Life, 1909-07-01 · page 13 of 44
Life — July 1, 1909 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"A Real Argument"** (top left): This editorial attacks politicians' inaction on women's suffrage. The text argues that if politicians truly opposed women's voting rights, they should openly debate it rather than use parliamentary delay tactics. The piece criticizes the political establishment for avoiding the issue. **"A Powder Puff"** (top right): An illustration mocking a military display, with the caption suggesting the demonstration is ineffectual—"it's no use, boys. he'll never be able to get it high enough for a flag pole by the fourth of july." This appears to satirize failed military preparedness or inadequate weaponry. **"A Summer Show"** and **"At the Infirmary"**: These are separate humorous pieces with no direct political content visible on this page.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Real Argument OX of the chief difficulties in dis- cussing the woman's suffrage ques. tion is the paucity of arguments pro and con, Although there is plenty of talk there are few arguments in its favor and practically none against it. That there should be none against it is nat- ural, for those in power never need argu- ments for keeping others out of power. It is in the contemplation of this fact that we find the best argument for woman’s suffrage. The politicians are in power in this country. If they wanted to, they could give us woman's suffrage in a twinkling. But they do not want to. It would the political machine and a political machine disturbed is a junk heap. Woman's suffrage, therefore, would be beneficial. Let them take notice. Let them attack the politicians. They are welcome to anything they get in that quarter. If they get anything worth having, it is more than the rest of us can do. As for us who are trying to live virtuous, upright lives in peace and quietude, we desire to be let alone in our in- nocuity. We could not vote for woman's suffrage if we wished, because the politicians do not put it in the platforms. 5 “i7’s NO USE, BOYS. ME‘LL NEVER BE ABLE To GET IT HIGH ENOUGH FOR A FLAG POLE BY THE POURTH OF JULY.” A Summer Show YT WAS perched somewhere ‘twixt Heaven and Manhattan down below; Its one and only claim to elevation A glittering oasis whither Gothamites might go When bored (most of them are) to desperation. The drinks they served were cooling, and the costumes, too, were coolish ; “ Decolleté"* at either end, you know: Some one remarked that they were “ warm," but this, of course was foolish— It was a summer show. The book was by Levinsky, and the score by Rosenblooms, Those well-known adepts in plagiarization; But they were far outshone by the designer of costumes, For truly he possessed imagination. The jokes were of the flavor that the Tenderloin find funny, ‘Most anything to “get a laugh," you know. Don’t say it had no purpose, for it had: to get the money— It was a summer show The audience was gathered from four quarters of the earth, A few New Yorkers scattered here and thither, Of noise there was a chaos, but of melody a dearth; The plot was of the sort age cannot wither. I've seen the worst the Britons send, devoid of rhyme or reason, But this reached puerile depths far, far below. And now I know what source produced that term, “ the silly season "'— It was a summer show. —Arthur D. Pratt. At the Infirmary LL, for Heaven's sake! What's that assemblage over there?" “Those are the deaf mutes celebrating the Fourth with noiseless powder.” ze) F course, doctor,”’ said the grateful young father, “the child means everything to me, and if you insisted on awn the clothes on my back y a salary of $20 a $500, I'd pay, even if I had to But you must: consider that I € onl week.”* “Oh, that will be all right,”’ said the doctor, and sent in his bill for $500. comicbooks.com