Life, 1909-09-02 · page 14 of 48
Life — September 2, 1909 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines poetry, charitable fundraising, and satirical advice. The main photograph shows children lined up at "Life's Farm," depicting a Fresh Air Fund program—a real initiative that sent poor urban children to the countryside during hot summers to escape disease-ridden city tenements. The poem "Everyone's Out of Town" critiques wealthy Americans' indifference: while the affluent flee summer heat, poor children and mothers suffer Disease and pestilence in crowded urban areas. It's an indictment of class inequality during the Progressive Era. The "Fresh Air Fund" section lists donations and includes touching postcards from children grateful for the country respite—highlighting the program's humanitarian value. The final "Warning" section offers satirical marriage advice: a widow warns her daughter against marrying a reformed man, arguing his previous marital perfection proves he'll chafe under restrictions in a second marriage. It's gentle domestic satire about male nature and marital expectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Everyone's Out of Town BY JAMES J. MONTAGUE OME hundreds of thousands of chil- dren still Are breathing the reeking air, And white-faced mothers and babies grill In each doorway and crowded square While grim Disease, through the long, hot night, Walks, sinister, up and down; His field is wide and his harvest white, Though everyone's out of town. From The Cosmopolitan for September Our Fresh Air Fund Previously acknowledged. (Mr) George Moore Smith 10.00 Margaret, Kemp.......0.0++ 10.00 irs. J. M. Andrews. 1.00 Cash : 10.00 3. K. Fullogar.: 1iNseee $.00 FR B....... 19.00 Elizabeth, Scottie, May and John Gilbert’ Heights, Devereux, Mass. “In memory of one who was faith: ful in every relation of life” $5,963.81 AT LIFE’S FARM YORMING IN LINE FOR DIN! $10.00 $.00 13.00 P.and E. W. P witchell “Lake "” Sunday Frank C. Well : 1.00 TER orcesecenene ge sence 186,089.74 FOSTALS PROM LIFE'S PARE Dear Mother T got hear saftly an maggie came. with us and Charlie to. We are having a nice time. We can get all the apples we want. please send me some postals this is the only on got. the address is on the bottom of this card. good by From Adeline. Dear Mama I am enjoying myself and I like it and please wright to me soon and send me some money. Your loving daughter. dear mamma I have got hear safe I have a good time hear we play games hear we go picking apples and fots of other froot and we go swiming . Tell minnie I is coming home zsday. Kisses to Dear Mother Iam enjoying myself fine with the ten cents I was very glad to hear from everybody. My slippers are all gone. ACKNOWLEDGED WITH THANKS. Two boxes of oranges from the National Orange Co., Riverside, Cal. Bundles of, clothing from Mrs. Fred E. Lewis, Mrs. E.'S. Beach, Miss Richard, Mrs. G. RO Read, Mrs. CM. Ingersoll and Mrs. G. P. Ingersoll. Warning N°. Alice,’’ counsels the fond mama. “You should not marry Mr. Left- If you do you will regret it.’” Because he is a wid- over. “Why, mama? ower? “Not exactly a good husband.” “Why, mama! Everybody knows that while his wife was alive he was a shin- ing model for all the other husbands in town. He never drank, smoked, or swore; he never stayed out late at night he never danced with any one but her— he was simply perfect.” “T know, my child. And I want to tell you that a man who has been held down that way during his first marriage will know how to dodge such rules the second time. But he will*not make comicbooks.com