Life, 1910-01-06 · page 70 of 76
Life — January 6, 1910 — page 70: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page primarily features **advertisements and literary criticism**, not political satire. The main content is a **Savage Arms advertisement** using "home defense against burglars" as its sales hook—a common early-20th-century marketing angle. The copy emphasizes that homeowners lack the expertise and composure of criminals, so they need a reliable, accurate firearm. This reflects genuine period anxieties about urban crime. Below that, "The Literary Zoo" critiques American literary criticism's sensationalism. It argues that American critics overemphasize scandalous or attention-grabbing works—using poet William Watson as an example—while ignoring artistic merit. The piece contrasts this with English critics' more serious, appreciative approach. The satire targets American publishing's commercial instincts and readers' susceptibility to scandal. The remaining content includes period advertisements (Feltoid Casters, Old Overholt Rye, White Rock water, Princess Hotel) typical of Life's revenue model. The overall thrust: American cultural criticism prioritizes shock value over substance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PRES If He Should Come To-night—The Thief The thief comes prepared—prepared to take your valuables. Carries the necessary tools, Is expert in their use. Ore of his tools is the revolver. In plain words, he is prepared to take your life. His deadly intect and expertness make up for his revol- ver's awkwardness and slowness, @ You have neither expertness with a revolver nor not afford to sake ever; wrist -strai deadly intent, You can- hing upon a rigget-flinching, slow. as-molasses ame rete tha a to-day fo the sake of your family. jage Auto- matic. sits c only gun that points pai shoots Pe: true, fires [With factory additic pd afeslarbeighog aiden ported power SAVAGE RIFLES fresh magazine of ten shots in a 99 book “the Tender + Tur son, tells why you point the Savage instinctively true, Send your dealer's name fulel Postcard to Sevage Ams Co,” GBI Savage Avease Use Nog Yon mene THE NEW GAVAGE automatic model) repeater (303). Ask ers toshow our 22 cal. Repeater ly dhustrated catalog full of fille information free. Use a post: gun you can ee straight up. Ten shots, one to a trigger pull.” Reloa lash. Our Tum,” by Bat Master- ractice. It is the only any time you pick it The Literary Zoo (Continued from page 68) degree that the foremost Englishmen of letters overtop our own respectable writers. But Mr. Watson publishes certain sen- sational verses entitled “The Woman which in- vite regret rather than applause. And what happens? The average American literary critic seizes upon them, reprints With the Serpent's Tongue,’ Furniture Road-Maps on your hardwcod floors are-an-unneces- sary record of damage. This destructive trail across your floors and rugs is avoided by equipping your furniture with Feltoid Casters and Tips No matter what weight they support FELTOID CASTERS and TIPS never even scratch, Use them now. They last a lifetime. A few manufacturers, w! Sal Teetore ecth Febeie cases, cannetenyply you write «1, Sead nowtor thefree FELTOID Booklet. THE BURNS & DASSICK CO., Dept. F. Bridgeport, Comm, them in part, gives them a prominence in his review wholly disproportionate to their significance, ignoring, like as not, “the things that are more excellent.”” Nor is that all, Mr. Watson's Ameri- can publishers make the title of these verses a catch-line in their advertise- ment of the volume. We fancy that if Shakespeare had appeared for the first time amorg us he would he hailed as the author of Menus and Adonis rather than Macbeth, that Tennyson would be ex- ploited as the monitor of Lady Clara Vere de Vere, and Byron celebrated as the maker of certain epigrams. Henceforth, for very many readers, Mr. Watson is remembered not by his Vita Nuova, but as the author of an ill- considered satire. The English critics approach their task from a wholly different point of v In such of their criticisms of the Ne Poems as have come to hand the much- quoted specimen of invective is not even alluded to. Instead, we find such praise as this, for example, from the Spectator: “The first duty of a reviewer is to ex- PRINCESS HOTEL, BERMUD! THE IDEAL ice Qnty two days from New York by fast usurious steamesd ing twice week. Outdoor life all winter, Beautify drives, saddle riding, tennis, golf, yachting, sea bathing The well known PRINCESS HOTEL 20% ops | ccommodates 400. HOWE & TworoceR, Mogrs., Hamilton, Bermuda press his gratitude at the appearance of a new volume (of poems) by the one man who holds by the old stern tradi- tions."’ All of which leads us to conclude that while “a nose for news’? and the jour- nalistic instinct are admirable endow- ments in their sphere, we might learn a lesson or two in literary appreciation {rom our plodding, conservative cousins across the water. eo 8 8 Since the foregoing paragraphs were written William Watson, the man, in a deliberate revelation, has done more to obscure our view of William Watson, the poet, than his most devout enemy could have compassed with a barrel of printer's ink, The pity of it! Yet let us take heart. His Vita Nuova consciously celé- drated his emergence from the shadows (Continued on page 72) Established 1810 “Good” Old Overholt has many friends because— is a straight Penna. Rye whiskey of time tested quality— Aged in wood under Gov- ernment bond, it is mild— mellow—of exquisite flavor, Awhiskey for the discrim- Inating. Overholt Rye At clubs or good cafes. A. Overholt & Co. Distitle Pittsburg While Rock **The World’s Best Table Water’’ comicbooks.com