Life, 1903-12-11 · page 15 of 20
Life — December 11, 1903 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical Q&A exchanges mocking American culture around the early 1900s. **"Our Country, Literature"** section ridicules American literary divisions and popular authors. It suggests American literature splits between "Book Lovers' Library" (serious work) and "Sunday Supplements" (cheap serialized fiction). The joke names George Ade, Laura Jean Libby, and Cyrus Townsend Brady as major "literary industries"—implying commercial pulp dominates over serious literature. The quip about Henry James leaving for London suggests American literature only began when serious writers departed. **"A Question"** at top likely references Anthony Comstock, the famous (or infamous) censorship advocate who policed "obscene" materials. **The cartoon "A Question"** depicts a young woman asking her mother about God's last name—humor derived from childish theological confusion. **"Mamma, Is Dan God's Last Name?"** appears to be a separate domestic joke about confused pronunciation. The overall tone satirizes American pretensions about culture while acknowledging its commercial, rather than artistic, foundation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
613 Theology. And who is at the head of it? Anthony Comstock. How long has the United States had a litera- ture of its own? Ever since Henry James went to London Tom Masson. (CASTLETON Would you have any ob- ~ jection, sir, when I take your daughter to the theatre, of my giving her a little supper afterwards ? WINTERBLOOM: Why, no, But I ) think I'd better be with you. WHO KNOWS? “There's @ divinity that shapes our ends, rough-bew them how we will." A QUESTION. © MAMMA, If DAM GoD's Last NawE? Our Country. It is not known, Brady's fac- tory is running night and day, Literature. but the Secretary of Agriculture OW is the literature of the United has the resources of the United States divided? States Government back of him. Into two grand divisions—the Book Who is considered the most Lovers’ Library and the Sunday Sup- famous American author of the plements. day? What are the principal literary in- Depends upon the day. dustries ? What branch of literature is the George Ade and Laura Jean Libby. most popular? Are there any other prominent writ- Philosophy. ers besides these? And who is at the head of it? z Oh, yes. Cyrus Townsend Brady and W. R. Hearst. Ed Until be one day discovered a por- ‘ trait of his wife, taken before her the Secretary of Agriculture. What is the next most popular — then cursed the sade of bla visit to Dr, Skinberry, the famous Who is tho more prolific of the two? branch? grandfather, dermatologist. comicbooks.com