Life, 1920-04-29 · page 12 of 40
Life — April 29, 1920 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains literary criticism and humorous social commentary rather than political cartoons. **"The Higher Criticism"** section critiques a female performer (likely an opera singer, given references to "score" and "programme"). The accompanying illustration and James Hueffer's satirical poem mock her vocal quality ("darker than it was"), awkward gestures, and poor performance despite technical competence. The critique suggests she's technically trained but lacks artistry—a common target of period theater criticism. **"If You Want the Exact Truth"** presents brief humorous anecdotes about everyday social situations: people exaggerating claims (about babies' weight gain, golf scores, car speed), and a satirical joke about a prospective son-in-law's financial prospects. The bottom illustration labeled "THE SÉANCE: RAISING THE DEAD" appears unrelated to the text above it. The page reflects early 20th-century American magazine humor focused on social pretension and human nature rather than politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
784 life, and be satisfied with what it gives them. Dr. Manning (Episcopal) of Trinity Church in New York, feels that. way. He is not pleased with cur- rent spiritism, and warns people off from it, but he is better than most critics, because he recognizes by the light of the faith that is in him that communication with Beyond is unlike not necessarily impossible, nor nor contrary to the Christian religion He knows that the Bible is full of it, he seems to believe that it can be done and is done, but the objections to doing it look very large to him, He says it is not right to summon the dead. As to that he may be right, but to listen to what 1 ¢ to attentive ears out of the unseen seems less objectionable if you think that something vital really comes. Out of all this seems likely that there is slowly com- obscure activity it ing new knowledge, and that of gre importan Religion borders spirit- and physics crowds Both sides of it ism on ¢ side, up to it on the other. are being studied by minds that seem competent, and, especially on the physics imulating without side, a mass of facts is ace that serious scandal or detriment to their Some kinds of knowledge scientists can examine reputations. come up through the simple to the ex- pert; sometimes they don’t get as far as the expert, but if they are impor tant encugh usually they do, and come in for examination, If You Want the Exact Truth D°* A young mother how much the ask: baby has gained during the past week An elderly gentleman what his golf score was when he last played around alone. A motor-car friend how much his car costs him a mile. A newspaper proprietor whether on his editorial page he is actuated by financial considerations. An actor what his sala “IN what are your prospects?” “From what I can learn by observa- tion, sir, it will take all the cash you can let me have to keep her in clothes.” case you marry my daughter, “LIF E- The Higher Criticism ER voice was darker than of old; Her hair lacked melody ; Her feet at times were shrill and cold, And wandered from the key. Her gown was tuneful, sweet and low, Cut scherzo to the waist, With semi-quavers row on row In soft, melodious taste. Her pale rendition failed to show The shading of the score. Her color scheme was pitched too low, And bounded on the floor. THE James Hune: stures were inclined to flat, rdless of their hue. Her trills were ambidextrous, fat And slightly tinged with blue. Her phrasing was a shade too brow? And though superbly placed, Her smile was loud enough to drowr The roses at her waist. The programme was perhaps a bit Too blonde for her ambition— Only one number scored a hit, And that was Intermission, Oliver Herford. EANCE RAISING THE DEAD comicbooks.com