Life, 1910-03-31 · page 39 of 46
Life — March 31, 1910 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising and letters page** from *Life* magazine (circa 1910), not a political cartoon. The content reflects early 20th-century American attitudes about propriety and modesty. The key substantive section is reader correspondence debating **prudishness in American culture**. Writers argue that Americans are excessively prudish compared to Europeans, and that frank discussion of bodily matters and art (including nude paintings) shouldn't cause embarrassment. One letter references **Anthony Comstock**, the famous censorship crusader, suggesting his anti-vice campaigns were counterproductive. The satire is subtle: *Life* is presenting these earnest arguments for sexual/moral openness as evidence that American attitudes were outdated and provincial—a common *Life* position. The rest consists of advertisements (Swiss hotel, cigarettes, water, cigars)—period pieces showing what was marketed to educated readers. No specific political figures are caricatured on this page.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fully prepaid Lire ] inclose ten cents in stamps. Please d me your famous “ Improper Num- ber.” I have heard that all the old ladies ca Beacon Street have canceled their subscriptions to the Transcript and sub- seribed for Lire, and I want to see why SWITZERLAND For Health and Pleasure. VISIT ST. MORITZ, Engadine, 6000 feet above Sea, With its World-Renowned Mineral Springs. The exhilarating Alpine air, combined the sunshine and blue sky of ST. MORITZ, pro- mote RENEWED HEALTH ard VIGOUR. GRAND HOTEL ST. MORITZ. bey changed. F. J. il. If The Hotel de Luxe of the Alps. figs A General Indorsement in 1905. Every modern improvement. 300 rooms. a New Yorx, March 10, 1910. Private Suites, with Bath and Dressing Rooms, Thorough from June ; a Pon Lite: quiet secured by double passages. Grand Society Room, to September epte Wil Jou ‘Lindijseda sinevtwovespien with most beautiful view on the Lake and Mountains. Most Bos- : , in a modern Sanitary and Ventilating arrangements. Vacuum Cleaner. Lifts to all Floors. ~only (5 batenle aden annne aOR mt aa eat DAILY CONCERTS BY THE MILAN ORCHESTRA. Y ter"; whatever you publish is all right. i C in Very truly yours, Tennis, Golf, Croquet, Boating on the Lake, Trout Fishing, Delightful Walks and Drives. vurbs. H. H. N. Hiustrated Tarigl from" Town and Country" Travet Burtam, 389 5 from the Hotel Stanager: or im Enasand) from COULD &PORTMANS, Leda Ge New Oxford Sitie, London phere, ofa s; it how Broader Than Some Others Laxevitte, Coxy., March 9, 1910. light, and to avoid in the bringing up which true modesty consists, and I am t. Dux Lire: of their children all prudishness, in one convinced our morals would improve ot of Permit me to congratulate you on the generation our country would be raised rather than otherwise. ue in fj) ‘Improper Number.” I hope it marked to a plane without regard for the sug- When we reach a stage where a leg is gland the inauguration of a campaign against gestive and with appreciation of that of no longer a leg but a limb, and the men- meets tte prudishness and false modesty so tion of a mare provokes ill-concealed < ine fg Mevalent in America at the present time, smiles, and a beautiful work of art beef, fy Teich will last until its narrow and causes blushes and more smiles, when a he antiquated retainers are suppressed. In Famous young’ gentleman js actually ‘ashamed to traveling abroad one cannot fail to be gorzhicugh /an‘jart gallery, or’ maseum ef of impressed with the open and frank man- Wall Street with a young lady, it is a pretty sure sign s are [Ml cer in which such matters are regarded that, something i ‘cadically’“wrong and will, by all Europeans, and the consequent that it is high time to rectify conditions, some [ tlicf from prudishness. It is certainly is tt not? tre that we on this side of the Atlantic, 5 Fee . : con most of us, are far too childish about Direct to Consumer aati nen eee d our ach things and need to be educated as 250 for $5.00 Very truly yours 2 nation to a much broader conception 500 for $10.00 i“ ween Hf of the distinction of right and wrong. 1000 for $20.00 A Constant Reaper. Vhite. If Anthony Comstock should direct his Me he eee ites on tween PP ecergies in this direction I think he ders for 20 or more. No extra abie’s f rould accomplish his end, i.., the sup- charms for monoeramn whe ordre Our Shock Absorbers tween, | memion of vice, much scone 'ty elim- Special Cigarettes for banquets or Meripex, Conn., March 12. Hall isating the little beginnings fostered by private use, with any insignia or Dean Live: have fg % false modesty taught us by our monogram desired, prepared on , a as scat ptents when we were yet young. If nkiee cates: Your page of bouquets for the “ Im- lire could educate the young men and A 2 Proper Number '’ was as good as I had leans’ semen of the present day to think more | We please thousands of critical anticipated. The number itself was as ture,” troadly and to regard such things in their proper rather than their improper smckers and wecan please you. thocking as the old fellows could ex- fect you to set before your younger o has R.MORGAN & CO., 80 Wall St., New York friends. Your allusions to the articles Nev- }ou rejected was as improper as any one © Te ~ vanted to imagine, and altogether the alee trip from cover to cover had the pleasant . but red. While Frock. ‘The World’s Best Table Water’’ excitement of bumpers ahead with the equally pleasant consciousness that you were equipped with perfect shock-ab- sorbers. Continue to come to ALN. B. FOR p MEN gf OF BRAINS IGARS -MADE AT KEY WEST— comicbooks.com