Life, 1924-07-31 · page 3 of 36
Life — July 31, 1924 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine presents two separate pieces: **"Twin Discoveries"** is a humorous essay contrasting Isaac Newton and Izaak Walton. It opens with an anecdote: while fishing together, an apple falls on Walton's head (referencing Newton's famous apple and gravity discovery). Newton remarks that fish don't bite worms because worms fall upward, demonstrating gravity humorously. The accompanying sketch shows two figures by a river with sailing ships, illustrating the fishing scene. Below is a brief comedic dialogue titled "Fairfax Downery" about a husband arriving home late, offering a new excuse to his wife. The humor relies on wordplay and the juxtaposition of scientific discovery with everyday domestic situations—typical of *Life*'s satirical approach to American life and culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHY DO FISH LIKE worms?” “MAYBE THEY DON'T. P'R'APS THEY THINK 11'S TOIKEY.” Twin. Discoveries ZAAK WALTON, the compleat angler, should not be con- fused with Sir Isaac Newton, the discoverer of the law of gravity. Perhaps this little story, which has never been told on them before, will keep them separate in the mind of the student. Those two gentlemen were sitting on a river bank one day—Izaak fishing and Sir Isaac watching him. Suddenly an apple fell from an overhanging tree upon the head of the latter, evoking a sound which posterity is aware was far from hollow. After some language which virtually spoiled the fishing, Newton remarked to his companion: “It has just struck me that it is very curious that apples do not fall upward. Why do you suppose that is so?” “For the same reason,” laughed Walton raucously, “that the fish bites the worm and the worm doesn't bite the fish.” Thus at one and the same time Newton demonstrated be- coming gravity and Walton unseemly levity. Fairfax Downey, IFE: Late, usual, Huspann: Yes, dear, but I've a new reason. comicbooks.com