Life, 1909-06-17 · page 25 of 32
Life — June 17, 1909 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and reader correspondence**, not political satire. The main content consists of: 1. **Letters to the Editor** debating naval hospital ship command—whether line officers or surgeons should lead them. The writer argues surgeons are more appropriate since hospital ships are non-combatant vessels requiring medical expertise, not naval warfare skills. 2. **A large illustration** showing a nurse with two children, advertising **Colorado tourism** via the Rock Island-Frisco railway lines. The image depicts wholesome frontier recreation ("fun without danger or discomfort"). 3. **Commercial advertisements** for Underberg Bitters and railroad travel services. The page reflects early 1900s concerns about naval administration and the growing American leisure travel industry. No clear political cartoon or satire is present—it's a standard magazine page mixing reader debate with travel promotions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| From Our Readers The Navy To tux Eoitor or Lire: ar, dear Lire:—It would be exceeding my fondest’ expectations were you to continue the wrangle relative to doctors in the navy by pub- lishing this fulmination against the very lay mind of P. H. B, as exhibited in your issue of last week. His argument, nevertheless, is proof enough of its worth in your pages, since it is quaintly humorous. Humor, however, is often contrary to truth. And to the very lay mind of your self-confessed lubber a few grains of fact sowed in a mind fancy might not be displeasing, for he evi- es a commendable desire for information. hich of the right sort he lacks. Jer the present conditions in the navy there nuch reason for a line officer commandi 1 hospital afloat as there would be for a profe sor of mathematics in charge of one ashore. The duties of a hospital ship are anything but naval, in the lay sense of the word. She is es- sentially a non-combatant, has no independent duiy requiring peculiar diplomatic talent,.but is designed for the treatment and care of the sick Have You a Friend Sailing for Europe? Send us his or her name, the ship and date of sailing, enclosing your card or a note and seventy-five cents. We will sce that the message is sent aboard the ship, to- gether with a copy of James Montgomery Flagg’s irresistibly funny “ All in the Same Boat.” This is a collection of pictures and verse which will make your friend popular on shipboard, because it’ deals with types familiar in every ship-load and will keep every one laughing. Send your remittance and enclosures to LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York City. She becomes a necessary component of a though in action or in maneuvers she avoids the line of battle, and to a good purpose. This very obviously. The obtundity of the lay mind is often start- ling. Now, why should a line officer, did he pos- sess either brains or abi , desire to command a hospital ship? Certainly for no laudable profes- sional reasons, In fact, a great many line of- ficers of the navy have openly expressed their vawillingness to command such a ship, since that y would be beneath the dignity of their call- ing as line officers, and quite unprofessional. Not that the command of a hospital ship is, per infra dig., but that a line officer's duties, in these days of monster armaments, would wean him from his legitimate work in the service The replacement by surgeons of line officers [The Best Bitter Liguet yderbers foe World's Best Bitters Makes every meal a treat,even tothe dyspeptic. Tones up the system. Sold Everywhere. Frontier fun without danger or discomfort. Novel adventures for the children, interesting experiences for you and the bracing tonic | mountain air for all, in COLORADO Luxurious hotels or home-like boarding places, golfing, mountain climbing, riding, driving or just loafing in a climate that brings exhilaration even to idleness. Take the Rock Island to the Rockies. The best way and the way of greatest comfort. Direct lines to both Denver and Colorado Springs, and only one night from Chicago. To take Che defaxa the thi asseny ocky fountain Limited vith stenographer, barber and valet and superb dining car service—and other fast trains on the Rock | Island-Frisco Lines, means that your vacation starts when the train starts. “Under the Turquoise Sky" and “Thro? Scenic Yellowstone Park to ihe Alsska.Yekon: Preiic Popes are beautifully illustrated and replete with inf ZH want to know, a about ‘Address JOHN SEBASTIAN, raffic Manager, © La Salle St. Station, Chicago, Il in command of naval hospitals ashore some years back is proof enough of the advisability of the move. The acknowledged usefulness and man- agement of the Relief (commanded by Surgeon Stokes, U. S. N.), on her trip with the battle- ship fleet, should be logic enough to convince a lay mind that an officer, to manage a hospital, must not necessarily be a diplomatist, but a doctor. To you, dear Lire, I offer my sincere apologies for the intrusion of these bald facts. Ever in sincerity, K. C. Beicn. Boston, Mass., May 23, 1909. The Voice of Authority To tue Eprtor or Lire: Sir:—I am glad to see the republication in Lire, for May 27, of the heart-waking illustra- tion of what happens with multitudinous duplica- tion every Fourth of July from the mixture of explosives and youthful inexperience. Black gunpowder, dynamite, nitroglycerine and fulmi- nate are altogether too dangerous for use as toys for children. Yours faithfully, Hupson Maxis. 1909. College Education Dear Lire: An article entitled “ College Education,”’ pre- sumably from the pen of one Ellis O. Jones, in the College Number of your estimable magazine, strikes me as being particularly offensive to the college man or woman. Surely the writer bases his opinions on the “rah-rah boy ’” of humorous literature, or is particularly soured on the college (Continued on page 862) comicbooks.com