Life, 1899-12-28 · page 8 of 21
Life — December 28, 1899 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: Life Magazine, Issue 552 This page contains three distinct pieces: 1. **"The Road to Fame"** (left column): An editorial essay by Agnes Repplier criticizing the notion that children should aspire to fame. It argues against using fame as a motivator for good behavior, suggesting instead that moral laws should encourage virtue directly. 2. **"Somewhat Inconvenient"** (center): A dialogue between Jones and Brown about Thompson's ill-advised marriage to Miss Frost, who is deaf. The joke hinges on her deafness making her an "inconvenient" wife—she cannot hear his complaints. 3. **"T'is George From U.S."** (right): An illustration showing a camel carrying supplies, captioned "Always Ahead of the Game." The accompanying text discusses Canadian gold mines and the Transvaal, suggesting this references colonial military logistics. The page reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward disability and empire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
552 The Road to Fame. HE way of tho boy is hard, and his hopes of distinction wither in the blast. ‘Tis but a short month since Governor Roose- velt denounced him as “not worth his salt,” if ho wouldn't fight; and now Mr, Jobn Wanamaker comes along and tells him authoritatively that if he has broken the Sabbath day ho will nover become famous, It only remains for Admiral Dewey to say that unless he learns his multiplication table he cannot be a sailor, and for Mr. Rockefeller to announce that ho need not aspire to the Presidency if he has ever been rude to his aunt. The salvation of the boy livs in the fact that he habitually disregards the remarks of grown-up people. Their easy Obiter Dicta statements are harmless because un- heeded. The boy does not believe that an attendance at Sunday school paves tho way to fame. Squire Martin in the old reading book tells Billy Freeman that turkey- gobblers never run after children who obey their parents ; but we are leftin uncertainty as to tho spirit in which Billy accepta this fable. A touching tradition of our own childhood was embodied in the verse, If L eat all my crusts like a good little girl, It will make my nose straight, and make my halr curl, Tut there were dark moments when even tho trustful beart of female infancy was heavy with doubt, Perhaps a direct appeal to vanity was not the best method of pro- moting good behavior, It may be that a moral law should have some broader encouragement than a hope of fame. Agnes Repplier. NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES. SHAD ROE. - LIFE - Somewhat Inconvenient. ONES: I hed a good chance to say I- told-you-so to Thompson to-day. Bro How so? “Why, I strongly advised him against marrying Miss Ernot, but he wouldn’t listen to me, and now he repents it himself.” “T don't see why. a most charming woman.” “But she’s as deaf as a post.” “That isn't any de- fect with her, She can read your lips so clev- erly that you would never suspect she She is ALWAYS AHEAD OF THE GAME GEORGE'S CHRISTMAS, WHICH OCCURRED IN THE AUTUMN, wasn’t hearing every word you said.” “ That's all right at times, but Thomp- son claims that it is wearing him to skin and bones to have to get up and light the gas every time he has to tell her that the baby is crying.” UR Canadian friends shoutd pat thetr minds ‘on tho assertion that the Klondike gold mines are much worse managed than any in South Africa, and that whereas in the Transvaal the laws are good, but badly administered, in the Klondike country they are bad and worse administered.