Life, 1919-06-12 · page 7 of 46
Life — June 12, 1919 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine features "The Triumph of Mind Over Matter," a sketch depicting a social gathering where people appear engaged in conversation or gossip. The accompanying text explores **Secrecy** as a social and political tool—describing how it's used by "Cupid, politicians and statesmen" to manipulate situations and people. The article argues that secrecy depends on egotism and self-interest, allowing people to maintain false authority by withholding information. It concludes that transparency ("open covenant") benefits society more than concealment. Below this is a brief satirical exchange between two surgeons discussing a successful operation, mocking pretentious medical jargon and professional self-congratulation. The page critiques both social gossip and institutional secrecy as tools of power and deception.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE TRIUMPH OF MIND OVER MATTER Secrecy SECRECY is used by Cupid, politicians and statesmen. conferences. <ertain situation until it is too late for any- one else to do anything about it. Time is It is the basis of many business The idea of secrecy is to hold a the servant of all secrets. y depends for its power upon the concentration f others on their own affairs. While thus occupied, the siness is done. When secrecy is disclosed, then its merit is put to’ the st. Lovers exchange vows in secret. They wed openly ¢ result depends upon the quality of their secrecy. The progression of world affairs is the eternal contest be- tween secrecy and the people. The term “open covenant” is one used to fool the people into a false sense of security, It lulls the way to secrecy Secrecy is based upon a combination of egotism and self-interest. It assumes, first, that no one can be trusted but yourself, and, second, that what your ambition dic- tates, you can get better by not trusting anyone else ToL. M Scientific Enthusiasm MINENT SURGEON Was your operation a F! RST suce! Seconp Eminent Surcton: Remarkably so! The post- mortem rr ed a peculiar diathesi suspected, in diverticulitis. hitherto not even comicbooks.com