Life — November 15, 1906 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

‘LIPE® Miss Tarbell's Awful Task IFE is constrained to direct the attention of Mr. An- thony Comstock to the an- nouncement of the American Magazine that it is about to Z publish a biography of the AM American Tariff by Miss Ida Tarbell. The more this purpose is considered the more doubtful it must seem whether such a story as is proposed can possibly be made fit to be introduced into pure rican homes between the covers of a popular magazine. Miss ‘bell is no dal-monger. Of course, she will write the tale of Tariff as cleanly as it can be written. But she is a conscientious historian, and mere consideration for the young person will not deter her from following the lead of Truth through whatever slums it may take her. MWe shall want to y line of her story, but must it not be better suited to circulation? Can it possibly be made fit for the home ? Consider what we all know roughly about Tariff; how she was engaged years ago, an innocent young thing, as national nursery maid, to mind and feed our infant industries, Regard her demoralizing associations with one Congress after another, her flirtations, at first innocent and gradually more intense, with an endless line of selfish and greedy admirers; the gradual growth of an intimacy with the Republican party which, at first platonic and respectable, came all too promptly to be redolent of unutterable scandals, and has finally ¢: hibited her to all the world as the paramour of a fat monster and the Mother of the Trusts! Can it be possible for even Miss Tarbell to tell this story so that it will be fit to come into the hands of the young? It looks like a hard job, even though she sticks close to her central topic and declines to explore the careers of the Tariff’s grand- children, the Pittsburg millionaires. We tremble at the prospect of this story. Nevertheless, if it comes, and Comstock does not seize it, we shall buy a copy. Philanthropy y gencrous in the big department stores of our big to provide amusement for the public, and, if their zeal increases, we shall soon be like the fortunate citizens of Rome, who had all their shows free. Already some of our shops present a happy combination of clubhouse, day o ing school, concert hall, museum and vaudeville theatre. one of them we find a well-appointed playroom provided for the children and an “experienced attendant” to take charge of them, while their relieved mothers spend peaceful mornings writing letters in another spacious apartment, admirably appointed and remote from annoying interruptions. So many women appear to conduct their correspondence in department stores that the saving of stationery must be of material benefit to their households. Should they be artistically inclined, there isa gallery of pictures, or a collection of curios or an exhibition of stained glass for them to look at. If their tastes are domestic —as sometimes happens—an expert cook is engaged to lecture to them on “The Modern Kitchen,” and to illustrate her words of wisdom by preparing disties before their be- wildered eyes. Should this make them feel hungry, they have but to go down to the “ Pure Food Exhibit,” in the basement, and partake of steamed cereals, hot biscuits and a sanitary coffee. Nor isthe lighter side, the gayer aspect of life, ignored by our liberal-minded merchants. One department store announces free concerts every Saturday afternoon, with ‘piano and violin selections,” ‘ballads and popular songs” and “solos on novel instruments.” Another, not to be outdone, offers “spirited airs by lady soloists” every day from eleven to four. A third has on exhibition the ‘smallest horse in the world,” and invites the public to come and look at it. A fourth has engaged a troupe of Lilliputian actors, who give continuous A JOKE ON HIS GRANDMOTHER