Life, 1910-06-02 · page 45 of 56
Life — June 2, 1910 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a political campaign centered on personal attacks rather than substantive issues. The story follows candidate Pitkin, whose opponent launches a vicious campaign featuring a red-flannel nightrobe poster mocking his appearance. The satire's point: the attack backfires. Initial sympathy for Pitkin grows as voters recognize the ugliness of personal abuse in politics. However, Pitkin himself then undermines this moral high ground by attacking his opponent's physical appearance ("bow-legged"), reversing the sympathy back to her. The concluding editorial (continued on page 1034) emphasizes the "danger of personal abuse" in campaigns—suggesting Life's critique of mud-slinging politics generally. The Knabe piano advertisement on the right appears incidental to the actual satirical content, typical of magazine layout from this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ho Minutes from Bway THE MONTCLAIR “ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP" MONTCLAIR, N. J. Red Flannel vs. Bow Legs (Continucd from page 1032) Jewance so long now that one of her de- lusions is that other people owe her A close examination of her eyebrows i reveal a fatal secrete 4 Rel OME. Canadian Convents are today iwc en, mi A using Knabe Pianos made over: sixty She spends fifty dollars for her hats SAy7ie re and permits her children to starve Laos Ca) years ago. 2 “Can it be possible that the voters of this district are so blind to their best interests as to consider such a candidaic for a moment? The "Music Trades" recently printed an interesting intecyiew with tard Let us: rally ‘round: our sa- a prominent piano dealer of Montreal, Canada.» cred duty “Vote her down! Among other things, this gentleman said : “PS. She is also bow-legged.”” Pitkin; with this: pronuneiementoiin Ble “The Knabe piano is probably as well known in Canada as is any hand, rushed out again, on his way to i bs 5 , ; the printer's. instrument there * * * * It is found in many Convents, in His temper was not improved by the Quebec especially. For instance, one of the nuns of the congregation sight of a large poster in flaming red of Notre Dame, Sister L’Assompcion, has a Knabe piano that has representing himself in a red-flannel & nae Now this is i and i nightrobe. In fact, the campaign was + been in use for sixly-sev en years: Now this 1s in use today, ane us called the red-flannel issue. owners prefer it to a new piano. In another convent there is a 'AlmostJn: front of the printer’s:he:ran Knabe piano that is sixty-five years old,” etc., etc. into his campaign manager. That gen- tleman grasped him cordially by the arm. . “We're going to win!"’ he exclaimed Truly, what a longevity has the excitedly.“ Sympathy is now beginning WORLD’S BEST PIANO to run your way. The other side has This Canadian gentleman only voices the experiences of Knabe dealers the world over. Aside from its great artistic merit—aside from its being the personal preference of many of the great musical masters during the past three generations—The Knabe piano has an intrinsic value in its physical self that carries it through long years of usefulness, thus making it an economical and desirable piano to buy. Wm. KNABE & Co. 437 Sth Ave., New York BALTIMORE LONDON ~\ e ical overreached itself. That red poster has in a campaign which, from this unhappy there done it. It's been a boomerang. Every- result, bids fair to start a new era in Lody is sorry for you.” politics—one of gentleness and courtesy. “ “Can't stop!” shouted Pitkin, “Glad On account of the personal abuse re- When Good Fellows Get to hear what you say. Don’t you worry ceived by Mr. Pitkin sympathy was run- oveth I'll get there. This will settle it!" and ning strong in his favor and he would gether he disappeared into the printer's waving undoubtedly have been elected, but at . ‘ his new weapon in his hand, : the last moment he issued an authorita- Simply strain through 4 tive statement calling attention to the cracked ice and serve. Two weeks later, on the morning after fact that the candidate on the other side election, the Daily Star had the follow- was bow-legged. Inasmuch as it was not a Gis Pei) ged Mackaiten {ottite ing editorial: her fault, sympathy began to run her “The Pitkin-Pitkin campaign illus- : trates anew the danger of personal abuse (Continued on page 1034) 1033 comicbooks.com