Life, 1908-12-10 · page 17 of 24
Life — December 10, 1908 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a "Mistletoe Picture Puzzle" — a visual matching game where readers must pair two profile portraits to find "the right people together," likely as romantic couples. The two silhouettes show a woman (left) and man (right) in formal dress, representing idealized potential matches. The accompanying text humorously defines "Story and Plot" as mechanical constructs requiring skilled assembly to function properly — a meta-commentary on literary construction. Below sits a brief comedic dialogue between Mrs. Hatterson and Mrs. Catterson about the guilt of leaving children to play bridge, with the punchline "Faint purse never won fair title" — a play suggesting financial security matters in marriage. The content reflects early 20th-century upper-class concerns: matchmaking, domestic leisure activities (bridge), and economic realities of courtship. The puzzle format was typical entertainment for Life's audience.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Story and Plot STORY is a shell, made of almost anything that’s fit to print, and containing a plot. A plot is a curious mechanical contri- vance consisting of a great many cogs, which differ from ordinary cogs in that whereas the latter are but the means by MISTLETOE PICTURE PUZZLE CET THE RIGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER which power is transmitted, the former are of themselves power. It takes considerable skill to construct these cogs and have them mash together properl that is to say, in such a man- ner that they won't fail to make plenty of noise. For unless the wheels are distinctly to be heard, the result isn’t literature, but a futility worthy of nothing except to be cast out. R.B. RS. HATTERSON: Sometimes I feel guilty taking so much time aw from my children to play bridge. Mrs. Catrersox: But think of the splendid game you play! Faint purse never won fair title. comicbooks.com