Life, 1903-12-17 · page 8 of 22
Life — December 17, 1903 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the publishing industry through a dialogue between "The Modest Author" and an "Important Publisher." The author pitches various exotic book ideas—including one set in Panama and another about insurgent armies—hoping for publication. The publisher dismisses these concepts as impractical, revealing that Life magazine's actual business model relies on advertising agents and marketing books about advertisers themselves rather than publishing authors' original work. The accompanying map cartoon mocks geographical ignorance, showing a comically distorted map labeled "The Shape of the Isthmus Republic," satirizing confusion about Central American geography during the Panama Canal era. The satire critiques fin-de-siècle publishing's commercialism: publishers care more about marketable concepts than literary merit or author welfare.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
626 A Fin de Siécle Interview. [HE Modest ' Author shyly approached the Important Publisher respectfully stood and at ‘‘attention,” while the Great Man dictated seven letters and an- Q2=S swered thirteen tele- phone calls. He thought he was working. Finally up and I am quite well, thank 3 > Modest Author— bat the Important Publisher inter- rupted— “T mean — what's your busi- “Well, if Tam not trespassing too far upon your attention, I should like—"” “Oh, cut out the preface aud give us chapter one!" cried the impatient publisher. ‘ Ever been iu prison?” “IT don’t understand yon!” VW) ok Zz DI I THE SHAPE OF THE ISTHMUS REPUBLIC. Coy Young Thing Flirting with Uncle Sam: way. UNCLE, 18 MY HAT ON STRAIGHT? DOT NEED A BELT ON THIS LONG WaIsTED EFrECT! FOUR WONDRED |= Mousann = WHAT'S TO BE CONE ABOUT IT? TUESE CONOESTED CITIES. cried the thoroughly unhappy author. “Oh, no offense, I assure you,” amiably vouchsafed the Important Publisher, “only I wish you had! I want to bring out a weird edition-«e- luxe, ‘Songs from Sing Sing’—taking title, isn’t it? You look rather up to the part. Couldn’tyousteal something and go up there for a year or two?" “I'm afraid I must beg to be ex- cused,"’ said the author, in alarm. “ Well, how do you like the idea of going to Panama? no white man can live in that a year. “You could join the insurgent army and get material for a book of war stories, but what I need is an up-to-date description of the country. “If you live, your book makes a hit! If you die—you carry some insurance, I suppose? If not, the firm will take care of the obsequies.”” The Medest Author at last found voice to say : “But don't you publish any books for authors? Don’t you market any of their ideas?"’ “We used to,” admitted the Im- THESE BROAD PRAIRIES OF THE WEST. portant Publisher, ‘but, you see, authors are impractical people, who never know what the public wants. Now our business is to feel the pub- lic pulse. We have a man— used to be Advertising Agent for * Middlings,’ the breakfast-food. He thinks up new ‘stunts,’ and I hire the authors to do them.” tan you find asked the author, “Oh, yes! See here!" The pub- lisher pointed to a file of applications. * All these are from trained men who want to work for us, Why, we brought out eleven hundred and forty-seven books last season “You see, I am an essayist and philosophical writer,” said the Modest Author, apologetically, “and I fear my training has not—er-er—qualified me for either of the—er-er—posts you so kindly—er-er—intimate—” “ Well, good day !” and the Impor- tant Publisher resumed his dictation. The Modest Author? Oh, he spent his last dollar for a ticket to the Home for Literary Incurables ! Ernest Neat Lyon, capable men?” comicbooks.com