Life, 1909-06-10 · page 23 of 32
Life — June 10, 1909 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical poem by Carlyle Smith mocks the material emptiness of early 20th-century consumer culture. A pickpocket and his accomplices steal a woman's wallet at a "Bargain Matinée," expecting riches. Instead, they find trivial items: powder, hairpins, advertising clippings, recipe scraps, and an overdrawn bank notice. The joke targets both the theft itself and what it reveals: the victim owns nothing of actual value—only mass-produced consumer goods and promotional materials. The final line ("Ain't the trade it used to be!") suggests pickpocketing is no longer worthwhile because ordinary people possess only cheap, disposable items. The poem satirizes how modern shopping and advertising have reduced personal possessions to worthless trinkets, reflecting Period anxiety about consumer culture's spiritual hollowness. The page's other content (Pennsylvania Railroad advertisement) occupies the right side, presenting an ironic contrast: while "The Harvest" mocks material emptiness, the ad promises comfort and luxury travel.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ror “The Original Egyptian” The Harvest He picked the lady's pocket, And he scooped her portemonnaie, As she struggled toward the counter At the Bargain Matinée. Yes, he scooped the lady’s wallet— It was fat as it could be,— And he sat him down to divvy With his other pal and me. And this—oh, horrid lot !— Bulletin. Oh, this is it we go Several bits of colored silk; Powder for Madame faces THE PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL THE Pencil black for Madame's eye; IDEAL IN TRAVEL Recipe for pumpkin pie; Bit of verse on Coming Spring; Feather from a pigeon wing; The highest art in transportation is to make the service so perfectly com- fortable and convenient that it is just as pleasant to make the trip between New “Ice-cream freezer, muffin-rings, York and Chicago, for instance, as to spend the night in the city. Such service Shoes for Willie, hose for Jane, makes business a pleasure, as it no longer deprives the business man of the con- When I go to town again": Seven hairpins and some slips veniences of his club or of the comforts of his private apartments. Advertising “ Rough on Hips"; The best exemplification of this high ideal is found in the “ Pennsylvania Of a Butler Japonaise Special,” which makes the run between New York and Chicago in eighteen Very anxious for a place; Notice from a bank cashier— “y Ma’am, doth appear, . . . . +. ; Mid eae My eri. ppc: arrives in Chicago at 8.55 the next morning, or before business begins, and leav- Overdrawn a dollar eight”; ing Chicago at 2.45 P. M., it arrives in New York at 9.45 the next morning. Clipping from a magazine =, . . . . Telling of a new machine This means that there is no loss of time. The equipment of the Special—buffet Cutting housework square in two; One undated LOU. For one dollar underlined a at : o . Which the maker hadn't signed, partment observation car, with bath rooms, barber who presses clothing, copies of Relic of some little game the evening and morning papers, magazines, illustrated periodicals, the Bible, = — libraries, electric lights, telephone, and stenographer—means that there is no loss of comfort, convenience, or mental entertainment. An evening on the “ Penn- Travelers sylvania Special ” is like an evening in a first-class club or hotel; and there is the in added zest of swift, easy motion and constantly changing scene. Foreign Countries can provide themselves with current funds and letters of introduction to the princi- pal Bankers in all parts of the world through the use of our Travelers’ Letters of Credit Our letters also provide means for the prompt forwarding of mail, luggage and cables. Full particulars upon application. Redmond aco. 507 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. : — — 33 Pine Street, New York Held in Charity’s sweet name; One punched nickel made of lead! Cables “Mimosa.” New York Seat-check for a matinge Pocket-picking, seems to me, es Mimosa, New Yor! Held three weeks last Wed-nes-day ; Ain't the trade it used to be! And in cash—oh, thing of dread !— —Carlyle Smith, in Harper's Weekly. hours. Leaving New York at 3.55 P. M., practically after business hours, it parlor smoking car, drawing-room state-room sleeping cars, dining car, and com- The next time you travel between New York and Chicago take the “ Penn- sylvania Special” and see how closely it measures up to the test of perfect service. $27 comicbooks.com