Life, 1908-03-19 · page 23 of 24
Life — March 19, 1908 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and advice columns** rather than political satire. The main content includes: **"Conversation" Advice Column**: A satirical etiquette piece mocking upper-class social conventions. It humorously prescribes bland, safe dinner conversation topics (weather, cigars, "Is that your bread or mine?") while condemning substantive discussion of literature, politics, or other serious subjects. The satire targets the intellectual emptiness of wealthy society's rigid social codes. **Advertisements**: The page features multiple ads including Welch's Grape Juice (emphasizing it contains "no alcohol"), Calox toothpaste, dental services, and cruise lines (Hamburg-American, Spring & Summer Cruises). These reflect early 1900s consumer culture. **Literary Excerpt**: A brief passage titled "A Gem from Indiana" describing a romantic scene. The satire here mocks **upper-class pretension and conformity** rather than specific political figures or events. The humor derives from exposing how wealthy society enforces trivial conversation while suppressing genuine intellectual engagement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
king tobacce terest Jo terest ye pathas, Ve Conversation ation at a club should be simple and It is vulgar to go into long or pro- ussions. Only a few remarks are comme it s “Hello!” “Deuced hot!” “Have a \ nasty day," “Who has a cigar?” s the safest a is, “ Waiter, take the orders.” Even this nsed with if you make certain to push icizing a play or a novel be careful to avoid discriminating criticisms. You should ck” of “boost.” Try to remember that s—they are ss wily” or “rotten.” Fafew people in the smart set are entertaining a rat lunch, it is de rigueur for them to con- xe with cach other entirely in whispers, and on sects with which he is absolutely unacquainted. fh discussing literature at a lunch or dinner, try remember that there are but a very few fashion- authors; they are as follows: Mrs. Wharton, n, Mrs. Glyn, Robert Hichens, Op- ly Baxter, Gertrude Atherton and John 4a dinner, a gentleman sitting beside a dé- ste should congratulate her upon her di vell-chosen words, should discuss the al débutante topics: i, ¢., platonic love, banti ach dressmakers, John Drew, the relative merits liarvard and Yale, love at first sight, the football and the matter of her great personal beauty ys to remember that the chief and most 3 topics of conversation are herself and Ser are very properly deemed over the cigars, it is bad form for ya to discuss any subjects but stocks and motor fest conversational opening is as vss, “Is that your bread or mine?” : should never be mentioned in a gen- sun's club. Occasionally, however, this hard-and- be slightly infracted, and her intimate is discreetly talked over—provided that the % of gentlemen be a small one and absolute xy assured. (A small group is any group of ‘han twelve.) —Metropolitan Magazine. A Gein from Indiana York publishing house tt bit he has come acre i ears: “Reginald was bewitched. ever had the moess seemed to him so beautiful as at this ant, when, in her dumb grief, she hid her face." "Now your teeth are in good condition use CALOX and keep them so!” “The Oxygen does it” emer am Boetlee sent on receipt of § cents BROS & ROLHINS, 91-07 Patten Strvet, SEW YORE The proper kind of refreshments puts the hostess at her ease. There is nothing for any occasion so delicious and so sure to be appreciated as Welch’s Grape Juice, served asa punch, a sherbet or a dainty dessert. Welch's Grape Juice contains no alcohol, coloring mat- ter or chemicals—just the flavor and the nutrition which nature puts into the choicest Concord grapes If your dealer doesn’t keep Welch's, send $3.00 for trial dozen pints, express prepaid east of Omah rty delicious ways of using Welch's Grape Juice, fre 3-02. bottle, by mail, 10 cents, THE WELCH GRAPE JUICE COMPANY Westfield, N. Y SPECIAL SUMMER || ATTRACTIVE AND CRUISES SPRING CRUISE During June, July, OF THE “OCEANA” ugust, to NORWAY, spitz. | | TO MADEIRA, TANGIER, BERGEN, NORTH || GIBRALTAR, ALGIERS, CAPE, ICELAND, NAPLES, GENOA, SAN REMO, NICE, BORDIGHERA and “Koning Wilhelm 11. Le w York, April 2, from 14 to 24 days (starting (rom Hamburg javing New York, April 2, 1908 $62. sand up, including all expenses aboard st 19 Days’ Duration, Excellent connections from America by the ae gi pany’s transatlantic service Also Cruises every week to the WEST INDIES Including sho: LANDS, and No ‘at Twin-screw. Si OUR TOURIST DEPARTMENT IS FULLY EQUIPPED TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS AND GIVE FUL . 3 ION REGARDING THESE AND OTHER CRUISES TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE 35-37 BROADWAY, NEW YORK 1334 Walnut Street 159 Randolph Street 08, Market Street 9 State Street Philadelphia Chicago, San Francisco Boston ‘got Olive Street, St. Louis L INFO! EOFIELO BROTHERS. NEW YORK H comicbooks.com