Life, 1909-09-23 · page 7 of 28
Life — September 23, 1909 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains a satirical short story titled "A Sure Thing" rather than a political cartoon. The narrative follows Bronson and his friends wagering on whether Bronson can kiss a girl within twenty-four hours, with the story set at a bathhouse ("piazza" and "top windows of that bathhouse yonder"). The satire appears to mock masculine bravado and casual betting among young men about romantic conquests. The accompanying illustrations show an interior scene of leisure and idle conversation. The second section, "Compelled to It," shifts to social commentary about efforts to promote "the simple life," with a character questioning modern conveniences like tariffs. The satirical tone suggests *Life* is critiquing both youthful swagger and contemporary back-to-nature movements, though specific historical context remains unclear from this page alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BACK TO NATURE DURING A BRIEF ABSENCE OF MOTHER AND THE GIRLS A Sure Thing her,’ said Bronson, "| COULD kiss “inside of twenty-four hours.”” They were sitting on the beach—four of them, Bronson had just come from ity. The others had been there for a couple of weeks. The girl in question was sitting some distat away, under an umbrella, quietly and demurely reading. The other fellows looked at Bronson. cach with an incredulous smile “ That's all right,” said Tilter. “So I ; but it isn’t so easy. We have ull tried it on,” . “and up to the moment we have failed. For ike out whether she present Bronson gave another look in the di rection of the young woman in question “Perhaps you were in too much of a he said, reflectively. “If you think,” said Quibb, with a satirical grin, “that you can give us any points on that proposition, you are labor- ing under a totally v seaside resorts for the past cight years for nothing.” “ Neverthele: bet I can kiss that gir! within twenty- four hours. There's a spot on the back piazza,” he continued, “and you can sec it from one of the top windows of that bathhouse yonder. Now, you boys can see me do the trick. How would half past five this afternoon do? “T'll bet you a hundred you can’t do it!” broke in Hubton. “Will you fel lows take a third each?" he asked, tt ing to his companions. “Sure!” replied Quibb. “L'm in!" replied Tilter “It's a go!’ said Bronson. oe replied Bronson, “1 They friendly rock. all met again at six, behind a The trio that had bet 403 with Bronson were all pretty well crestfallen., “You did it,’ said Tilter, disconsolately “You're right. Boys, pony up.”” “That's y said Quibb, as he counted out his share. “I don't know of any better way of making a hundred,” said Hubton, as he handed it over. Bronson smiled “You mean fifty,’ replied. ty!" exclaimed the three of them in chorus. “You hundred, didn't you? wizard, all easy made a Bronson smiled again. “Fifty of it” he ex- plained, “goes to the girl.” Compelled to It NOTICE. that are not so many ef- to induce us simple lif nowadays,” observes the man with the peeled nose. “You do, do you?" scoffs the man with the unmanageable ears. “How there forts made to live the about the new tar | Fly: just ro THINK BE THE THIRD ONE TO DISCOVER THE NoRTH pote! a THAT 1 SHOULD comicbooks.com