Life, 1911-01-19 · page 19 of 44
Life — January 19, 1911 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct satirical pieces: **"Privacy for This Person"** attacks Dr. Frederick Cook, an Arctic explorer who claimed to reach the North Pole but was exposed as a fraud—discrediting Commander Peary's legitimate achievement. Life argues newspapers shouldn't publicize Cook's fabrications and suggests he open a cigar store instead, comparing him to Baron Munchausen (a fictional liar). **"Passing of the Wife"** sarcastically mourns the traditional housewife becoming "extinct" due to the suffragette movement and women's rights activism. It's tongue-in-cheek social commentary on changing gender roles. **"Eighty-First Not Thirty-First"** jokes about Senator Root's new apartment on Fifth Avenue and Thirty-First Street, claiming New York City changes so rapidly that if you look away briefly, the address has already changed—satirizing Manhattan's explosive urban development. The two book-jacket cartoons at bottom appear to mock political figures (Ballinger and Pinchot were conservation-era politicians) through exaggerated caricature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- Privacy for This Person E respectfully deprecate another orgy of publicity for Dr. Cook. His natural destiny is to open a barroom a cigar-store and get what profit there is in bei a notori- 1s person. No sound reason offers why newspapers or maga- zines should gi space to his concerns. He not only dis- graced himself but his country also, and cheated its citizens, Commander Peary most of all, Any publication which offers his new fabrications to the attention of its readers, es, liberty with them which they may very well resent as an front to self-respect. Readers have rights, and one of them is the right to a healthy disgust. It is a right that should be more respected than it is. When a prize-fighter’s fifth wife gets her divorce, and a prominent actor's fourth or fifth wife sues for hers (all previous wives in both cases having done the ne), it makes a bit of news that ought not to be dignified with front- ge headlines. After a man has been divorced two or three times his domestic history ceases to be of any consequence, and it is an impertinence to press it on public attention. So as to Dr. Cook, It is an impertinence to offer any more of his tales to the public. Let him buy a cigar-store—say at Coney Island—and set up as Munchausen, the only tobacconist to whom the Board of Aldermen have ever granted the free- dom of the city. Passing of the Wife E have known for some time that the Wife would have to go. We have held off as long as possible the in- cvitable moment, but it might just as well be over with at once. The Wife was a very desirable article while she lasted She mended the hose and did the housework when necessary and sat up patiently and waited for hubby's return. A useful person certainly—one to love, to honor and obey Now the suffragette age is upon us and the Wife is rapidly becoming extinct. In a few more years she will be exhibited in museums. Adieu, madam! We respect your memory ! Eighty-First Not Thirty-First HE Boston Transcript learns that Senator Root is going to live in a stunning new apartment house “ now being erected on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty- “THE SPOILERS” BY RICHARD BALLINGER. ARTI aa ge “MAMMA, IS THAT THK MAN WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO *rounn?” first Street,” New York, and rejoices that “the building of this very expensive building is an indication of the turn of the tide in the extension of residences to the north.” It thinks it would add to the convenience of living in New York if the tide should turn. Yes, it would. Meanwhile, our good friend ought to come ‘over here and spend half a day and see the town and reob- serve the corners of Thirty-first Street and Fifth Avenue, and find a place for the tide to turn to when it turns. Just now, if you take your eye off of New York a half a minute, when you look again it isn’t there, but there’s a new city in its place. Their Makers “THE FOREST LOVERS” BY GIFFORD PINCHOT. comicbooks.com