Life — March 7, 1918 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HE MASTER: proposition before you. Tne Doc: Certainly, master. Master: My doctor and I have had an argument about research. He is go- ing to perform an operation upon my hoy, and he wants to know if I would willing to sacrifice you in order How do you IT want to lay a not | to save the hoy’s life. feel about it? Tur Doc: Certainly. If by giving up my own I can save the life of your boy, I shall be quite willing. I could live only a few years longer, anyway, whereas your boy will grow up to be a useful citizen, and then again, if I went he would undoubtedly get an- other dog in my place, and he might he some homeless dog. All of us dogs feel that wi We can't help it. Tue Master (reflectively): Much obliged, old fellow. You place me un- der the deepest obligation. I'll see the doctor about it. Meanwhile, be as- sured that I shall not ask you to make this sacrifice unless absolutely neces- sary. Tur Doc: in you, master. Tue Master (later, to doctor): My dog is willing to have you cut him up in order to save my boy’s life. Tue Doctor: Good. There are a few little things I want to learn about this operation, which I can find out from the dog. And there’s no time to lose. Tue Master: Excuse me. There's just a little formality first. You see, the dog’s very willingness increases my responsibility towards him. I want to save the boy, of course; but please 3 plain the exact reasons why it is neces- sary to cut up the dog. him, at least. Tur Doctor: Hum. Well, it may not be absolutely necessary to cut up this particular dog, although I am sure it would help, and my observation con- vinces me that he would make a par- ticularly fine subject. But it’s the scien- tific principle that counts, Saving your hoy’s life might depend upon the num- ber of dogs we had previously cut up; and of course, as a matter of principle, I have every confidence I owe this to ~LIPE- The Dog and the Doctor every dog who can help ought to be used, Tue Master: Your principle is that no innocent dog shall escape. But, in this particular instance, you I see could—at a pinch—spare our do} Tue Doctor: Well, yes, possibly. Sull, he is a fine subject, and as a mat- ter of principle it ought to be done. As a layman, you cannot be expected to understand these fine points. You will have to take my word for it. Tue Master: Oh, now I begin to understand. It is really, at bottom, only a question of taking your word for it. Tue Doctor: Well,yes, that's about it. Tue Master: Thank you, doctor. But you have forgotten one thing. I am the father of several children, and for twenty-five years I have employed doctors, and have never seen any two of them—no matter how eminent they were—fully agre bout” anything. Also, in about nine cases out of ten they have all been mistaken. PUNISHED ALIKE Tue Doctor: Oh, well, if that’s the you feel about it, there’s nothing more for me to wa) . T can't deal with such hopeless ignorance ing! Tue Doc (enters Not that it matters very much, master, but—do | live? Tut Master: Yes, old chap; and so does the boy! Good morn- ing) No Premature Burial Y a concerte effort of members of their National Committee the Re- publicans avoided having their presidential campaign put in charge of the undertaker before it had started Mr. Adams, violently pro-German and anti-British, aspired to be chairman, but was dissuaded after publication of what he had said in torg next Presidential nomination time is only three years and four months off. and the Republican party is not dead yet. Congratulations! omicbooksisemy