ComicBooks.com Register / Loginit's free!

Life, 1907-03-07 · page 40 of 52

Life — March 7, 1907 — page 40: what you’re looking at

📖 Open the full issue in the page-flip reader →
Life — March 7, 1907 — page 40: Life, 1907-03-07

What you’re looking at

This page combines automobile advertisements with a satirical short story. The ads promote early 1900s cars (the 1907 American Tourist and Roadster) emphasizing reliability and value—typical marketing for the nascent automobile industry. The cartoon/story mocks melodramatic romantic fiction popular in the era. It features Pepita, a emotionally overwrought young woman in an Arctic setting, who despises her rescuer Jacques but loves Charles Y. Jones solely because he shot a polar bear—requiring no personal sacrifice or danger on his part. The satire targets the absurdity of overwrought literary romanticism, particularly the notion that women's love is arbitrary and based on performative heroism rather than genuine character. The German-accented bird observing the scene adds whimsical absurdism to the mockery of literary pretension.

📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)

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

The Pioneer The Best Automatically Lubricated. Guaranteed 10,000 miles without re- adjustment. Adopted by Pierce Great Arrow, Loco- mobile, Matheson, Studebaker, Marmon, Lane, Rossel, Conover, Stevens-Duryea, Na- pier, Aerocar, Frontenac, Peugeot, Gobron- Brillié, Brasier and Sultan. Your Car Should Be Equipped HARTFORD SUSPENSION COMPANY FE. V. HARTFORD, President @ VESTRY STREET, NEW YORK CARS EQUIPPED IN A FEW HOURS AT OURGARAGE, 212 W. 88th St., N.Y. The 1907 AmericanTourist “No noise but the wind ”’ Price @ Want more than your money's worth ? Most people do if they can get it. You can get it if you are a judge of touring car values. If not get an expert to investigate the 1907 American Tourist for you. His decision will suit you and us. At the price, no car at present approaches it. Above the price, none ate better value. @ 5x5 four cylinder motor, water-cooled, high compression type, double ignition, all working parts protected. ‘These are a few of the many good features. @ Write for our catalog and also inquire about The 1907 American Roadster pronounced by experts as the only roadster worthy of the name, AMERICAN MOTOR CAR CO. 910 State Life Building INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Members the AMC Mute Some excellent territory unpiaced —cars selling fast—" get busy * T WHAT A QUEER VOICE THAT BIRD HAS.” MIT'S MIS GHRMAN ACCENT.” “Mamma,” said Pepita, “I hate Jacques. ‘This life is rapidly becoming intolerable to me. I long for bananas.” Pepita’s mother did not understand her. She was very crude. She had no gamut of emotions concealed about her, as did Pepita. She thought that Pepita was cross, She did not understand that it was the over-soul struggling for mastery. “Tut, tut,” she exclaimed. “Did not Jacques rescue you from the polar bear? Suppose he should come again, that bear, now that Jacques is away. He went off swearing to be revenged after Jacques had fought him.” Little did they know that the bear was even then watching them from behind the nearest floe. “T hate him for it,” said Pepita. “You do not understand. You do not see that it is only in supreme sacrifice is love awakened. If I had done something for him—ah! then I might love him. But now, now””—— ‘The bear was drawing nearer. He, too, was hungry. His hot breath was beginning to fan their cheeks. “Mamma,” said Pepita, “‘it is growing warmer. I can feel the warm wind from the south. The star flowers will soon be peeping from the ice. We shall soon be able to drink without a pick. In a few weeks we can store our furs.” At this moment a shot rang out. It came from the rifle of Charles Y. Jones, the celebrated Arctic traveler, who had arrived in thenick of time. The polar bear lay stretched at Pepita’s feet. She fell into Jones’s arms. “T told you,” he said, “that I would return. Dear girl, I needed you— and the material for another lecture tour.” Pepita sighed deliciously. “Tam happy now,” she murmured. Off in the distance Jacques and her father could be seen hurrying to camp with another walrus. Jacques was too late. Pepita’s mother did not understand. “You hate Jacques because he rescued you,” she said, “and love the other man for the same.” Pepita smiled. “Ah, mamma,” she said, “you are so simple. The polar bear might have killed Jacques. But Mr. Jones, my hero, was in no danger. He merely pulled the trigger. That is why I love him so. so much.” comicbooks.com