Life, 1904-05-19 · page 8 of 28
Life — May 19, 1904 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 480 This page contains three distinct satirical pieces: 1. **"Relics"** (top left): Mocks American sentimentality around presidential memorabilia. The text criticizes how Americans collect trivial White House items—like General Washington's chairs or a glass the Prince Regent drank from—as sacred relics. The satire targets the "Life of Frederick the Great" comparison, suggesting Americans lack refined taste compared to Europeans. 2. **"Snapshots in Races"** (bottom left): A cartoon showing a mechanical contraption designed to punish motorists who jerk their cars. It's social commentary on dangerous driving habits of the era. 3. **"The Christian Life"** (right): A parable about converting wealthy heathens through financial incentive rather than genuine faith—satirizing the church's pragmatism regarding wealthy donors. The page satirizes American materialism, reckless modernity, and institutional hypocrisy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Relics. HERE is a pleasant story told of an enthusiastic worshiper of Carlyle who, humble as he was ardent, begged as a cherished souvenir a few straws from the hearth broom, with which Mrs, Carlyle had deftly swept up the after-dinner crumbs. ‘The great historian, touched for once by a reverence so profound and so del conveyed, gave the appreciat the ‘Life of Frederick the Great more volumes than he could carry home, thus proving that the most acceptable form of flatt is expressed in the valuation of mementos. Americans seem to lack the taste for he yflower spinning. wheels and General Washington arm- chairs are prized as illustrations of ancestral respecta turous collecting of od not an instinct of the h prompted Sir Walter Scott to y reverently away the glass out of h the Prince Regent had drunk— h glass he sat down on and broke before he got it home—is not the spirit which melts our hearts to-day. Mr. arfully narrates a peculiar case of indifference on the part of a committee of ladies who asked Mrs. Roosevelt for a contribution to a church -LIFE- fair, The President's wife sent « handkerchief, hemmed ‘*by her own hands," which was promptly and most ungraciously returned, the committee —with the metallic hardness of com- mittees—explaining that it wanted something which would sell, A few years ago the wife of a former Presi- dent embarrassed a more courteous group of recipients by presenting to a fair some cups and saucers of her own decorating, which articles—sanctified by association with the White House —awoke in unresponsive hearts no ar- dor for possession, Ame are not richly sentimental, and only sentiment hallows the undesirable, Even museums, which have long been the dumping-ground for homeless inning to close un- friendly doors. It is true that the sil ice-pitcher, presented by the Ladi nce Union to Mrs. Hayes . Oncisglad the poor pitcher is sheltered honorably in its old age, though sorry for the people who have to look at it. Perhaps alittle museum, or asylum for discarded White House relics—things presented by, or presented to, the families of ow Presidents, might fill along-felt want. Agnes Repplier. SNAPSHOTS IN HADES. A MACHINE FOR PUNISHING THE MOTORMAN WHO JERKS HIS CAR, The Christian Life. FTER the Trust had wrung tribute from the public during many years, the head man of it became alarmed for his soul and asked the Church what he should do to be saved. “Give me money with which to con- vert the heathen and teach them to live like Christian: id the Church, “With all my heart,"’ said the man, perceiving at once that -ae heathen were to live like Christi, his Trust would be able to wring tribute from them also, Dangerous Chances. ULTI-MILLIONAIRE: I notice that Grafter has been arrested for stealing five hundred thousand dollars. Bittionatre: I have often warned him against petty larceny. comicbooks.com