Life, 1909-02-25 · page 11 of 28
Life — February 25, 1909 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration, captioned "G. B. SHAW CUTTING SHAKESPEARE IN HADES," depicts two figures in what appears to be the underworld. One figure (likely Shakespeare) confronts another (identified as George Bernard Shaw). The satire mocks Shaw's literary criticism and his tendency to critique or "cut" (revise/diminish) Shakespeare's works. The accompanying text sections—"Life's Worst Novel Contest," "Rather Undecided," and "Feminine"—appear to be separate satirical pieces about relationships and gender roles, typical of Life magazine's humor content. The Shaw cartoon specifically ridicules the Irish playwright's well-known practice of criticizing Shakespeare and proposing theatrical revisions, suggesting such presumption would be comically confrontational even in the afterlife.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
G. B. SHAW CUTTING LIFE'S Worst Novel Contest IFE announces with regret that the Worst Novel Contest has not ex- cited the interest he anticipated Whether all the novels of the year are regarded on the part of our readers as being equally hopeless, or whether the inducements offered were not sufficient to tempt anyone to read them and ascer- tain the fatal truth, will probably never he determined. The fact remains that out of the few replies received none seemed, in the judgment of the editors, to be worthy of publica SHAKESPEARE IN HADES Rather Undecided GAXpFoRD: So you're in love w Miss Fair! She's a decided blonde, isn't shi Cuarry: Well, er, I can't say that she’s quite decided yet. Feminine HOUGH cherishing the loftiest id she still retained something of quality of her sex. “Is it—er—perfeetly safe for a won to drive?” she faltered, hesitatingly, as she hitched her wagon to @ star. Our Husbands’ Correspondence Bureau bureau is so far behindhand in HE I its orders that we must be indulgence of hundreds of husbands all over the country who are anxiously wait- ing to hear from us Please remember that our courses are limited, and that no applicant will be given preference just because his case is urgent. We have been obliged to make this rule for all, otherwise we should be unjust r instance we have just received this pathetic appeal: “1 have just heard of your bureau and hasten to ask your help. My wife recently developed an insane idea that a man has better luck at a servants’ agency than a woman, The consequence of this is that I am obliged to spend most of my time looking for cooks. I am very de- i the thought of being with and cannot bear ndent upon my hom ut a servant, whereas, my wife is so interested in bridge and the new styles that she nto require food any more. the doesn’t se thing for me Please do sow earliest moment.” This gentleman will simply have to wait his turn. It is heartbreaking, of course, to keep our patrons waiting, but n that we feel we can only assure th it as much as they do. Our reputation depends, however, in treating all alike. There has been some confusion with regard to the number of courses that we have. While a complete list cannot be given at the present time—as we aim to treat each case individually—we will say for the benefit of many inquirers that our school is divided into four branches, namely,—The Young and In- experienced Husband, The Middle-Aged Husband, The Old and Foxy Husband, ind a Complete Course that takes the husband right along through all the stages, The Young Husband Course takes hold of you from the moment the car- riage door is shut on your honeymoon right up to the night that the first baby has an unexpected case of colic and the telephone is out of order and you can’t get the doctor It comprises The Trained Nurse Period, The First Summer Vacation Period and The Buy-Your-Own-Home Period.