Life, 1920-02-05 · page 19 of 52
Life — February 5, 1920 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts an elderly man (appears to be Sir Oliver Lodge, a real physicist and spiritualist) with a child and dog. The caption "'Good heavens, boy! What sort of dog is that?' 'Please, sir, he's a Baptist'" is a nonsensical joke playing on the absurdity of describing a dog's religion—likely satirizing Lodge's own beliefs in spiritualism and communication with the dead as equally absurd. The surrounding text discusses Lodge's ideas about atomic energy and life after death, suggesting these theories will distract nations from material conflicts and strengthen religious faith. The satire mocks how pseudoscientific spiritualism appeals to people seeking spiritual meaning, while the dog-religion joke undercuts the seriousness of his claims through deliberate illogic. The page's secondary poem and photograph appear unrelated to the main satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘ Bre It ae gee PLEASE, SIR, NES A BAPTIST.” nd will transform the world, and this ergy he thinks we may presently ow how to harness. Somehow the top 1 more hospitable to theories and very scientists fs that stagger plain people than folks are who know less and are less uversant with what science has al- cady found out. If Sir Oliver's ex- pectations about atomic energy should be realized, it might make a good deal for political tranquillity in this world, for nations in that case would be re- lieved of their anxieties about their coal supplies, and perhaps even about pe- troleum, and would no longer try to heat one another to control of lands that contained these bustibles And continued precious com- Sir Oliver's beliefs about existence after death and communication with discarnate spirits hecome more general and more vivid, that will probably help also by divert- ing people's minds from too intense and impatient concern about the things of this world and how to possess an oversupply of them. Sir Oliver says: “The survival of man can be proved, and that perception will strengthen the So it would, and the world needs very much to have the Peo- ple who are not religious as well as diands of religion.” hands of religion strengthened those who are, agree that the world in its present fix, a searcity of much to spiritual things increased. nd in the exceptional material supplies, needs very have its interest) in Lots of people already in all parts of this country read the spiritist books, and are interested in the spiritist ac- tivity. For them Sir Oliver Li the foremost prophet and teacher in To others he a ere man, simple and unaffected, Ige is ppears at least as sight lable in character and of a high distinction in science. It is well that such a messenger should have a hear- ing in this country, and he will get it, without doubt y M After Omar I* days when Omar used to dine Beneath the boughs with books and wine, The Best Beloved, while he read His latest verse, would turn her head And cast her eyes down, while her hand Drew idle patterns in the sand Last evening when I dined with Di Under a shaded light, was I More fortunate than Omar? Nay, She only turned her face away, And on a table in New York Drew patterns with a silver fork Bliss Carman. AMistre WILL (to new cook): you LIKE YOUR ROOM, 1 HOPE BRIDGET comicbooks.com