Life, 1910-04-07 · page 60 of 76
Life — April 7, 1910 — page 60: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Anglo-American literary and cultural relations, likely from the early 20th century. "The Literary Zoo" column mocks the English (personified as "Mr. Shorter," likely editor of a British publication) for their condescending curiosity about Americans. The satire attacks English insularity and superiority. The text redefines "England" as a geographic sphere bounded by "the unspeakable Scot," the German Emperor, a "perfidious aviator," and "American invasion"—mocking British self-importance and anxiety about American cultural influence. The piece sarcastically thanks the English for their curiosity about American literature, while pointing out that American culture remains undervalued ("many university degrees west of Greenwich"). It concludes with backhanded praise, offering to slaughter a Chicago hog for Mr. Shorter—mixing hospitality with thinly veiled mockery of English pretension and American resentment of British cultural dominance. The advertisements for Knox hats and Hunter whiskey frame the content as consumer-targeted satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Literary Zoo (Continued from page 643) disqualify our definition? Is “ sphere” merely a local habitation and a name? Must we make over our dictionaries somewhat in the manner of Dr. John- son—thus?: England: A sphere bounded on the north by the unspeak- able Scot, on the east by the German * Emperor, on the south by the per- fidious aviator, on the west by the American invasion. WIRELESS We are not among those who chide Mr. Shorter. It may be myopia or merely that sea-mist which the Eng- lish vision does not easily pierce. Enough. that he is “curious” about us. It is only Kipling’s incurious Eng- lishman of whom we need despair. Curiosity leads to acquaintance—to traffics and discoveries. Curiosity of the higher sort impelled Columbus hither. Since then more than one Briton has explored us. We no longer hold it against the Mother Country that she took our tobacco but taxed our tea. We know that our literature is still many university degrees west of Greenwich, and that we of Manhattan are ourselves a bit insular. It is hands across the sea from Co- lumbia, gem of the Harlem, to Mr. Shorter. May his shadow never shrink, though he suffers a sea-chan; voyage from Wuthering to W ton Heights. Here he may meet the complete Milton, done in Braille for the blind. Let us trust that Mr. Shorter will accept. We shall kill for him the $11— perchance the $12—hog, reared in Chi- cago, which he knows, if we read aright our Dial, May it continue to record his rays, May it reflect, how- ever dimly, that sun which never sets (Continued on page 645) UNEQUALED IN PURITY ST ANAHANSS™ BALTIMORE UNSURPASSED IN FLAVOR Gretclaas cafes and by fobdern, HAN & SON, Baltimore, Sa sea rion | comicbooks.com