Bermuda. (CHAMPAGNE FRANCE “Ghe Finest Leoduct that Moan has dzawn feom Voature ” Brut SpeciaL Cuvee VINTAGE 1904-1906 As Reservep For Grear Brrrain Granp Vin Sec (Brown LABEL) it must first of all appear to be the truth. Your liar does not start out with the plain statement: “T am now, by the most approved methods, about to tell you a whopper.” On the contrary, he makes it appear in every way possible that he is telling the truth; and if liars have learned any- thing at all in the long period of time in which they have been at it, it is that the best way for them to tell a liz is to be- lieve that they are in reality telling the truth. To be a first class liar, therefore, you must come firmly to believe that you are telling the truth. If you would test this fundamental rule, you have but to ques- tion the first liar you meet. He will not only insist that he is telling you the truth, but if you doubt him he will be- come instantly indignant. The man who is really telling you the truth, however, will be unconcerned if you doubt h Ask a doctor, a lawyer or a newspaper if they are telling the truth, Then run, LEXANDER THE GREAT was great because he never omitted to provide for every contingency. He was just about to cut the Gordian Knot when he paused, and summoning an aide-de-camp, bade him go to the near- est newsdealer and leave a@ standing order for Lire.