Life, 1910-03-03 · page 55 of 80
Life — March 3, 1910 — page 55: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"It's Never Too Late To Laugh"** adapts an English proverb through a humorous poem about Hell's residents discovering laughter. A damned soul with a British accent laughs after recalling a joke heard ten years before death—the joke being that it took him a decade to understand it. The satire mocks British stuffiness and slow wit. **"Logical"** satirizes magazine editorial compromise. A Great American Editor pressures a contributor to ensure the story offends no advertisers, owners, or readers—essentially demanding the writer suppress his own voice. The contributor's absurd solution—signing the piece with subscribers', advertisers', owners', and the editor's names instead of his own—exposes how corporate interests erase authorship and editorial integrity. This critiques the commercialization of publishing and loss of independent journalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THAT DELICIOUS MOMENT WHEN you (October 25, “It's Never Too Late To Laugh” English Proverb. NCE on a time it so befell, Or so it is averred, That in the utmost depth of hell A merry laugh was heard Thereat for once the ghostly crew Forgot their teeth to gnash, And trembling asked cach other who In hell could be so rash? 1892. FIND YOU ARE 10 TAKE IN TO DINNER THE GIRL WHO YESTERDAY REFUSED YOU No. 439) Up rose the Prince with darkening brow And, pointing with his staff, ade one stand forth and tell him how In hell he came to laugh ‘Then from the silent, ghostly throng A voice was heard to break; It had a British accent strong And there was no mistake “Ob, come! I s upon my word “Thad to laugh,’’ he cried; “T've caught the point of a joke I heard Ten years before I died!" O. Herford. (December 11, 1890. No. 415.) Logical EDITOR: nothing in this story of yours that might conflict with the interest of our advertisers? REAT AMERICAN Are you sure there is Contrimutor: Absolutely nothing. . Nothing that could possible offend our readers?" No, sir.”’ "You know I'm working on a salary. Have you written it with due regard to the prejudices of the owners of the magazine? "* “LT have. Not only that, but I have endeavored to sup- press myself, and written something that might please you.”’ “Good. You wish to sign it, I presume."” “Certainly. Sign it with the names of your oldest sub- scribers, your best advertisers, the owners and yourself.’” No, 1136.) (August 4, 1904 comicbooks.com