Life, 1903-12-24 · page 7 of 20
Life — December 24, 1903 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features "The Brave Sir Mark," a woodcut-style portrait labeled "A Yankee Writer at King Arthur's Court." The image depicts a man in medieval armor with period costume, likely referencing Mark Twain's novel *A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court* (1889), which satirizes medieval society through a modern American's perspective. The accompanying article "Great Men" discusses whether great men are born or made, noting that magazine architecture now depicts peasant homes with modern plumbing—suggesting society's advancement. Below is "A Touching Appeal," a humorous letter from G. Whitney asking for Thanksgiving turkey donations, and "Maxims for an Up-to-Date Republic," political satire by Tom Masson criticizing government corruption and inequality. A small cartoon shows "Christmas Dinner at the Boarding-House."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
iy Brave between the lines. pany. $1.00.) Socialism, fascinating in theory, hugely influential in contemporary tendencies and destined, we firmly believe, in some form not yet evolved to play a supreme part in human affairs, is dull beyond redemption when dealt with on the lines of conventional history. Morris Hillquit’s History of Socialism in the United States is typical, a catalogue of visionaries, fights and failures, in the midst of which it is hard to see the forest for the trees. (Funk and Wagnalls Company. $1.50.) Two little books which will provoke a smile in passing, and are, therefore, worth singling out from the ruck. are Impertinent Poems, by Edmund Vance Cooke, and 8. E. Kiser’s Soul Sonnets of a Stenographer, marked by their classic form and their un- classic up-to-dateness. (Forbes and Com- pany, Boston.) J.B. Kerfoot. (Dodd, Mead and Com- Great Men. GENER ATION after generation passes away. Magazine architecture has become more and more prevalent, until now the cot of the humblest peasant repro- duces the inside of at least one hundred homes, with open plumbing. Butsud- denly the people bethink themselves. «‘ Where are great men to be born?”* they exclaim, apprehensively. Some suggest that lowly habitations be provided, after ancient models ; others maintain that great men are only a luxury, after all; but the ma- jority, as is usual, know not what to do or think. HERE are but three kinds of men in the world : The ‘I wills,” the “I won’ts,”’ and the “I can’ts."" A Touching Appeal. EAR EDITOR: I'm feeling blue, And things look very dark and murky, For I have not the wherewithal To purchase a Thanksgiving turkey. So if you're touched by this appeal, Just criticise it rather blindly And send a check ; I'll pray for you And also thank you very kindly. But if, perchance, affairs of State Take your time now, such as the Isthmus, And for Thanksgiving I’m too late, I trust you'll fix me up for Christmas. G. Whitney. Maxims for an Up-to-Date Republic. ‘HAT government is best that taxes most. To the reformers belong the spoils. Give us slavery or give us death. In unions there is rest—from work. No grafter is without cash, exceptin his own country. One bad pension deserves another. In politics it takes three to make a bargain: The victim, the man who makes it, and the legislature. All poor men are equal before the law. It’s a poor treaty that doesn’t work both ways. Every little country helps. Corruption is its own reward. He who runs may lead. Cupidity is the mother of interven- tion. Uneasy lies the head that arbitrates with a world power. Cant is mighty and shall prevail. Tom Masson. CHRISTMAS DINNER AT THE BOARDIXG-HOUSE. comicbooks.com