Life, 1911-02-23 · page 38 of 44
Life — February 23, 1911 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **advertisements and a satirical essay**, not a political cartoon. The main text, "An Englishman in America," is a critical commentary on Broadway and American culture by a visiting Englishman. He observes that New York is dominated by foreigners, and Broadway—though architecturally American—represents a chaotic mixture of foreign influences. His key point: Broadway is not aesthetically valuable but rather a "big wart" or "carbuncle" on America that needs removal, questioning how long Americans can tolerate such urban excess. The satire is cultural rather than political: it mocks American urbanization, commercialism, and cosmopolitanism through a foreigner's perspective. The author compares Broadway unfavorably to European cultural centers like Paris's Palais Royal. **Advertisements** for Knox Hats and Black & White Scotch Whisky occupy significant space, typical of *Life* magazine's format during this era (1911).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Knox Hats Command Respect. They receive everywhere the homage due to supremacy in quality. 1911 SPRING SHAPES NOW SHOWN 452 Fitth Ave. (Knox Bldg.) KNOX, HATTER ise pare citare ies NEW YORK An Englishman in America On my last visit to America I consid- ered New York a city of foreigners, ruled by American citizens living under American laws. Now I find the foreign clement still more accentuated. Yet typical Americans come here from every State in the Union to see the sights They live for a few brief days or weeks in the cosmopolitan swim, and although many find the current against them, yet all find amusement and distraction, all manage to “shoot the shutes,” without much trouble and without great expense. New York is to the provincial American what Paris is to the man from’ Marseilles. But if the man in the moon were to take it into his head to visit the glimpses of other carth in search of what Ameri- cans used to call “razzle-dazzle,” he would turn his aeroplane toward the lights of Broadway some time about mid- night. o 8 6 Broadway is astounding. It is Amer- ican only in the form and height of its buildings and the fact that it is on American soil. In everything else it is a mixture of foreign people, foreign tastes and foreign emotions. It is what the old Palais Royal was to Paris, and I do not know of any strect or boulevard in Europe with which to compare it. Broadway is unique. But it is not so in any xsthetic sense. It is not like a ique pearl or an antique cameo. I liken it to a big wart on the rapacious wi IDEAL WINTER TRIPS TO THE TROPICS The most inviting cruises this season are those to the resorts of The A: jediterranean,” that wonderful interless region bathed by the Southern Atlantic, the Guif of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, including Porto Rico, San Dor oe Ga Write for AGWI NEWS, eautifally illustrated free magazine, describing the cruises of the following steamship line: YDE LINE TO FLORIDA, Daily except Sunday, calling at Charles- ton, Brunswick and Jacksonville, with connections for all leading Southern resorts. From Pier 36, North River, New York, MALLORY LIN To Texas and all-points Southwest and Pacific coast. Ex- hilarsting water route trip to Galveston, Key West, and M-bie, From Fier 4s, North River, New York. PORTO RICO LIN Delightful 16-day cruise to and around the Island. $110, covering all expenses, touching at principal ports. Send for booklet. General Offices, 12 Broadway, New York. WARD LINE! Luxurious twin screw steamships to Bahamas (Nassau), Havana, Cuba, Mexico and Yucatan, with rail connections to all important interior cities. General Offices, Pier 14, East River, New York. DISTRICT PASSENGER ORrcE st 290 Broadway, New York. 701 Chestnet St, Philadelphia, 192 Washington St. Boston. 203 So. Clark St. Chicago. 1306 Pt.. N. ae nose of a Yankee Shylock, or a carbuncle on the neck of a lain lionaire. I have an impression that wart needs toning down, that the cas. buncle needs lancing. One wosden how long the inflammati without killing the paticnt. Bat song people can endure a lot of impouie | | |. Black & Whit Scotch Whisky True merit in quality and flavor is a whisky’s best recommendation. It is this which makes BLACk & WHITE Scotch Whisky the standard of excellence SS things and go a long ws before é7 ping dead. America is deaths. Heart disease a: the place of the aristocrati enduring gout of the Engl America the quick death is the corre thing, especially with the rich merchs# and the fast financier, The rich Amet can has but little time for culture # (Conciuded on page 418) comicbooks.com