Life, 1906-01-04 · page 38 of 48
Life — January 4, 1906 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and serialized fiction** rather than political satire or editorial cartooning. The top features a **White Rose Glycerine Soap advertisement** with decorative rose imagery—standard product marketing of the era. Below are **two business advertisements**: one for chauffeur liveries by Smith Gray & Co. (reflecting the early 1900s luxury automobile culture where wealthy households employed uniformed drivers) and one for coachmen and footmen uniforms. The **bulk of the page contains serialized fiction** about social climbing in New York society. The narrative follows Katherine Bardwell's entry into exclusive circles through strategic socializing, depicting turn-of-the-century upper-class maneuvering. Characters include music critics, literary figures (references to *Harper's* and *Century* magazines), and society hostesses engaged in calculated social positioning. The humor is gentle satire of **nouveau riche social aspiration and literary pretension**—showing how ambitious people leveraged cultural credentials (critics, musicians, authors) to gain social standing, not actual political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
aoe FE- wise IS SEK tf Germany n ample cake LIVERIES FOR CHAUFFEURS Your automobile is not complete without the proper dress for the chauffeur. Fur-trimmed Liveries are the thing — $95. We also have a full line of uniforms for Coachmen, Footmen, House and Club Servants. Everything that goes to make up a complete Livery appointment. (BOOKLET ON REQUEST) Smith Gray & Co. BROADWAY AND THIRTY-FIRST ST.. NEW YORK BROADWAY AND BEDFORD AVE. + FULTON ST. AND FLATBUSH AVE. ( BROOKLYN He was in the very act of imparting his suspicions to Barshfield entered the room full of a new { illette when aject—the reorganization of ding as much advertising as could nd stable institu the book department, which was not yi be expected from such a hallowed “We must put so nas Literature © one in charge of it whose name carries some weight, and run a series of special Sunday stories about authors, How about the Rev. Dr. Tans gested, naming an ecclesiastical tank ary list because his essays, flanked by a portrait of nonicals, were supposed by Mr. Barshfield to lend maintained on the | himself in full c of simp . unaffected piety to the editorial pa “We've been working his name and holy lately ot the office about up to the limi: ears to a Noted Divine’ those ‘Gilded Vie: inday issu had pe, in Ties, ely. Then he remembered what irle ld him and he determined to give the musical critic a fit the hope that he would hang himself with it; and it w > of this pious resolution, that he li more pursual frank and guilele vould make preity good fist at that job,” and the outcome of the discussion was tha Demas was instructed to begin a series of “Intimate Chats with conte! ance to his employ Authors” for the Sunday: supplement. here to-night,” said M ann on the Friday night th Bardwell’s entrance into society. “Her husband's a reporter on some f or magazine, I don’t exactly know which one, but [think it’s cither “ve hed a bright lithe wom: { bosom friend, Mrs. Tom Bergr Harper's or the Century, 1 know he writes musi a they entertained Carbonari last Sunday, and what's for them. He must have done it for nothing, for they never e fiord t pay his price. So rf you wait to hear him some Sunday for nothing you's better be very nice to the Bardwells. Ah, here they come now! My dear Mrs. Pardwell, this is awfull And Mr. Bardwel! too! [was so afraid you would be out somewhere reporting your operas and writing an f those brilliant criticisms we all look for, Mrs mann, Mrs, Bardwell, and Mr. Bardwell. d of you to come Mrs. Tom greeted them with one of those rare smiles that is seen only on the face of a woman who wants something and is not ashamed to ask ior it > nice to meet you,” she murmured with all her teeth. “I've been so looking forward to it, for [ hear you have such bright, clever people at your parties, I simply adore literary men and actors and al interesting people, and we find it very good of you to come and brighten Lus up with a little of your liveliness,” And, under the impetus of these cheery words the new craft, Katherine Bardwell, glided smoothly down the ways and out on the important and seething waters of New York society. A few weeks later Kitty gave a small Sunday eveni cording to every one save the old friends who were not invited, proved a thoroughly successful affair, Carbonari, who had been having a hard time s, not only came but brought. some party which, all winter with every critic save Dew | music with him as well. -Another equally docile guest was Gardini, whose s scheduled for the following S New York debut wa brought his violin, for he had alread c heart. A talented young Eng fully put it, dd his to make in w York,” was also present still another guest was Mrs. Wotherspoon, whom Mrs. Bardwell yet ceased to regard as a useful person, The fashionable continge | cluded not only Mrs. Fen and Mrs. Befgmann, but also two or three of the best advertised of their friends; and, as the artless Bardwell put it, 1 elements of which the company was composed, seemed guessed his w | “the various socia [to fit one another very nicely.” The next day The I which commanded Mrs, Wother- spoon's services, published under the heading, “Pussy Peachblow’'s P uitle.” the following paragraph: ‘o the initiated, nothing is more delightful + | hospitality that is to be enjoyed in the more exclusive homes of the fash- | ionable artistic and literary set, and last night Pussy Peachblow found her way into one of the most delightful of these homes, that of Demas Bard- well, the brilliant young society critic, and his charming wife, Prominent among the throng of artistic and society notables who had come to pay their respects to the gifted litterateur and his accomplished wife, Pussy noticed Mrs. Fen Bertram, one of the most gifted linguists in society; Mrs. Tom Bergmann, who wore a demi-toilette of white lace over mauve silk; an the quiet, informal (Continued on opposite page.)