Life, 1911-01-26 · page 33 of 44
Life — January 26, 1911 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a rhymed book review of Frank Danby's novel about Irish aristocracy and social obligation. The reviewer uses verse to summarize a melodramatic plot: an Irish nobleman dies, leaving his cousin Derry obligated to marry two women—virtuous Rosaleen (whom he loves) and mercenary Lady Carrie (whom he owes money to). Derry's mother, outraged that he'd live in the family house after marrying beneath his station, declares "Let the roof fall in!"—essentially wishing ruin upon him. The satire targets both the novel's overwrought sentimentality and Victorian upper-class pretensions. Reviewer Arthur Guiterman criticizes overly sentimental literature, noting he can't get worked up over books that just need "a little honest speaking." The title itself is ironic—the dramatic threat comes to nothing. The page also includes period advertisements (Howard Watch, Cascade Whisky, Houbigant Perfume), typical of Life magazine's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rhymed Reviews Let the Roof Fall In (By Frank Danby. D. Appleton and Company.) Perchance our author writes her tales To teach the uninstructed masses What deep depravity prevails Among the Horrid Upper Classes; For, while her lords are not so wild As some, whose halls are quite Au- gean, She leaves one almost reconciled To being Hopelessly Piebeian. When Irish Terence, Lord Ranmore, Was hurried over Charon’s ferry, the noble name he bore To gentle, honest Cousin Derry; But ere assed away he found Due time for secret conversations Which left devoted Derry bound To keep his cousin’s obligations: And one of these was Rosaleen, Whom Derry felt obliged to marry; The other one was cruel, mean And mercenary Lady Carrie. When Rosaleen and Derry wed In haste (betraying not the reason), With naughty Terence barely dead, Sure, Terry’s mother thought it treason, Says she, “Shall Derry dwell within These walls where Terence should be living? No, never! ‘Let the roof fall in!’” And planned his ruin, unforgiving. GRAIN ‘To caretally selected grain we use is the foundation of Cascade richness. The diuilling, purifeation ‘and i The Howard Watch he big “Limited” waits for no man. It moves out on the tick of the second. Set your time-piece by the starting signal or by the conductor’s watch— and you have HowarD time. The point is right there. You can start with HowarD time but the chances are that you can’t keep it unless you carry a HowarpD Watch. The Howarop is the greatest Rail- road Watch inthe world. Whether a Howarp is worth while for you de- pends not on your occupation but on the kind of man you are. If you are an ‘‘any time’? man, any watch will do; if you are an accurate man, you want a HowARD—with its splendid adjustment to five positions, tempera- ture and isochronism. That means authoritative time. The gain in self-respect is worth more than the investment. The price of each watch—from the 17-jewel (double roller) in a Boss or Crescent gold- filled case at $40 to the 23-jewel in a 14k solid gold case at $150—is fixed at the factory and a printed ticket attached. Not every Jeweler can set! you a HOWARD Watch, Find the HOWARD Jeweler Ja your town and talk to him, He ts & ood man to, know, an Drop us a postal ca and the first Ameri boy should read. ‘wiil send you "The Story of Edward Howard ring chapter of history that e E. HOWARD WATCH WORKS, Boston, Masa. While Derry stupidly delayed To tell his wife, who thought she'd lost him, Why Lady Carrie must be paid For Terry’s sake; a lot she cost him! So thus the tale pursues its bent Until a kindly legal grafter Reveals the truth, by accident, And all live happy ever after, 225 I never yet could break my heart O'er books with sorrow fairly reek- ing When all that’s needed from the start Is just a little honest speaking. Arthur Guiterman. Perfumes and Houbigant=Paris s=r=:"iiistes In Every Store Quality Only, comicbooks.com