Life — October 2, 1931 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Art of Martyrdom" - Life Magazine Page This page combines an essay on martyrdom by Parke Cummings with a cartoon about Niagara Falls. The essay advises readers to accept life's failures gracefully—to become a "Martyr On The Altar Of Big Business" rather than complain, suggesting spiritual dignity in suffering defeat. The cartoon depicts people in a boat discussing going over Niagara Falls. One character (Edith) mentions an "Aunt Martha" who "lines near" the falls, and another suggests they could find water lilies. The bottom caption jokes: "The over-the-falls joke to end all over-the-falls jokes." This appears to mock the era's obsession with Niagara Falls stunts and daredevil acts—treating the famous waterfall as both a tourist attraction and a casual conversation topic, satirizing American thrill-seeking culture.