Life, 1921-07-21 · page 9 of 34
Life — July 21, 1921 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon depicts a conversation between two figures labeled "Bernard Shaw" and "Einstein." Shaw asks Einstein, "Say, Einie, do you really think you understand yourself?" Einstein replies, "No, Bernie—do you?" The satire plays on Einstein's then-famous theory of relativity, which was still relatively new to public consciousness and widely considered incomprehensibly complex. The joke is that even Einstein himself—the theory's originator—can't fully understand his own work. By pairing him with George Bernard Shaw (the celebrated Irish playwright and wit), Life magazine humorously suggests that even brilliant minds struggle with self-knowledge, a philosophical paradox that complements the scientific one.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
July 21 Under the Rose HYLLIS with the garden-hose, Plying indiscreetly, Caught me full upon the nose, Wetting me completely. Did she think, designing maid, Fires of love could thus be stayed? I who came with hot intent, Eager to pursue her, Pleaded still for her consent In the wet to woo her. There I stood upon the lawn Dripping like a fountain-faun. Down my back the water crept, Vexing me and tickling; But the tears my eyelids wept Were not sorrow’s trickling, For 1 won, between the drips, Phyllis’ kiss upon my lips. . Arthur L. Salmon. The Test or, Olga’s Dilemma EAK from exhaustion and loss Wi blood, Olga Petrinoff stood once more in the presence of Nicholas Nicholovitch. That morning an outrid- ing band of Cossacks had overtaken her, shot down her would-be rescuers and brought her back to prison, so loaded down with chains that she could scarcely stand, Nicholas Nicholovitch, his face drawn with pain from the wounds received the night before, gazed at her with a cold ferocity that was more awful than his usual terrible outbursts of rage. Things had not been going well with him of late. He felt that his influence in Petrograd was on the wane, and last night’s affair was not a thing calculated to help him. Something drastic must be done at once in order to restore his fall- ing prestige. At a nod from him one of the guards took his stand beside Olga, knout in hand. “Now, Olga,” he said, “our patience is at an end. Silence can help your friends not at all, but answering our questions may secure for you some len- iency. Tell me, where did Sergius Mask- inoff obtain the .horses and sleigh with which he came for you?” “At a livery stable,” replied Olga. Tue Enp. Harvey Kent. “ AS he an occupation?” “Yes; school teacher.” “But what does he do for a living?” Relativity Bernard Shaw: Say, Einie, do you really think you understand yourself? Einstein: No, Bernie—do you? The Procession UPID went dancing along a by- path with his bow and arrow. A maiden saw him and followed, dreamily, happily, hopefully. A young man, seeing the flush of her cheeks, the smile on her lips and the love- light in her eyes, abruptly ended his reverie and followed her. The minister got out his prayer book, turned to the marriage ceremony, prom- ised his wife a new bonnet, and followed the young man. The stork was standing on one foot, sleeping, with his head tucked under his wing. He woke, yawned, set his other foot down, flapped his wings, picked up his usual bundle—and followed in the rear of the procession. Canny LITTLE Scotch girl was being sent A to Sunday school for the first time. “Noo, Jean,” said her mother, “here’s a penny; ye’re to put it in the plate when they pass it aroon’, mind!” “A’richt, mamma,” replied Jean, “an wha’ do I get for it?” comicbooks.com