Life, 1910-06-23 · page 16 of 40
Life — June 23, 1910 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 20th-century American publishing and politics through three distinct pieces: **Top cartoon:** "Today/Tomorrow" contrasts a lion's head (representing a living publisher or literary figure) with a coffin, darkly joking about celebrity's fleeting nature. **"At Last!" story:** Mocks publishers' sudden interest in "ethnic" literature. A young author pitches a novel featuring Hebrew characters (heroine, hero, drummer, actress, word-boss, crook). The indifferent publisher becomes eager only when hearing the Jewish content—satirizing how publishers chase marketable trends rather than literary merit. **"Pike's Peak" cartoon:** A nervous man at a door, likely referencing either a tall woman or someone facing an awkward social situation. **"Arkansas" item:** Jokes that Arkansas is so economically depressed one can get drunk, married, and suited for five dollars total. **"Mr. Hearst and the Mayor":** References William Randolph Hearst's conflict with New York's Mayor over a supposed warrant, suggesting Hearst "beat" the Mayor in this dispute. The page exemplifies *Life*'s satirical approach to publishing, economics, and local politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a six-foot girl may not attract all men, but she is seldom overlooked. “pine’s PEAK” THE LION OF THE HOUR At Last! HE head of a great New York pub- lishing house sat in his office chair languidly smoking a huge black per- Suddenly a young author, the nouldering in his ey a sheaf of manu- e of genius rushed in flourishin script Sir!" he shouted, “1 have the Great erican Novel!" All right,”’ the publisher said indif- ferently. “Leave it here and I will have it read as soon as possible. But you don't understand,’ the au protested. “In it | have introduced a Hebrew heroine, a Hebrew hero, a He- brew wedding, two Hebrew drummers, a Hebrew actress, a Hebrew Hebrew ward-boss and a Hebrew crook.”" “What! gasped the publisher, leap: ing to his feet and reaching for a bi: contract. “Will you sell the book out- or do you prefer a royalty basis?"’ Arkansas HILE the high cost of living con tinues to engage the attention of our economists, Arkansas says nothing Arkansas is the only State in the Union in which it is possible to get drunk, mar- ried and a suit of clothes, all for five dollars, pugilist. Library Lore OOD books need no gush Every dog-eared tome had his day. A book in the hand is worth two in the card catalogue Circumstances alter bookcases. The longest Congressional Record hath his end A best seller gathers no dust. You may lead a reader to a book, but you cannot make him think It is an ill book that hath no index The gencalogist is the thief of time Many rare books are not well done A five-foot shelf to the wise is sufi cient. & Mr. Hearst and the Mayor N the facts about the Co jan war rant for forty-eight thousand dol lars Mr. Hearst seems to have beaten the Mayor. As to the ) the warrant go through, only son will offer a decision It makes for confidence in the Mayor's iefs in the matter that he made so bold a retort to the attack of the Hearst papers. He would hardly have made so positive a statement about the facts of the case unless he had fully Lelieved them to be as he said ayor’s motives in letting a seventh intentions and be comicbooks.com