Life — July 18, 1907 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

The as a Roberts Himself Again EVEN Homer sometimes nodded— and then probably blamed the printer for those pi-lines that are all Greek to us; so the keeper of “The Literary Zoo,” caught napping, puts it up to the all-suffering proofreader to explain why Robert Underwood Johnson was re- christened “Richard” in a recent number of Lirr. Our only balm is the conscious- ness that the least literary of our readers knows Who's Zoo and What's What, and that no poet, born or made, could possibly palm himself off as the author of “Songs of Liberty Riley HEN Perry Heath, now in parts un- known, embarked on a journalistic career, chance jgned him to a little town in Indiana. The other reporter on the newspaper which employed him was a young man who had given up art, as ex- pressed in sign-painting, for the rewards of literature on a great local daily. His name was James Whitcomb Rile: Both re- porters covered their assignments with such celerity and satisfaction that their employer was prompted to enlarge their opportunities. “Bring me in advertising as well as news,” said he, “‘and I'll pay you a commission.” The offer was accepted, and the outcome, so far as Riley was con- cerned, had more than a commercial significance. A latent talent for making rhymes’ cropped up and crystallized on the memorable occasion when Jacob Stein was slow in perceiving the advantages of publicity. “But T'll advertise you in verse,” persuaded the potential poet of Hoosierdom. And ke did. We are assured on competent authority that it was Riley’s first appearance in print as a poet, and that the effusion ran: Yawcob Stein, Dot friend of mine Who sells dose clodings down so fine. While these lines may seem to some persons to lack that perfection of dialect and sincerity of sentiment that distinguish Riley’s more mature work, they made a great hit with Mr. Stein; and we think they are quite as likely to endure as most poems written for special occasions. T IS pleasant to turn from the multifarious nature books of instruction telling us How to know,” to a plain record of what can be done with certain American birds. Miss Gene Shatton Porter has done this so well in her recent little volume on this subject that it is like reading a work of fiction in which the plot gathers continual interest. What come- dies and tragedies in the life of birds! means the oil exactly suited to your engine. ‘This is imperative. Poor oil, or animproperly com- unded one, or the wrong oil will wreck the finest en- gine in short order. Two hands are better than One Si] Seer eociesie, Nese you own or what method of lubrica- and the JONES SPEEDOMETER with tion is used—there's a one hand is the standard speed indicator of the special gradeof Mobiloil world, The “second” hand indicates the MAXI- for your engine and no MUM peed. It remains permanent at the 8) J other should be used. highest point until reset by a push on the stem. A Our instructive litte The hand drops automatically and instantly to the glance just what grade of speed at which the caris at that moment traveling. ys " os It's free to you. Mobi 1 is Description of this instrument in “* The Speedometer,”* a bul said in cans-barrels, aad halt letin on speed subjects. Send your request to Dept barrels, Manufactured by JONES SPEEDOMETER CO., 2228 B'way, N. Y. VACUUM OIL CO., Rochester, N.Y. “A room without pictures is like a room without windows.”—RUSKIN Life’s Prints Copyright 198 by Life Pea Cm HER CHOICE “Smile if you will, But some heart-strings Are tlosest linked With simplest things." Will Carleton Ajter C. Coles Pi India Print in Brown, $2.00 WHEN A MAN'S IN LOVE After Nesbitt Benson Photogravure in Brown, 13) by 16 in. 50 cents LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 17 Wet 31st Street New York comicbooks.com