Life — February 7, 1907 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

Copyright HILE they are discussing the copyright law in Washington, why do they not propose a feature which would at once enlist the sup- port of almost every public man, gain the enthusiastic approbation of the rich, and, at the same time, be a source of considerable revenue to the Government? In addi- tion to providing that printed matter can be guarded from plagiarism for the benefit of the author and publisher, here and abroad, there should be a pro- vision enabling any one who had reason for doing so to copy- right his own life and personality. If this were done personal history would become his own exclusive literary property and could not be used, without the owner's consent, by any one of muck-raking or other uncomfortable forms of literary or journalistic exposition. Just imagine the value and importance of such a measure to many individuals. One might copyright his absence of hair and presence of indigestion and certain other little matters, done or left undone. Another might copyright his propensity to gobble little railroads or tobacco shops or groceries or ship-building plants. A third might be very glad to preserve for his own use his peculiar methods of dealing with life insurance. Still another might regard his little purchases of legislatures as being of no general interest, and be glad to spare the reading public from being bored by accounts of his purely personal little political activi- ties. Abroad, husbands of heiresses might regard this device as worthy of support. Now, of course, men who are modest in this way would be very willing to expend modest sums to pre- serve their privacy. The Govemment, therefore, might well charge a small fee—a million or AN AA two—proportionate to the amount WF hm that the applicant wished unmen- tioned. On payment of this fee, the Uni- versal Personal Copy- right might issue. Mr, Bug LIFE GEE! 1 WONDER WHAT THAT GUY SEES IN THE OTHER END OF THIS TUBE? An Old Love Song VE; night as I strolled ‘neath the moonlit trees, In a village by the sea, There came to me on the evening breeze An old-time melod I could not see the singer’s iace; But the voice was low and sweet, And it carried me back to the old home place, Where life was once complete. ’Twas an old love song, known all life Jong, That came from a stranger’s lips; But the melody was as dear to me, As the flowers where the honey-bee sips. How it takes you back through time and spac To many a half-forgotten place, Half-forgotten loves and old Half-sweet, half-sad to us now it seems, ‘That old love song. ¢ dreams, She sang, this singer, unseen, And her pure voice, sweet and low, Thrilled me with memories from out the past That seems so long ago, Of a heart that was tender and lovin Of a love that was kind and tru And it seemed as she sang in the Uvilight that night, She was singing to me, of you. nknown, ME, Rolle. Would It Might Come to Something Japanese dirting with Philippines —Nesws paper head-lines, HEY are, don’t anybody look! Something may come of it. And if the two young things should elope, and all of their own sweet wills, and without the instigation of any William Nelson Cromwell or Baron Varilla, perhaps it would come right for Uncle Sam to say, “Bless you, my children!” and be reconciled! But there must be no abduction, and no compulsion, and no outside instigation, except such as comes along of moonlight and such incentives of rapture. OP Saar orcad!