Life, 1910-03-24 · page 33 of 44
Life — March 24, 1910 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Left side:** A serialized short story titled "Right Up There" depicting a confrontation between a wealthy, demanding hotel guest (Selzig) and the hotel proprietor (Merlin). Selzig, characterized as an "offensive American millionaire" and "gambler by trade," attempts to leverage his wealth to secure special treatment—premium accommodations, dining placement, and service. Merlin refuses, delivering a moral rebuke about courtesy and virtue in "decent homes," ultimately ejecting Selzig for his arrogance. **Right side:** Advertising for Warner Auto-Meter speedometers and other automotive products (Badger Brass headlights). The ads emphasize precision and quality as markers of social distinction among "the discriminating." **The satire:** The story mocks nouveau-riche American millionaires who believe money alone entitles them to deference and special privileges. Merlin's principled refusal suggests that character and decency transcend wealth—a implicit critique of unchecked capitalist excess common to early-20th-century Life magazine satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TOURS TO EUROPE Leave In April, May, June, July and August. All parts of Europe, including Oberammergau. OTTER TOURS, (ist yean, 32 Broadway, New York. Right Up There (Continued from page 523) sp places. There's only one location, and that’s up there—on the hill.”” “You're dead right. That's the only place. Superb."" Merlin made a gesture indicating the direction. “Right up there,” he said.“ Only hill higher than this one.” “That’s it. Right up there. That's ny site. “That's owned by the president of the First National Bank here. I guess you can get it if you want it.” “Well, I guess I can. I've never yet ‘ seen a piece of property that I couldn’t tay, ch? But now look here! "" a @ rs r) ud ] y “Yes, sir."’ “You'll treat me all right from now on, will you? It’s understood between . . i? I want to be put right down on the Among your friends—outside the best clubs— second floor. I want to be placed at the everywhere. right table in the dining room. Want ny car right near door of garage so we You'll find the majority equipped with the can pike out without an instant’s de- ne as hy. Want my meals specially cooked, Warner Auto-Meter. That’s because the Warner . Auto-Meter is the standard of accuracy, reliability, Sommers in a Farman Biplane—in the alr 2 hrs, 27 min. 19 sec. want—' qa “Wait a minute! Merlin stopped him with a curt gesture. dependability—the aristocrat of speed indicators “You won't get it,’ he said. “And . not only that, but you'll get out of this The Warner Auto-Meter doesn’t guess— inn to-morrow morning. I don't want , ‘ we Woh bere, you! underatanid ‘cic?! “There doesn’t approximate. It tells the exact speed, isn't money enough in the State to let whether that be one mile an hour or sixty. you stay.’" “What do you mean?" roared Selzig, It’s the eventual speed indicator for all acta, almost collapsing with rage. Sots: adic: : ai Sjuheal Ley: Won arestieowardl motorists; the only speed indicator for the dis- type of an offensive American million- criminating. aire. You are a gambler by trade, and think because you have money you have 2 perfect right to cause as much discom- | Warner Instrument Company, 803 Wheeler Ave., Beloit, Wis. fort to others as you can. You are sel- 4 i % fsh to the last degree, and because in large cities you can buy by liberal tips the kind of slavery that goes with that sort of thing you think that you can come up here to this quiet place and an- toy my guests. Now, sir, I am one that believes that the same sort of courtesy Branches: Atta emagcesaih asp : ae Aaa t ranches: Atlanta, 116 Edgewood 4 oston. 025 Boylston St.; Buffalo, 720 Main St.: Chicago, 2420 and homely virtue which is to be found igan Ave.; Cincinnati, 407 Main St, Cleveland, 2062 Euclid A ‘518 Broadway; Detroit, 70 W in all decent homes should also be a ward Ave.s Indianapolis, 330-331, N. Iiinows St.z Los Angeles 7a St. New York, 1902' Broadwa part of the life of a hotel. T run my Philadelphia, 302 N. Broad St Pittsburg, $940 Kirkwood $ 1 'Son Francisco. 36558 Vas Nes ‘Ave.; Seattle; Hace according to this idea, and my le When next you're at a country house guests come here year after year with take a look at the automobile the host that understanding. 1 have an obligation reserves for his own use. Note the of courtesy to them and I don’t propose headlights, especially. to permit them to be annoyed by a man like you. You leave to-morrow—if I No matter what the make of the car, have to put you out."” it’s ten to one the headlights are SOLAR- It would be impossible to describe Sel- CLIPSE, the two-ray light projector. | zig’s anger. A combination of wounded egotism and pride, to say nothing of sur- prise, did, however, so stun him that he was silent for a moment. But he was by no means a dull man, He was used to Badger Brass Mfg. Co., S272. ti control—used to getting things done. (Continued on page 530) You'll always find the aristocrat of motor lamps on aristocratic cars. (66) comicbooks.com