Life, 1910-02-24 · page 13 of 36
Life — February 24, 1910 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page celebrates notable birthdays of prominent figures (Daniel Appleton, Geraldine Farrar, William Frederick Cody, Thomas W. Lawson, Elihu Vedder, and Ellen Terry). The bottom section titled "Precis" contains a humorous anecdote about a school teacher, Miss Zackly, discussing why unmarried women remain single—a joke playing on Victorian-era attitudes about marriage and spinster teachers. The accompanying cartoon depicts what appears to be a domestic scene with a woman peering through a keyhole while another figure reacts with surprise. The caption reads: "Both: What a Nerve! I do believe that creature is looking through my keyhole"—satirizing voyeurism, privacy violations, and the absurdity of mutual accusations. This reflects early 20th-century humor about domestic espionage and social propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE: 321 Popular Birthdays DANIEL APPLETON Born February 24, 1852 Among our most distinguished publishers the Appletons have long borne an honorable and distinguished name. Their contributions to the history of science, in the volumes they were first to give to the American public, would alore entitle them to a grateful re- membrance. To this scion of a worthy house we give grecting and congratulations upon the at- tainment of another birthday. GERALDINE FARRAR Born February 26, 1882 Massachusetts, Berlin, Lilli. Lehman, “ Madama Butterfly,” “* Mignon "’—these are i facts in your career. They indicate, do not explain. Your voice is the thing, but there is more than this: the variety of your expressions, your beauty—each has ite own explanation, ow have a great future of you, when you grow up to it. We con- gratulate you with ali our You have sung and acted us inte @ profound admira- tion for your gifts. Permit us to offer you our tribute. WILLIAM FREDERICK CODY Born February 26, 1846 It would be impossible to convey, in a short paragraph, our mingled feelings of romance, chivalry and awful bloodshed contemplating your ,ucturesque person- ality. What a pity that $0 much absurd and congruous civilization should have stepped in to spoil forever the picture of the past that you have drawn for us so well! If we could mount our wonderful horse every morning and, with a fiendish yell, scout the prairie, have bullets whistling around our rs as we snatch a asty lunch, spend the afternoon in rescuing some dusky maiden, and stab or shoot a few fellow crea- tures here and there in the interval, we should feel that life was worth living. Dear old Buffalo Bill, we fire a fusil- lade in your honor. May your memory never fade in the heart of boyhood. THOMAS W. LAWSON Born February 26, 1857 To us there has alw larity between Ham. let and Thomas Law son. When we have wearied ourselves in endeavoring to find a correct interpretation of the character of the former we have turned to the latter as a recreation. Both have the same motive expressed in the lines “The time is out of joint, O cursed spite That ever.I was born to set it right.”” Mr. Lawson, we are glad that we do not understand you. It is of no conse- quence to believe that you are sincere. Much more important is it to know that you are always interesting. Your writ- ings have stirred us mightily. You have set many a ball rolling. This is more vital than the destination of the ball. Secretly we have always loved you, been a simi- Both: wat a Nerve! in spite of your obvious perfections. You have courage and inconsistency. This is enough. May you stay with us as long as you illogically can. ELIHU VEDDER Born February 26, 1836 America is too young in tradition to have contributed more than a small group to the world’s great artists. Mr, Vedder, however, must be reckoned one of these. ‘His face reveals the man and his work the artist. Surely creations such as he has given us have no time or place. Sir, in spite of your necessary residence we count you one of our most di guished citizens. Untainted by commer- . you have chosen your path well. Your work is enduring. We congratulate you upon your birthday. ELLEN TERRY Bom February 27, 1848 Yours is the supremacy of a beautiful face, accompanied by remarkable graces. To have had such a distinguished coadjutor for the most of your carcer, and to have been able to divide with him'the honors, is surely fame enough. The pleasure you have aroused is a permanent possession, We de- light to honor you. Precis SN ISS ZACKLY,” says the inquisitive lady to the school teacher, “I have often wondered why you never got married. How does it happen that——" “It doesn’t happen,” interrupts the teacher, tartly, “ be- cause it never happened to happen. I couldn't happen not to be married, could 1? If anything happens it has to be a hap- pening, and if a happening docs not happen, then it neither may happen to happen nor happen not to happen. I trust this explains matters to you, Mrs. Quizzle, and now I under- stand why it is that your children happen to be so backward with their studies." 1 DO BELIEVE THAT CREATURE IS LOOKING THROUGH MY KEYHOLE, comicbooks.com