Life, 1922-03-23 · page 3 of 34
Life — March 23, 1922 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a humorous short story with a single cartoon. The story mocks a scientist's vanity—he obsesses over historical fame while crossing the Suez Canal, only to be forgotten until accidentally mentioned in a school history book. Students then trivialize his accomplishment: he's remembered only for putting his head in mud during Queen Elizabeth's reign. The cartoon below illustrates a domestic joke unrelated to the story. A couple ice-skates while two dogs run alongside. The woman (Virginia) tells her friend that ill health "attacks one's weakest spot," implying her male companion George suffers headaches. The cartoon humorously suggests marital friction—the woman's sweetly-voiced comment is actually a jab at her partner's afflictions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AGE ULifexix Fame! . ‘E upon a time there lived a man who was a scien- 0; st, a poet, a historian, a soldier, a statesman and an explorer. One day, because his head was severed from his body by the king’s executioner, he died. “Tt will be interesting to see,” he mused, while crossing the Six, “whether I shall be best remembered as scientist, poet, historian, soldier, statesman, or explorer. I'll wait a few hundred years and then journey back to Earth and listen for my name.” So, in something more than three hundred years, he re- crossed the Styx and was landed on the Earthly side. He wandered about for a long time without once hearing his name, until one day he chanced into a school-room. Forty-five English histories concealed in the laps of forty- five boys attracted his attention. He took a seat in the rear of the room and waited. He heard mentioned the names of his contemporaries, and excitement came upon him. “Soon they must mention my name,” himself. Soon they did. teacher asked. A hand shot up. The teacher nodded. “He is the man,” said the boy, rosy with the light of his great knowledge, “who put his ‘cloak in a puddle of mud so Queen Elizabeth wouldn’t get her feet wet.” “Right,” said the teacher. “And is he known for any- thing else?” “He had his head cut off,” replied the triumphant boy Then the class went tranquilly on to the next great man. Shades make no noise when they faint, you see. he muttered to “And what is this man noted for?” the A boy rose. Virginia: George says ill health always attacks one’s weakest spot. Friend (sweetly): You do have a lot cf headaches, don’t you, dearie? comicbooks.com