Life, 1909-06-10 · page 19 of 32
Life — June 10, 1909 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satire announces a fictional "Marathon Race" organized by *Life* magazine to promote literature. The joke mocks famous American authors by imagining them competing in an actual footrace. The cartoon depicts a man experiencing heart trouble—likely representing an author's anxiety about the event. The text features humorous responses from literary celebrities: Mark Twain eagerly signs up, while Henry James sends a deliberately overwrought cable full of rambling qualifications typical of his prose style. Other notable authors listed include Edith Wharton, George Ade, and Julian Hawthorne. The satire's point: authors are sedentary intellectuals unsuited to physical exertion. A secondary joke suggests that requiring participating authors not to write for a year would benefit the public by sparing them from new books. The bottom anecdote about a Boston Lady and New York Lady mocking women's clubs as shallow fashion shows adds social commentary typical of *Life*'s satirical approach.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HIS FIRST CASE OF HEART TROUBLE “LIFE: 823 Life’s Great Marathon Race Preliminary Arrangements Are Now Being Completed Everybcdy Enthusiastic REPARATIONS for Lire’s great Marathon race are rap- idly going forward. It will be held in this city at as carly a date as possible, for the promotion of literature. En- tries are being received daily. The morning after the invitations were sent out a tele phone message was received from Mark Twain. “This you, Lire?’ “Yes.” “When is this thing going to come off?” “Soon as we can get the boys and girls organized.”” n I wear my white flannels?" “ Sure.’" “Is Mrs. Eddy going to be in it?’” “We don’t dare invite her. We are id she might win.” Sood! Put me down.’* Henry James cabled as follows: Lire, N.Y. Much as, including my own embar- rassment, that is to say, a sense of in- adequacy, wholly reluctant and yet, doubtless, privileged or shall I say in- nately deliberate, I should, in circum- stances dissimilar, have uttered dis- sonant attempts, nevertheless, I am de- lightfully appealed to by your, if sin- gular, doubtless practical, innovation. Possibly ! H. James. Others who have entered are Robert Chambers, Elinor Glyn, Edith Wharton, John Fox, Jr, Peter Dunne, W. D. Howells, Andrew Lang, Gilbert Chester- ton, Gertrude Atherton, Frances Hodg- son Burnett and R. W. Gilder. Edwin Markham will write a special poem for the occasion, entitled, “ Footsore and Weary, I’m Still in the Gam Later: George Ade has just wired: Me for the Marathon. I'll start right in training on my farm. Express me at once three gallons foot balm; also a set of Sable health bands. Yours, Grorce. Julian Hawthorne has consented to act as manager. The only conditions exacted as entrance fee are that authors will not write anything for one year af- terwards, It is thus hoped that the public will not only be amused, but will have a chance to rest. Further par- ticulars later. OSTON LADY: Did you learn anything at the woman's club? New York Lavy: Absolutely nothing. Wish I hadn't gone. I had seen all the gowns before. comicbooks.com °