Life, 1909-07-01 · page 4 of 44
Life — July 1, 1909 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising** for automobiles and automotive parts (National Motor Vehicle Co., Remy Magneto Service, Sterling Tires). The "Literary Zoo" section continues editorial content critiquing magazine writing and editors. The text discusses complaints about magazine quality, referencing former editors of *The Atlantic* and *The World's Work*. It appears to be a meta-commentary on journalism standards—debating whether magazines can rival books as serious literature. The cartoon showing a figure with an umbrella among clouds likely illustrates this abstract debate about editorial quality and magazine credibility, though its specific meaning is **unclear without fuller context** from the preceding page. The overall content reflects early 20th-century tensions between mass-market magazines and literary establishments.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Friction Reduced to the Lowest Point If friction could be elimin- ated altogether the motor car would last forever without repairs, would be noiseless and would require very little fuel. Practically all makers of cars reduce friction at some points by using ball-bearings, but only the National among moderate priced cars goes to the limit by using ball-bear- ings throughout—in the motor as well as elsewhere. The same care—regardless of expense—is used at every point of National construc- tion, in the effort to make it the best—as well as the best- looking—car in the world. National Motor Vehicle Co. 1021 E. 22d St. Indianapolis, Ind. The Literary Zoo (Continued from page 899) One story The is “a constant cross-fire of opinion may be read by from two to five readers. “personal equation’ i fortunate because frank liking is a very valuable element of opinion. An editorial force comes to be trained in wide sympathies, and this keeps ac- ceptances away from ruts. to call them “the result of experience in watching the effect of different articles. But no exact measurement of public taste is possible.’’ s The Century's editor: “We certainly entertain theories of the public’s likes or dislikes, and they are derived from near and far sources, from often very subtle indica- in very violent ones.” Constantly,” are the Question Three. With respect to criti “We hear complaints, and we from nt comes of cours notices of vari notices ; ters. “We think there is a gi the zine writing of to-day And_ final some indi into its own. word that cheers: “ That former editor of The thinks all magazines dull and badly a perfectionist," remarks Mr. Perry he forgets The World's Work, amusing and well-written."" answers to of the magazines: ear the opposite ints,” responds The Century's spokes- various from newspaper s kinds, editorial or under book- and largely from conversations and let- deal of vitality in * he continues. There are ions that the essay is coming again Atlantic who written is * Besides, which is both This will doubtless gratify Mr. Walter Page, eve vhen it is added that we were not quoting him, but another “former editor’? of The lontic. In Mr. Perry's opinion, endless supply of ‘really good ’ ma The mistake lies in thinking that magazines take the place of books. They cannot IN BOSTON SOMETHING ANOVE THE Cosson Ate there is an can They are Sterling Tires An Sterling Tire 18 built as an Individual Job. Each layer of fabric and rubber 1s Inspected before the next one goes on, Each tire fs Inspected from 8 to 12 times before ft goes Into | stock. Rach tire maker gets a premium for perfect work. tre fs guaranteed. Sterling Blue Tubes Each are absolutely superior to any other and we say that and back it without reservation. “Ask us thy they're blue.” RUTHERFORD RUBBER CO., Rutherford, New York : 1691 Broadway, (cor. 58rd) 4 J. The Remy Magneto Service Motorists everywhere are invited to make use of the Remy Magneto service. If you are not within reach of our offices in New York, Chi- cago or Detroit, write to our factory or to our nearest address for infor- mation or counsel on ignition. At our offices in the three cities named we have installed a corps of ignition experts. A personal visit with your motor car would be more satisfactory than writing. Fifty Thousand Remy Magnetos of the 1910 model have already been con- tracted for by two motor car companies. We make fittings for many old models as well as new. Your car can easily be equipped withaRemy. Address Dept. 19. Remy Electric Co. Anderson, Indiana NEW YORK CHICAGO DETROIT ‘Suite316, Automobile Bldg. 1400-1402 471 Woodward th & Broadway Michigan Av. Avenue admirably adapted for their specific and li purpose, and should be judged accordingly.” Mr. Henry M. Alden, the veteran editor of Horper’s, assures us that “ no individual personal interest, taste, or predilection has properly any- thing to do with editorial functions.”” . . * . . . . . The editor of a certain New York magazine of excellent reputation has been quoted as saying that he edited his publication to please himself. Can such a policy be carried out successfully? We submitted that report, with its accompany- ing question, to The Atlantic alone, and record the somewhat skeptical answer: “Theoretically, yes,—provided the editor of the magazine of ‘excellent reputation " were suffi- ciently many-sided to feel a personal interest in cach of the endlessly varied topics which a good i editor ought to offer to his readers. Practically, such enthusiastic omniscience is rare.’” W. T. Le comicbooks.com nu als st ae