Life, 1909-12-16 · page 27 of 32
Life — December 16, 1909 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements** interspersed with a literary commentary titled "The Literary Zoo." The main content is a satirical piece mocking an exchange editor at a New York newspaper who lazily discovers publishable short stories by skipping to the final paragraph. The joke: if the last line reads "Her head sank gradually on his shoulder," he knows it's sentimental enough for his readers and claims it without payment. The editor then encounters a story ending "face mirrored in her happy eyes"—a similar emotional climax—and ironically becomes moved by it himself, experiencing the very sentimentality he cynically exploits professionally. The piece critiques both editorial dishonesty and the predictability of mass-market romance fiction of the era. The byline credits W.T. Larned. Advertisements include luxury cruise lines, Pond's Extract aftershave (claiming to prevent irritation), and Winslow's ice skates. These ads are typical early-20th-century product placement in the magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Cruises de Luxe | to the | WEST INDIE “S) By New 66 \ 7 99. ° R.MLS.P. A ON Tons| TWO CRUISES | EASTER CRUISE (31 days each) (8 days) $150 up $85 up FROM NEW YORK FROM NEW YORK JAN. 1S and FEB. 19 MARCH 25 Also Yachting Tours by New Twin-Screw “BERBICE” through the West lndies Complete Illustrated Booklets on Request j The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. | SANDERSON @ SON, General Agents, 22 State Street, The Literary Zoo (Continued from poge 888) ourselves awaking in the night and murmuring : “2,300,000 people! Why?” Why, indeed? The purple twilight deepens as we ponder. We sip the eau sucré, and—suddenly across the dark- ness between the pale stars flames a meteor—an uncharted voyager through infinite seas of space. It leaves a trail of fire—— But pardon us; unwitting- ly we plagiarize. . 2 ¢ As we were about to say, it is a very pretty book, in lavender covers, with design and lettering in. silver and old rose; and as we turn the pages we are glad that our fingers have been freshly manicured. . .. Two million, five hundred thousand people. Why? There flits across our vision the figure of a crusty exchange editor employed on a New York evening newspaper. PART OF THE SHAVE One of his duties was to discover in IS WHEN YOU COME TO the litter of, papers’ and periodicals a daily short story which he might ap- j propriate—with credit, of course, yet without cost. Knowing as he did his clientele, and waving his own personal preferences and tastes, he approached Relieves Irritation his task of selection with a formula in mind. To read each tale that fell be- Prevents Inflammation neath his shears was not essential. In- Assures Comfort variably he turned to the last para- graph, and if it read in substance: Used by men of discrimination every- “Her head sank gradually on his . : shoulder,” he knew that his search had where. Sold only in sealed been rewarded. Thus did he lighten bottles—never in bulk. his toil, spare his soul much needless affliction, yet perfectly discharge his | Write for interesting booklet on shaving-—mailed free on request. functions as an editor. The rest, with POND'S EXTRACT CO., New York, N. Y. a clear conscience, he left to the com positor and proofreader. “e Even now we can see that exc best skatersiand = . editor turning—as a woman is the best aks 7 turn—to the last paragraph of Old { everywhere will Rose and Silver. He reads, and we hear his grunt of content: Superior in material, in finish and 5 : a none but durabili ‘Over 52 years as the s “For a tense instant he hesitated. Winslow’s. aoe ‘standard has cl{nched this Then, with a little cry of joy, he clasped All Models, AI] Slars, Ai] Dealers. her close forever, having seen his own ee Tiny ss Canter pen apie face mirrored in her happy eyes.” Two million, five hundred thousand = people? Why NOT? Nov 6s Avenve de'ls Grande Armee, Parte Rosine Sree, W. T. Larned. 4-86 Chambers comicbooks.com