Life, 1908-05-28 · page 5 of 24
Life — May 28, 1908 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page presents social commentary on temperance and prohibition. The main photograph "Cultivating the Waist Places" appears to depict silhouetted figures in a landscape, likely illustrating consequences of drinking. The text includes "Solemn Thoughts for Sober Men," which argues against alcohol by referencing saloon closures and breweries as serious matters affecting property values and commercial reputation. The piece advocates for comprehensive prohibition, anticipating reform efforts. "The Irrepressible Conflict" presents a dialogue between characters (including "Lord" and "Billie," apparently a Yale chaplain and freshman) debating morality and Harvard/Yale student behavior, with religious language about sin and wickedness. The illustration of birds at bottom with caption "SUCH BEAUTIFUL BUGS, AND NOT ONE OF 'EM FIT TO EAT!" appears to be separate satirical commentary, though its specific target remains unclear from this excerpt.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Solemn Thoughts for Sober Men EFORMS, of course, cost some- thing, and we must be prepared to pay it. The anti-exhilarant movement has already been ex- pensive in reducing the value of saloon fixtures, distilleries and breweries. The shrinkage has been a very serious matter to the owners of the properties, but other folks bear it with equa- imity, and it is considered (rightly, we think) no argument against any measure of beverage reform which may be profitable to the public. Another annihilation of property which must result if the reformers compass a com- prehensive and effectual success has so far escaped notice. The characters of all pe sons known and advertised as sober w suffer relative depreciation in commercial or marketable value. Editors, actors, coach- men, chauffeurs, clergymen, iron-workers and experts in nearly all the trades and pro- “CULTIVATING THE WAIST PLACES” fessions are now more desired by employers and command higher wages when recom- mended as proof against all untimely solici- tations of drink. Abolish drink and with it all temptation to exceed, and at a blow all this marketable reputation for sobriety, often painfully acquired, is demolished. Abolish the rest of the possibilities of indis- cretion, as some reformers seem hopeful of doing, and— But we anticipate. Perhaps it won't come to that for a year or two. The Irrepressible Conflict “(7 LORD,” prayed the Yale chaplain, at the morning exercises, “we are poor, miserable creatures, not fit to address thee ; confirmed as we are in evil, and un- righteous ways” “Say, Billie,” whispered one Freshman to another, between his fingers, “what does the Revvy think we are, anyhow—a bunch of Harvard men?” ARKE: Old man, we’ve known cach other for years, and it does seem strange that our wives have never met. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to bring this about? Lane: Seems to me that’s rather a hard way of doing it. Doing what?” etting rid of cach other.” “SUCH BEAUTIFUL BUGS, AND NOT ONE OP "eM PIT To EaT!"”” comicbooks.com