Life, 1907-08-15 · page 23 of 28
Life — August 15, 1907 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Left side ("The Literary Zoo"):** A satirical dialogue between a newspaper editor and book publisher debating journalistic truthfulness. The publisher complains newspapers are unreliable and sensationalistic. The editor's witty response—reminding the publisher that Life itself had flatteringly covered his own firm's "service to literature"—exposes the hypocrisy: publishers and readers both *demand* sensationalism while publicly condemning it. The joke targets the mutual dishonesty between press and public. **Right side:** A full-page advertisement for the Gillette Safety Razor, featuring an illustrated male face and detailed product claims about the blade's superiority. This is primarily commercial content, not satire. **Bottom:** A promotional notice for a James Montgomery Flagg book ("Why They Married"), sold by Life Publishing Company. The page demonstrates Life's dual function: satirizing cultural pretensions through humor while simultaneously accepting advertisements from major corporations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The <r A Little Fable About Truth iE newspapereditorandthe book pub: lisher met casually at the club the other day. ‘They were old acquaintances, but they had both been busy being success- ful, and their intercourse was infrequent. Presently the publisher began to talk shop. “T regret to see, pously, ‘that the tendency of journalism is still downward. Frankly, now, is not the time coming when you can afford to drop sensationalism ?”” “T'll first have to ask you to define your term,” answered the editor, after a pause. “Tt may save a useless argument. You see we have a good many readers who talk that way, but who take the paper regularly because they like it. Are you not one of them?” “Yes, yes,” admitted the publisher, a trifle disconcerted. ‘But that is not what I meant. I did not intend to be personal at all. I was only generalizing. My spe- cific objection is that you—I mean all of you—don’t print the truth.” “Dear me!” said the editor, showing signsof alarm. “Was thereanything wrong with that account we printed the other day of your firm’s conspicuous service in the cause of literature? I trust the young man who wrote it was not too enthusiastic. He has ideals, I’m afraid; and that, you know, is sometimes at the bottom of exagge ration. But the facts, I believe, were furnished by your junior member, and of course we did not look for further confirmation.” “No, no,” said the publisher, hurriedly ; “that was very nicely done. I must re- mind you again that my remarks are in no sense personal, What I object to is that the newspapers are generally unreliable. As Dr. Weir Mitchell has remarked, you have to wait until they print the same thing at least twice before you can believe it. As a general rule, they don’t tell the truth.” The editor seemed thoughtful. “The Stogies You're Proud to Smoke and to offer to critical DRAKNEL WHEELING STOGIES ear old Wheeling peteam part slesed leaf Gillette. Blade\ On the face of it the “GILLETTE” Blade looks good — and feels good on the face, too. LOOKS GOOD because it is the only new idea in ra 400 years, is theoretically and mechanically perfect, being made, sharp- ened, honed, and stropped by never-v; rying, automatic m FEELS GOOD b use it is LAS ¥ Ys2 perfect ina practical way ot EQ makes shaving a delight to the” 21a novice or the experienced in self- shaving. No pulling, no scratching, no cuts with even the most hard and wiry beard. LE WITH THE “GILLETTE” under cleanly, hygienic conditions at home or abroad, and have a close or a light shave by a slight turn of the handle, adjusting the blade which is al- ways in position. When Gillette Blades become dull, throw away— 10 Brand New Double-Edged “GILLETTE” Blades, 50 cents No blades exchanged or resharpened. you can s The price of the “GILLETTE” set is $5.00 everywhere, Sold by the leading Jewelry, Drug, Cutlery, and Hard: ware Dealers, Ask for the “GILLETTE” and our booklet. Ree fuse all substitutes, and write us to-day for our special yoday free trial offer. : \ Gillette Sales Company 228 Times Building Gillette Safety iiamaiay NO STROPPING. NO HONING. ese cem, and argue about it—go on over to LIFE'S Office and get a copy of “Why They Married.” Yes, it's the new book by the person who did “Tomfoolery” and “If; a Guide to Bad Manners”—James Montgomery Flagg. It costs 4 of a plunk. LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York City comicbooks.com