Life, 1909-04-01 · page 50 of 52
Life — April 1, 1909 — page 50: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **promotional announcement** for an upcoming special issue celebrating women writers. The page lists prominent female authors of the era (Agnes Repplier, Emily Post, Gertrude Atherton, and others) who will contribute to a "Woman's Number." The satire lies in the **exaggerated language** praising the issue—it will "scintillate, titillate," contain "altitudinous aggregation of astonishing astuteness," and "pulsate with piquant and perspicacious pleasantry." This purple prose mocks both the pretentiousness of literary magazines and period attitudes toward women's intellectual contributions, presenting their writing as frivolous entertainment rather than serious work. The decorative illustrations (a woman by a pond, hands gesturing) are whimsical rather than substantive, reinforcing the lighthearted tone. The page also announces upcoming themed issues (Jungle, Health, Sportsman's numbers), positioning this women's issue as one among Life's various novelty editions—suggesting women writers were treated as a seasonal gimmick rather than permanent cultural fixtures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Coming AGNES REPPLIER. EMILY POST. GERTRUDE ATHERTON. THEODOSIA GARRISON. CAROLYN WELLS. MRS. WILSON WOODROW. ELLA WHEELER WILCOX. KATE MASTERSON. MRS. THOMPSON SETON. isin MINNA IRVING. . FRANCES §. STIMSON. 4 be ELIZABETH JORDAN. bay BEATRICE FAIRFAX. ate CLARA MORRIS. sitha Issue of April 22, 1909 The brightest, the cleverest, the most celebrated woman writers will contribute to this number. It. will scintillate, titillate, recreate, amuse, entertain, divert, solace, cheer, edify, enlighten and instruct. It will contain an altitudinous aggregation of astonishing astute- ness. It will pulsate with piquant and perspicacious pleasantry. All women writers, felicitously and rhythmically introduced by Edward Sandford Martin. April 18. Jungle Number (Colored Cover by FLAGG) bid here. No symptoms of anything except wisdom, laughter and inspiration. COMING! Did you see the motto they had down in Washington in the Senate chataber during the Inauguration ? * Wall Street expects every lion to do his duty." This number of Life shows the lions of Africa in their native haunts. Our Jungle artists have been busy night and day on this Teddesy of Africen exploitation. Nothing omitted and naught set down in malice. April 29. Health Number (Colored Cover by KILVERT) Are you thin? It radiates rotund- ity. Are you fat? It reduces you rhythmically. Are you depressed ? It elevates. Are you ‘up in the air over anything? It calms, soothes and delights. Nothing mor- May 6. Sportaman’s Number (Colored Cover by CROSBY) Are you a thoroughbred? Or would you rather stay at home and read about it? It matters not. Your primeval instincts will be set agog by this wonderful col- lection of good things. May 20. College Number (Colored Cover by CLay) This number is for everyone in the family, bat we believe that it will please especially “mother and the girls’ (you will understand why when you see the centre Page cartoon). Then there are Matrimonial Number, The Summer Gadders Number, Flirts’, The Book Ah Number, Chorus Girls, Fourth of July, Spooks. All of them bright and shining lights on the horizon of Life. Order of issue subject to change. comicbooks.com