Life, 1908-02-13 · page 7 of 20
Life — February 13, 1908 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on New York society and politics, likely from the early 20th century. The main illustrated anecdote depicts a couple, with text explaining a woman's choice to remain in New York despite her suitor's pleas. She rejects his proposal to leave for the countryside, preferring the city's social scene. The satire targets both urban pretension and women's social ambitions. The "Nature's Masterpiece" section discusses Governor Hughes' whiskers as an intellectual achievement, mocking both the Governor and society's obsession with trivial personal characteristics. The bottom cartoon, "Tafts That Pass in the Night," appears to be political commentary on President Taft, using visual puns about "tafts" (unclear exact meaning) and nighttime activity—likely satirizing political dealings or social behavior. The overall tone mocks urban sophistication and political figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
patience. ‘‘Pardon me, madam, if I laugh; but you must, indeed, be from the country. The New York woman who is really up to date orders her summer garments in midwinter; her winter ward- robe in midsummer.” a “But why?” she pleaded. “Why?” “Why?” he repeated, sternly. “How lacking you are in appreciation of the New York spirit! Why, to be ahead of the season; to move faster than the rest of the world. To beat even the earth at its own game. That is why.” + & & Reader, that woman never went back to the peaceful, beautiful country and the simple life. She remained in the reat city, married the floorwalker, and is known to-day as one of the most violent and incurable clothes maniacs in the town, awGoug. He inclined slightly toward her Nature's Masterpiece HE Hughes. boom, if it does noth- ing else, bids fair to put whiskers on their proper intellectual plane. It has been a long time since we have had in the White House a luxuriant set of genuine home-grown whiskers. Those who are hesitating even now between Taft and Hughes should consider this question calmly and soberly. One of the reasons why the subject of whiskers, among all other personal char- acteristics, can be freely discussed is because their presence is a voluntary achievement of the individual himself. He does not have to have them if he doesn’t want them. It is, therefore, quite proper that they should not be regarded in the light of a personal misfortune and, therefore, held up against a man. In a large, comprehensive sense they are, indeed, a part of his own selective per- sonality. We, therefore, look upon Governor Hughes’s whiskers in this broad, liberal way. They are his own intellectual achievement, so to speak, and may be properly placed in the same class with his other triumphs. He believes in them, he has the courage to wear them, and he should have all the credit which he is entitled to. There is also another side of the ques- tion which deserves to be considered. While the Hughes whiskers could easily be removed—even though the thought of such a desecration makes us shudder— not every man, no matter how much he might long in his secret soul to do it, could raise them for himself. It may be asserted with entire safety that the Hughes whiskers are born, not made. They have, in the process of time and under the influence of the planets, been evolved, and like other great natural creations, stand alone—a supreme work of art. Every hair of them has been numbered and labeled by Providence, and we believe that Destiny has already in its mind’s eye fitted them into their proper place in the White House. T.L, M. Happy Jerome UR district attorney is reported as saying: I believe the people of New York County have shown that they have respect for and confidence in me. Which shows that a man can believe anything if he really tries. UCCESS, in the highest, is a great man’s manner of meeting failure. THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT comicbooks.com