Life, 1909-04-08 · page 22 of 32
Life — April 8, 1909 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements and literary reviews** with minimal political cartoons. The notable satirical content is **"Our Foolish Contemporaries,"** a poem about Christmas gift-giving that uses Shakespeare's "Seven Ages of Man" structure to mock contemporary consumer culture and life stages—from infants receiving rattles to elderly grandparents needing magnifying glasses. Below that are three brief **anecdotes mocking politicians and gender relations**: one about women selling votes for hats (post-suffrage era commentary), one about President Taft being so unremarkable a cook only remembers his appetite, and one about newlywed disillusionment. The bulk of the page advertises a Swiss alpine health resort, Abbott's Bitters patent medicine, and reviews Louise Closser Hale's novel *The Actress*. The overall tone reflects early 20th-century upper-class concerns: leisure travel, consumer goods, and literary sophistication.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
St. Moritz-Bad, “er fuezt Renowned High-Alpine Health Resort, with excellent Iron Mineral Waters, Mineral Baths, Hydrotherapy. Terminus of the world-famous Albula Railway. SEASON from June Ist to September 30th. For Spring and Late Season, Considerably Reduced Prices. Lawn-Tennis. Golf Links. The Guests of the under-named Establishments are entitied to attend all Solrées, Concerts, &c. of the 4 Hotels, ROUTES :—(a) via Basle-Zurich-Chur-Thusi and the Albula Railway: (b) Lindau-Chur-Thusis: (c) via Landeck-Schuls-Tarasp or Stilfserjoch and Bernina Pass by Diligence: (d) by Diligence viz Chiavenna-Maloja. Ask for latest Prospectus No. 14, sent gratis and post-free on application to the following Hotels :— Hotels:-KURHAUS—NEVUES STAHLBAD—VICTORIA—DU LAC. URW FOOLIS H| CONTEMPO ARIES The Seven Sets of Presents All the world’s a Christmas tree And all the men and women merely children. They have their presents and remembrances, And one man in his time gets many gifts, His lot being seven series. At first, the infant, With his feeding spoons and rattles, Then the trumpet and tin soldiers, skates and sleigh And fireman's helmet; and then the lover, Sighing like a furnace with a gaudy necktie Knit by his lady’s fingers. Then, a hubby: Showered by his friends with socks and gloves And pipes that will not draw; ink wells of brass, And fountain pens that leak ; or else some painted China that his wife can use as well. And then The middle-aged, of fair round belly—a little cap To hide his shining pate. The sixth set sinks Into the carpet slipper game, or bad cigars— A silver cutter, since his teeth are bad. Last gift of all that ends this strange Eventful history is failing sight, Then they bring a magnifying glass For grandpa. —Detroit Free Press. Asnevitte, N. C.: The four-season resort of the South. Tue Manox, the English-like Inn of Asheville. The Waning Honeymoon “T forgot something,’’ said the husband. Yes,’’ pouted the wife, “you forgot to kiss “That may be, but what I came back for was my overshocs.""—Kansas City Journal. That Kind of a Man The Georgians of Augusta are chuckling over a new story about Mr. Taft. Mr. Taft, it seems, drove out one afternoon to see a Georgia planter. The planter’s cook, a very old woman, takes no interest in public affairs, and she did not recognize the portly guest. “What did you think of that gentleman, Martha?’ tke planter asked, after Mr. Taft had driven off. “Well, sir,’” old Martha replied, “I can’t say as I saw nothin’ pertickler about him. He looked to me like the kind of man as would be pretty reg'lar to his meals.""—Seattle Post-Intelligencer. GREAT BEAR SPRING WATER “It's purity has made it famous” In 1915 Mrs. De Crimp (day after election): did you get the new hat? Mrs. Pott Worker: My husband gave me five dollars yesterday for my vote—Brooklyn Life. ended her essay by saying: ried a famous belle, Martha Custis, time became the lineator. Where a the best cocktail, Alda di A dulighttal aromatic for at sige, saint Ageaneral By LOUISE CLOSSER HALE “The Actress’ is different. It comes from the very heart of actor life. . . Sprightly in style, has touches of humor, tells a very pretty story very well.— METCALFFE, in Life. Gay, abounding in humor and a simple up-to-date philosophy that is sincere and human.—Philadelphia North American. «+ The literary pessimist will condemn ‘* The Actress ’’—but this is a hard year for the literary pessimist.— Baltimore News, _ She carries one forward from incident to incident with a cheerful briskness which is so well sustained, so clearly natural to the story-teller, that the swift- ness of the pace is never fatiguing. —New York Times Saturday Review. Her style is charming and fascinating. Her humor is irresistible, and she knows well the art of combining tears with the smiles. The book HARPER & stands alone in its wonderfully impressive treatment of the life with which it deals.—Jndianapolis News. Illustrated, $1.50