Life, 1903-09-24 · page 15 of 20
Life — September 24, 1903 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Content:** This page contains a humorous short story about a couple named Witherby on a camping trip, illustrated with two images. The narrative mocks the romanticized notion of outdoor adventure—Witherby and his wife endure smoke, insect bites, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, and general misery before fleeing back to New York City, which Mrs. Witherby considers "heaven." The satire targets wealthy urbanites attempting rustic experiences they're entirely unprepared for. **Side Jokes:** - **"Unsafety"**: Satirizes proposed super-fast motor cars (weighing 500+ tons, traveling 1,000+ mph) as obviously dangerous—mocking both technological hubris and envious snobs who'd want them. - **"Eller" comic**: A brief exchange about a woman's social importance—she won't accept money from someone who doesn't know her, satirizing snobbish pretension about identity and class status. **Overall:** The page mocks early-1900s upper-class pretensions regarding both outdoor recreation and social standing.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
smudge, and some relief was ex- perienced. At nine o'clock at night, after a meal of smoked meat, ash-sprinkled potatoes and canned peaches, eaten from tin plates, they prepared for their rest. Witherby was tired. also somewhat tamed. “Do you think it would be advisa- ble," he whispered to the guide, ‘to remove any of our clothes?” “No, sir,” replied that individual’ slowly. ‘You'd have a nice time sleeping on those boughs in bare legs, wouldn't ye? And you'll get bitten enough, anyway, when the fire goes down,” His spirit was ALL OVER. T],HE next morning, shortly after daybreak, a solemn and silent couple, their eyelids red with smoke, their faces and hands scarred with punky bites, rode _ precipitately through the forest, back to the station. At last Witherby turned his b! ed eyes toward the partner of his joys and sorrows. “ My dear,” he said, “ what is your idea of heaven? "’ “What?” said Mrs. Witherby. And her husband sighed an antici- patory sigh as he replied : “ New York City.” m Masson, AN ounce of pretension is worth a pound of Faith Cure. THE HARVEST MOON. WORKING OVERTIME, Unsafety. PRIORI arguments are never conclusive, and yet it seems quite plain that a motor car weighing more than five handred tons, and going at any rate in excess of one thousand miles an hour, would be unsafe. Could anybody ride such a machine at such a speed, over ordinary roads, and live? And as for the other snobs, would not they die of envy ? ELLER : I cannot cash this check, madam, unless I know who you are. Sue (haughtily) : I wouldn't accept the money, anyway, from any one who doesn’t know who I am. comicbooks.com