Life, 1910-03-03 · page 61 of 80
Life — March 3, 1910 — page 61: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a **book review in verse** of "Margarita's Soul," critiquing both the novel and its author's perspective. **The Satire:** The reviewer mocks a female author for adopting a "mannish viewpoint"—writing about women in ways the (male) reviewer finds inappropriate. The plot synopsis shows a naive woman (Margarita) who becomes an opera singer, marries hastily, nearly drowns with her husband, loses her voice but "finds a soul," and retreats to an island. **The Social Critique:** The reviewer's complaint reveals period gender attitudes: he objects that the author "assumes to take a mannish view-point" and complains "when sweet women talk as men, / Like them, my temper breaks all shackles." He concludes sarcastically blessing protection "from a crowing hen"—mocking women stepping outside traditional feminine roles. **Context:** This reflects early 20th-century anxiety about women's changing social positions. The review itself inadvertently demonstrates the very male condescension it illustrates, making it likely satirical commentary on literary sexism rather than sincere criticism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rhymed Reviews | Al ice Margarita’s Soul (By “Ingraham Lovell.” John Lane | Company.) You've read, I hope, that book by j Locke | About Sir Marcus and his Morals | And wild Carlotta with her shock Of bronze-gold hair and lips like corals, Untaught, unfettered, void of shame As well as soul, the dear chiquita? Well, here she is again; her name Is merely changed to“ Margarita.” Of guile, our Margarita’s brain Held not enough to serve a flylet; Her father, palpably insane, Had reared her on a lonely islet, And when he died, in shabby gown She stole across an ocean fordway, And took the train to Gotham Town, “To get a friend or two on Broad- way.” -, strange to say, that afternoon found a friend in Roger Brad- ley, Who rushed her home again; and soon They married, maybe rather madly Blouses For Margarita (like “ Katrine") Teame the grandest opera singe ; Sweaters That ever trilled before a Queen, With Seidl for ier baton-swinger! / f PAK { Embroidery Silks She went het way, andl Roger his jj and Woolens A. heartless, businesslike arrange- ment The end whereof in practice is, ‘The novels tells us, cold estrange ment 510 Fifth Ave. 381 Fifth Ave. A brighter tale is ours to tell: Sees So . New York They took a tramp in wintry weather Across the sea-borne ice, and fell Among the chilly waves together. HARTSHORN She lost her voice, but found a soul, But rescue came; from out the hole SHADE ROLLERS And lived and loved upon her island. Brave helpers hauled them safe to dry la . % # Iry land, To me, this book is all askew Because (to raise perhaps a new point), 'Tis written by a lady, who F YOU want a beautiful and Assumes to take | mannish view- modern country home sur- Point; rounded by a lovely park, d | . il f B t And when sweet women talk as men, an only six miles rom Os' on, Like them, my temper breaks all it will pay you to investigate shackles. . God bless us from a crowing hen this property. : And—yes—a chanticleer that cackles! H. A. BARKER Arthur Guiterman. “ GwypyrR" 311 W. 43nd Street NEW YORK CITY comicbooks.com