Life, 1909-09-16 · page 11 of 32
Life — September 16, 1909 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The illustrated cartoon at top depicts a giant mechanical mosquito-like device hovering over a landscape, labeled "AS NEW JERSEY SEES IT." Two figures below react with apparent alarm or concern. This appears to be satirizing New Jersey's perspective on some contemporary threat or problem—likely disease-carrying insects or a public health concern. The mechanical/technological rendering suggests either industrial pollution affecting insects, or possibly anxieties about new technology or weaponry. The text below includes personal letters addressing topics like borrowed money, servants, and social etiquette. One section titled "Her Point of View" references Shakespeare and discusses luxury goods becoming necessities. Without additional context about the specific date and contemporary events, the precise target of satire remains unclear, though it likely comments on New Jersey-specific concerns or attitudes of its era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
If you have quite finished with the lit- tle 4o hp. Panhard that you borrowed from us, will you be so good as to re- turn it at your entire convenience? My housekeeper was mortified to dis- cover that your servant had polished your black boots on the bath towels. She is greatly afraid that he achieved, but very unsatisfactory results with then She meant to caution him to use th fece towels, as their added smoothness invariably gives the boots a higher and more lasting polish, 1 hear that you were a good deal dis- turbed, during your visit here, by poor Madison's snoring. (Oh, how I hate even to mention this inclegant failing of his!) I have had so many complaints on this score from previous visitors that I have been forced to order a portable house which I shall place on the kitchen lawn. Hereafter I shall see to it that Madison sleeps in it whenever we are entertaining a fashionable house-party. I see, by looking at our “win and lose"? Book, on the smoking-room table, AS NEW JERSEY SEES IT that you only won fifty-six dollars fro Madison at bridge and piquet. It seems hardly worth your while to come down here for so insignificant a sum. How- ever, as Madison is a notoriously bad card’ player, you are pretty certain to have better luck with him next time. You may be interested to know that the boy you ran over on our avenue when you lost control of the 40 hp.—is a trifle better to-day. He has regained consciousness and the doctors seem to think that he may live. He is the son of our under-gardener. I have never known him to forget himself, and so far presume, as to walk on the avenue be- fore. Pray, forgive him! I trust that the little contretemps did not greatly de- Jay your arrival at your club. Once more thanking you for the chivalrous spirit that prompted you to visit us and respectfully soliciting a. re- currence of the same, I am, my dear Mr. Lenox, Your ‘obliged and grateful, Toxa’ Park. P. S. Someone has left a va Is it yours? He is tall and thin ently English and unquestionably’ i cated. He answers to the name of Snellgrove. Shall I consign him to you at your rooms—when he comes out of his’ delirium—or shall I keep him on until you float down here again? Please let me know your wishes in the matter Her Point of View “DON'T you like that quotation from Shakespeare : e friends thou t and their adoption tried, grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel '?"” he asked, soulfully. “T think hoops of gold would be bet- ter,”” said the summer girl, shyly. T® E theory of the tariff is to tax ne- cessi because we need the money, and luxuries because they are luxuries. comicbooks.com