Life, 1907-06-20 · page 26 of 32
Life — June 20, 1907 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising with one substantial satirical article**. The central piece, "The Land of Singers" by John Kendrick Bangs, is a humorous poem responding to Alfred Austin's dismissive claim that "America has no poets." **The Satire's Point:** Bangs defends American literary talent by naming contemporary American poets and writers—Colonel Wallace Irwin, Owen Seaman, Miss Wells (Carolyn), Clinton Scollard, and others—while pointedly contrasting them with British figures like Gilbert (W.S. Gilbert). The poem's tone is mock-indignant pride, listing American versifiers as proof against Austin's slight. **Historical Context:** This reflects early 20th-century Anglo-American cultural rivalry, when American intellectuals were still establishing literary credibility against British dominance. The piece is both defensive and boastful—acknowledging America's "minor poets" while asserting homegrown talent worthy of respect. The surrounding advertisements (insurance, saddles, luggage, sauce) are period-typical magazine filler with no satirical content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Best Protection Life Insurance in The Prudential THE PRUDENTIAL Insurance Company of America Sere 6 Campus ye to Ree ney 4JONN P. DRYDEN, Prenéent Meme Oca! NEWARK, M2, WHITMAN SADDLES Known the world over “Everything from Saddle to Spur” CATALOGUE FREE The Meblbach Saddle Co. — 108 Chambers St, New York BEST LUGGAGE UCH OFZeERAL 177 BROADWAY 680 BROADWAY 723 SIXTH AVENUE TO BE HAD ONLY AT OUR STORES WARDROBE TRUNKS The Kay, The Land of Singers (“America has no poets.”—Aljred Austin.) E USED to envy you good folks Possession of your Gilbert— We so enjoyed his rhyming jokes, But now—for him a filbert! We've got a chap that’s really grand In writing lyrics stirrin’. His name, we'd have you understand, Is Colonel Wallace Irwin. You've minor pocts by the score Whose pots are always steamin’ ‘The best of all the clever corps We think is Owen Seaman, But when it comes to lighter verse, To fruit that’s worth the barrelin’, You can’t deny the witty, terse Miss Wells is always Carolyn. If you would read our magazines As often as you might, sir, You'd see that we have evergreens That flourish rather bright, sir. You haven't in your broad domain A poct who has follered So closely in the Muses? train As Mr. Clinton Scollard. And when it comes to laureates, To poets grim and solemn; To folk of high and massy pates Who write verse by the column— Forget not those torrential rills That emanate from Boston, Where there are nigh a million quills Each wielded by—an Austin! John Kendrick Bangs. West Point Versus the Colleges ST POINT, United States ) Tour Epttor or Lire: Dear Sir—In your very natural and tem- perate editorial comments upon the published extracts from my address at the Cooper Union upon West Point and Military Education, I have reason to be grateful for the contingent clause in which I am given the benefit of the assumption that incomplete reports may do me injustice. They generally do something of the sort when the extracts are selected for their head-line I did not anticipate that a quict talk in Cooper Union would excite particular comment and flood me with news- paper clippings and correspondence, but hav- ing had the limelight flashed on me in disha- bille, so to speak, I could wish to be permitted to put on my coat and appear clothed and in my right mind until it is turned off. If you care to accord the opportunity, I shall be glad’ to state the contention of my thesis to be: ‘That a true education is one that system- atically develops and molds character, invigo- rates the body, disciplines and informs the mind, and that the neglect of any of these equally important functions is a wrong to the individual, society and the State. That education should of set purpose con- 850 ‘Professional cooks find Lea & Perrins’ Sauce THE ORIGINAL WORCESTERSHIRE the most valuable of all sauces, because it perfects the flavor of the greatest variety of dishes. CHOPS, STEAKS, ROASTS, COLD MEAT, SALADS, FISH, GAME, SOUPS and CURRIES— all are improved by the judicious usc of Lea & Perrins’ Sauce Beware of Imitations. Look for Lea & Perrins’ signature, Joba Duncan's Sons, Agts., N. ¥. BRIDGE WHIST SCORES Sadik Wi a Ries Woes tio Ask for RAD-BRIDGE the universal standard Of Dealers everywhere or the Manufacturers RADCLIFFE & COMPANY LONDON: 5 Aldersgate Bidgs..E.C. NEW TORE: 146 Pe = Asi bror App: comicbooks.com