Life, 1904-04-07 · page 37 of 41
Life — April 7, 1904 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** with a framing poem by Wallace Irwin at top-left titled "Advertisement." **The Irwin poem's satire:** It humorously argues that historical figures—Cleopatra, Cheops, Diogenes, Dr. Johnson—were actually *clever advertisers* who staged memorable acts to gain fame and attention. The poem's point: advertising oneself isn't shameful; even the great did it. The final stanzas extend this to modern times, suggesting that actresses losing diamonds or wealthy people seeking press coverage are merely following an ancient, respectable tradition. **The advertisements below** include: - Dunlop Tires (detachable clincher design) - Hartford Rubber Works Tires - Brownsville Water Crackers - Smith Premier Typewriter - M&M Portable Houses (pre-fabricated structures) - An Unsocial Socialist book promotion **Context for moderns:** The poem gently mocks the era's anxiety about self-promotion and publicity-seeking, normalizing advertising as inherently human behavior. This reflects early 20th-century concerns about emerging mass media and commercialism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Advertisement. HEN Cleopatra, wise old girl, Got gay one night and drank a pearl, All frugal folk cried out, “ For shame |" But marvelled at her just the same. And she was right and she was wise To thus get in and advertise. When Cheops made his subjects bid On contracts for a pyramid, | He got a tomb well worth a king, | (Thou zh not a very useful thing). But he was right and he was wise ‘To thus get in and advertise. When old Diogenes began Pot hunting for an honest man His chances for success were slim ; But folks began discussing him— And he was right and be was wise To thus get in and advertise. When Dr, Johnson made a spree Of forty-seven cups of tea He surely showed his savoir faire By having Mr. Boswell there— And he was right and he was wise To thus get in and advertise. "Tis sad, but it is true, the same, tT at those who fill the Book of Fame Have left their records, more or less, Thr Yet they were right and they were wise To thus get in and advertise. h some tremendous foolishness— Blame not the actress out of funds Who plans to lose her diamonds, Blame pot the millionaire who capers To get his actions in the papers ; They've little to immortalize, But they at least can advertise. Wallace Irwin, His Uneasiness. y is told of a leading surgeon in phia, who cannot bear to id found " advertise- ments, because they contain rewards for the return of pet dogs and cats which he feels sure have met their fate in the hospital the hands of himself or some other vivisectionist, "Perhaps he papers containing ‘lost 1 the interest of science. might secure a peace of mind that would en- him to read such advertisements without | troubling qualms of conscience by abandoning | ection. — Wilmington (Del.) Every Even 2 said he would lay the world at my feet,” said the impressionable girl. | “Tell him to start with something easy,’ Cayenne. “Tell him to look aiter the house rent and the grocer bill, and never mind the world for a few years yet.” | — Washington Sta answered M HAVE YOU READ An Unsocial Socialist? It is by the author of CANDIDA and a wonderful story Sent postpaid to any address for $1.00 BRENTANO'S - New York DETACHAB! To take the new * Dunlop” off the rim (the new rim) loosen one screw only—and off it comes, And the rim can be fitted to a wood wheel as easily as an iron tire, for the wheelmaker has only to deal with flat surfaces, 4 Let us send you description, if TART OY /CLINCHER Made under the G. & J, patents (and there- fore of a construction long since past the experimental stage), with greatly improved features, affording its user the minimum of trouble, maximum of safety, and long honest OU can get old- fashioned Brownsville Water Crackers fresh from the factory at any of the stores of Acker, Merrall | & Condit Co. ew York They're good crackers D & LENHART, Drownsvitie. Py TYPEWRITER is strongly linked} Ito the The Smith Premier ‘S, Typewriter Co. ive Office Exec iruadway, New York, Summer Cottages, Automobile Houses, Children’ 's Play x Houses, Hunter’s Cabins, Photograph Galleries, etc. M&Mitouses Made by automatic machinery where the and better look: Pas ns shipped. complete In ted and ready. for No Nails No Carpenters No Strikes No Worry Everything fits Anyone can erect them, WE PAY THE FREIGHT Write today for catalogue. Tell ox what you want and we will give you a delivered iat once, ON & MORLEY CO., 900 Broadway sinaw, Michigan comicbooks.com