Life, 1907-10-17 · page 17 of 44
Life — October 17, 1907 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes literary celebrity and the fleeting nature of fame. The top section mocks authors whose recent success has already faded—A.H. Rice, Richard Whiteing, and Mrs. Deland appear as caricatures with accompanying verse. The joke is that each claims "My book sold best a year ago," suggesting their moment in the spotlight has passed and they're desperately clinging to past glory. William Travers Jerome's "Heart to Heart Talks" column parodies self-help advice for ambitious young people. Jerome (appearing to be a public figure) cynically instructs children to prioritize publicity over actual accomplishment, avoid associating with criminals (oddly specific), and pursue "small fish" (minor fame) rather than genuine achievement. The satire mocks both celebrity culture and manipulative self-promotion. The "L'Envoi" poem reinforces this theme of literary disappointment. The page's final anecdote shows a child extracting payment for tolerating an aunt's cold kiss—a darkly comic ending about transactional relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ALM. RICE One's little hour of fame draws near, Then bursts, a bubble in the air. ‘The Cable snaps; the public sneer At Rice and Bacon served with care. Alas! who reads Miss May Sinclair? Her “Fire Divine” has lost its glow: Deland and Whitcing both declare, “My book sold best a year ago.”” Heart to Heart Talks By William Travers Jerome AR LITTLE BOYSAND GIRLS: It does me good to see so many bright, smiling faces on this beautiful , Sabbath morning, because it brings me back to the time when I myself had a bright and smiling face, when I was younger than I am now, and had not as- sociated so much with great criminals. Always avoid associating with great criminals, dear children, because if youdo your little hearts will be touched by their sad and lonely lives and you will keep quiet about them and not let the world know how naughty they really are; and this is very bad, in the long run, because you know you can’t fool everybody all the time. Now, I want to tell you some of the things you must do to be a great man like me, and how hard you must work to keep yourself before the public. First, then, you must learn to be clever and smart and awfully quick at repartee, for nothing en- tertains the public more; and when you RICHARD WHITEING JOMN LUTHER Lone can entertain the public they will often overlook the fact that there is real work to be done, and that you haven’t done it. This, however, is purely personal and need not concern you until you grow older. The main point is to keep busy. Remember that Satan finds work for idle hands to do; therefore keep busy. Now, there are three ways to do this—one is to get busy, one is to get results, and one is to get advertised. But the greatest is to get advertised. Also, you have heard it said that you should always, when fish- ing, go after the big fish; but this is a great mistake. Leave the big fish alone, L’Envoi Of all sad words of tongue or pen, ‘These few contain the deepest woe, Uttered by scribbling maids and men “My book sold best—a year ag Randolph Forbes my dears, and go after the small ones. You will have just as much fun catching the small ones and the big ones will re- spect and admire you, which is more—or as much—to be desired than fine gold. Also, dear little ones, avoid cigarettes, rum and being a man-about-town. Some men can do these things and not have to go on a vacation more than twice a year; but as a rule you can only become a really great attorney by fasting and prayer. Above all things, be simple and mod- est. And by and by, when you grow up, you may be able, almost by your own un- aided acrobatics, to create the necessity of a public service commission. For on these things hang all of the law and a good deal of the profits. Her Price NATTRACTIVE MAIDEN AUNT: Good-by, Jottie. Come soon ayain. I hope you'll forgive my not kissing you, but I have an awful cold Jort: (aged six): Never mind. Do iss me, auntie. Mother said she'd give me five cents if I'd let you comicbooks.com