Life — December 28, 1905 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

All Is Not Gold That Glisteneth. \ N interesting milestone in o from normal standards is of Mirth, by Edith Wharton. a been described as ‘th the year,” the “ best work of fi ete,, until its sale alted figures and serious critics have unfortunately accepted it as a marvelous triumph. It is a marvelous triumph. _*A prize belongs toany author, male or female, who can pro- duce the impression of serious work by means so trivial. Not only passionless is this book, but it is devoid of all trace of sentiment, of humor, of honest love and common honor. There gleams abundance of wit—not the wit of a gleeful heart, but the cynical, sterilized, mirthless wit of the sophisticated cynic: and, worst of all, the fem cynic; for it is distinctly feminine—of a woman, by r descent The House This effort book of tion," etc., aus reached woman and for a woman. Whole pages consist mere y of clever scanda , verbose “LIRES 803 With one exception the women unwholesome, and that one ex- and smartly claborated. of the piece are morally ception, Gerty Farish, is riot highly respected by the author. Even worse are the male characters. The lover of the heroine—the nearest approach to a hero—is a spineless coward, A satire may hint at virtue just for purposes of con- trast, but between the covers of this book one finds record of a generous impulse ; no touch of no cause for tears or mirth, The merit of the work lies chiefly in its language. It is cleverly written, But the cleverness, as in other efforts of this writer, i . The House of Mirth, in short, is the biography of a characterless girl, smartly told, too assertiv but not worth the telling Headed Off. S$ : Didn't the ladies who called leave cards ? wanted to, ma’am, but I towled yer own, and better ones, too ISTRE Bripcet thim ye had plint Lacking. USTOMER : When was this chicken killed ? Waiter: We don't furnish dates with chicken, sir. Only lread and butter Srcoxp. Fourth, Firta. Testu, Evevesti, Floors, TWRLETH. Tuirreentn. stay Algy: WORRORS! WHAT HAS HAPPENED. TO MY ANGELA? F= After Jan, 1 no Dogs or Cats Will be permitted in these Flats, Pianos must be boxed or crated, And Singing won't be tolerated. Turd, All Parrots must be left behind— No Birds allowed of any kind. No Cooking is allowed at present, As kitchen odors are unpleasant. No Servants, Babies, Girls or Boys, No Conversation, Laughter, Noise XxTH. You cannot Entertain in these Apartments—Rule applies to 1 SeVENTH, To call the Janitor, don’t yell Or ring the Elevator Bell, Ficutn, Unless your business is known, You're not allowed to Telephone, NinTH, From August to September, please Don's raise the Windows, Cough or Snee: Don’t hang your Pi Or talk or whistle in the Halls. Don't nail down Carpets to the Smoke Cigarettes or lock the Doors, Unless these Rules are well respected, Your lease will be at once rejected. Rut if you show a humble mind And Human Instincts leave behind, FourTEENTH, The Management will make your A pleasant one in every way, Rhymed Rules for a Modern Apartment House. ures on the walls, “ON, JOY! MY ANGELA, 1 THOUGHT THEY Wallace Irwin, WERE YOURS.’ comicbooks.com