Life, 1902-03-27 · page 11 of 36
Life — March 27, 1902 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This Life magazine page contains three distinct pieces of humor: 1. **Top image**: Shows Mr. J. MacAdams Vanaetta's liquid airplane "The Slaughterer" damaged in a crash at 165th Street, with cabs involved. This appears to be early aviation-era satire about experimental aircraft and urban accidents. 2. **"In Doubt"**: A domestic comedy sketch where a woman asks her houseguest about getting into the kitchen. The guest declines, making it a brief joke about social awkwardness. 3. **"A Ballad of the Avenue"**: A poem celebrating Easter fashions on city streets—feathers, lace, silk—satirizing the extravagant display of wealth and materialism during the holiday parade. The verse mocks high society's ostentatious consumption. 4. **"Transitory"**: A brief joke about preserving cancelled checks rather than cashing them. The page reflects early 20th-century urban American culture and class commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2.—Mr. J, MacAdams Vanscutts, in his liquid air car, The Slaughterer, thereby several seconds, The damages to the machine, however, were fort IN DOUBT. Mrs. Front Flatte; YS, YOUR REFERENCES ARE EXCELLENT, ANDI DO HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET INTO OUR KITCHEN. IP YOU CAN, TLL BNGAGE YOU AT ONCE. Transitory. AMOUS AUTHOR: I shall have to stop sending out any more small checks. Instead of cashing them, the recipients have them framed to preserve my auto- graph. Sue: Never mind. It will only last a few weeks. "had the miefortane to be delayed by a number of cabs at 125th St, and lost ely very elight. EATHERS and flowers and laco, Volvet of wonderful pilo; Worn with as wonderful graco Furs from far sea and defile; Gems from lands south of tho Nilo, Broadeloth and silk and brocado— This 1s the march past of Style, This 1s the Easter Parade. Fashion's the god of the race Crowding this marvelous mile. Here is a quieter place, Pray let us stand for awhile. Where, save on Gotham’s gay isle, Is such display of wealth made? ‘This is the march past of Btyle, This is the Easter Parade. L) society it is only the parvenus who have enough energy to make a success. Thero {8 a beautiful face! Lo! In this festival fle Not a thing’s sordid or base, Yet not one truly worth while! Grandour and gossip and guile, Trinkets and frills that must fade— ‘This is the march past of Style, ‘This 1s the Easter Parade, Cupid, how bravely you smile, But you're de trop, I'm afrald! Here aro no hearts you may wile— This is the Easter Parade. Edward W. Barnard. “7 SUPPOSE the coronation will be like a grand play.” “ But without any villain.” “Not at all. There's Al- fred Austin.” comicbooks.com