Life, 1910-11-17 · page 41 of 44
Life — November 17, 1910 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life (circa 1910, based on context clues) satirizes the era's obsession with grand expeditions and philosophical quests. The main piece is a humorous letter proposing an expedition to find "the Ultimate"—an absurdist concept representing whatever people desperately seek (success, happiness, meaning). The satire targets: 1. **Expedition hubris**: The writer lists mundane supplies (ink, dog biscuit, copies of Life magazine) alongside serious exploration gear, mocking the pretension of modern "discovery" quests. 2. **Class commentary**: He explicitly excludes "Common People" who "have to work for a living," satirizing how grand intellectual pursuits were luxury pastimes for the wealthy. 3. **Circular logic**: The "Ultimate" is defined through tautological reasoning—it exists somewhere, therefore we must find where it is—poking fun at pseudo-philosophical thinking. The accompanying advertisements (Egyptian cigarettes, public speaking courses, cocktail recipes) reinforce the page's theme: selling solutions to modern anxieties while life's actual "ultimate" remains elusive.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
of the dam, iterra. ot and 2 Party y YORK “LIFE: Deities The Utmost in Cigarettes” They lend pleasure to 5 Newspaper reporters, with cam- eras. (1 for each of the above.) 2 Common Dogs. (No expedition ever started any- where without dogs.) Dog biscuit, pemmican, writing pa- per, 8 barrels ink, 1 crate (to put the Ultimate in), 1 copy Lire (in case quick death is preferred to. starva- tion), gum drops, ete., ete. 1 Me. I shall take no representative of the Common People. The Common People have to work for a_ living, and have no time to be chasing around after Ultimates. Besides, they wouldn't know what to do with it if they had it, anyway, Of course, any one member of the above expedition (excepting me) could find the Ultimate without aid—some of them already have it in sight—but I would prefer to have them all along. When we get an Ultimate, says J, From Our Readers (Continued from page 884) Of course, it is not necessary for me to ask you not to use my ideas as your own. I know you would not do such a thing. Besides, I am per- fectly willing to let you share in the glory—at so much per share. In fact, if you really pay the million in cash, and not in life subscriptions (no pun, honest!) you can have all the glory. You can also have the Ultimate, I live in a rented house and will have to room for it. My expedition will be composed of the following : 1 Socialist. 1 Christian Scientist. 1 Suffragette, 1 William Jennings Bryan. (There is only one, you know.)’ 1 Disciple of New Thought. (The newer the better.) **I can make YOU a confident, convincing Public Speaker!’’ at DINNERS and all SOCIAL GATHERINGS in POLITICS in BUSINESS ANYWHERE stmaster ariecs, looks over the expanse of tables, and eays, “We have with us to-night'—how woald you feel if he means you? ‘ville Kiciscr’s Personal Mail Coarse in Public Speaking takes only fifteen minutes of your time daily in your home orofiice. It makes men easy, forceful speakers ‘on all occasions—it develops mental power and person- ality, and increases your earning capacity, ‘The cost is tery reasonable, “T consider your Coarse as worth ita weight In gold. Thave spent eome time and money with vocal teachers, bat I rezard your lessons as the host helpful, the most economical, of any I have ever taken." —Are.ur J. Waiddon, Waterville, Wash. (Aug. 31, 1910.) Write today for futt particulars of Course FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY, Dejt.97 NEW YORE KREMENTZ & CO., 60 Chestnut Street, KREMENTZ GIFT BOX A set of four of the famous 14- K Rolled Plate Krementz Collar Buttons. (that will last for years without losing lustre.) A new one free for every one broken or damaged from any cause. One Dollar the set of four. tex'"® Ifnot found at your haberdash- er's or jeweler's, a set will be sent postpaid on receipt of NEWARK, N J. price. #3 385 Packed In an attractive ribbon-tled ‘When Good Fellows Get Together”’ Simply strain through cracked ice and serve. Martini (gin base) and Manhattan (whiskey fase) ore the most popular. At all syed dealers, G. F. HEUBLEIN BRt ford New Tork Leadon let's have one that will suit all around (I don’t mean the reporters and the dogs when I speak of members of the expedition. They're not members; they’re mere! I shall work 1. We know there is an Ultimate. 2. Being an Ultimate, it must be Somewhere. 3. Therefore, it is only necessary to find the Somewhere where the Ulti- mate is, to find the Ultimate. I am preparing to start at once. As soon as we get the Ultimate, 1 will send it to you. Please have the money ready, Very truly, . C. Buomever. Cuarteston, Missouri, October 24, 1910. P. S.—To hasten matters, you might send me a small check right now, and charge it against the million. E..C. B. An Awkward Age Tracer: How old are you, Bobby? Bosny: Aw, ma says I’m too young to cat the things I like, and too old to ery when I don’t get them.—Chicago News. In EMERGENCY Try Janos NATURAL APERIENT WATER. Avoid Substitutes comicbooks.com