My 15-page On Beyond Zarathustra series, over at Hilobrow, has now run its course. I managed – barely! – to usher the rope dancer onstage, as I collapsed from the graphical strain. But on my way down I penned a think-piece on Seuss and philosophy, with special reference to Nietzsche.
What else?
Did you know that Ted Geisel, as a young teen, was traumatized by a sudden, personal attack on him by Teddy Roosevelt? It’s true! Apparently. I quote from Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel:
On May 2, 1918, at the age of fourteen, Ted stood with nine other Scouts on the stage of Springfield’s Municipal Auditorium to receive an award from Colonel Theodore Roosevelt himself. Geisels and Seusses joined the thousands in the huge hall, and there was repeated applause as Roosevelt went down the line presenting medals. One by one each Scout saluted smartly and marched off-stage. Finally Ted was left alone onstage facing the former president, who was clearly out of medals.
“What’s this little boy doing here?” Roosevelt bellowed at the scoutmaster, who frowned and scuttled Ted offstage.
In that pulverizing moment, Ted’s wounded pride, his chagrin and, above all, his sense of injustice overwhelmed him. He had no memory of stage fright before that hour, but within a few years his fear of public platforms bordered on the neurotic and he began devising complex excuses to avoid them. Television, in its turn, became a nightmare for him. He always blamed this dread on a bungling scoutmaster who couldn’t count and an embarrassed former president of the United States. (22)
In other ‘what’s this little boy doing here?’ news, might I recommend Adam Koford’s excellent #inktober exercise?
He is redrawing&inking Thor #163, while rewriting the text in most hilarious fashion. You can start here. (And sort of shuffle forward through his photofeed.)
And he’s doing the ads as well, which is maybe even better. The latest page redraws one of the strangest ads in comics history. When I saw it, I was struck with a bolt of memory lightning! This dream-like scenario! Hostess fruitpies themselves could hardly make it stranger!
So here’s the redraw.
If only young Ted has been wearing Lees on that stage, causing a former president to mistake him for a much older man, it might have been alright.
{ 16 comments }
John Holbo 10.13.16 at 1:33 am
Sniff. No one wants to discuss how Teddy Roosevelt abused Dr. Seuss as a child!
George de Verges 10.13.16 at 3:16 am
How can you discuss something so perfect, and so surreal, in its own right? Any variation in any aspect of the story would have made it… more normal? less cartoonish?…but every aspect of it contributes to its perfection.
I have been in the auditorium in Springfield, which adds to the pleasure of the story for me. Shortly after I arrived in Massachusetts, an enterprising developer tore down (illegally) Geisel’s childhood home on Mulberry Street, made famous by his book, “And To Think I Saw It All on Mulberry Street.” Another insult, at least this one being posthumous.
Another Nick 10.13.16 at 3:30 am
I speak for the trees!
He sure nailed the grumpiness :)
Another Nick 10.13.16 at 3:30 am
Also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clQSumneksI (0:15)
John Holbo 10.13.16 at 4:20 am
Now I feel better.
patrick tolle 10.13.16 at 2:42 pm
If they’re giving the Nobel on the strength of song lyrics then Joni Mitchell ought to be in consideration. And John Prine,
George de Verges 10.14.16 at 12:17 am
I’m pleased. Since no one is looking, I do want to tell you how much pleasure I have derived over the years from your essays. I enjoy all of Crooked Timber, but I do scout for your pieces. And, of course, Ms. Waring’s.
ZM 10.14.16 at 1:33 am
This is a funny story John Holbo.
If it happened these days he could probably have Tweeted about it ;-)
Are you sure you need to close comments on your Shock And Awe thread? I was going to reply to comments replying to my comments about feminism.
Placeholder 10.14.16 at 2:06 am
I realized I had nothing to say about American comics when I realized ‘Barney Google and Snuffy Smith’ was real.
John Holbo 10.14.16 at 5:57 am
“Are you sure you need to close comments on your Shock And Awe thread?”
I am absolutely sure it was for the best!
ZM 10.14.16 at 6:00 am
It was a very good joke I admit, after Lupita’s comment, but I really wanted to write my reply comments I planned…
Rich Puchalsky 10.14.16 at 9:58 am
Just put the reply here, ZM. We can overflow all of John Holbo’s threads.
SamChevre 10.14.16 at 12:22 pm
I had no idea what sort of response made sense–like George @ 2, it seemed awesome and self-contained.
Random correction of detail–I do not think that the house on Mulberry Street was where Dr Seuss grew up. It was just the one featured in the story. He grew up in this house (which I briefly considered buying).
George de Verges 10.14.16 at 10:17 pm
To SamChevre—I stand corrected on his home. I am glad you sent that along.
John Holbo 10.15.16 at 3:38 am
“Just put the reply here, ZM. We can overflow all of John Holbo’s threads.”
And that’s why I pre-emptively titled this post “What’s this little boy doing here?” so, once again, my post titles acquires ironic double-meaning past a certain critical mass of comments! (Just a friendly warning. This post is for Teddy Roosevelt abuses Ted Geisel purposes exclusively. Plus pants.)
ZM 10.15.16 at 4:49 am
John Holbo I will be sure not to hijack your Dr Seuss Meets The Former President of the United States of America thread with my reply comments from your other thread you closed for a joke, out of great fear of being gravely insulted ;-)
The conversation seems to have migrated to the other US elections thread so I might just write my reply comments there, since the feminism issue came up due to the Trump controversy etc
The Queen Mother was much nicer to Harry and his friend when they were young philosophy students and met her than former President Roosevelt was to the young Scout Dr Seuss when they met. Maybe he had gout or something.
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