Life — March 9, 1911 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LAE IB « Life’s Family Album Mrs. Kate Masterson OR a long time we hesitated. It is something, you know, to inter- view a woman with a genuine sense of humor. But, of course, it just had to be done But how would such an awfully clever person as Mrs, Masterson receive us? Then, crowding all doubts into my nether consciousness, I plunged up the shaft of her apartment and in a mo- ment—— It was a great relief, we can assure you, to find her such a delightful per- son. We have known ladies with senses of humor, but she is not one of these. In an instant we were furiously discussing a cup of tea and launched into the very depths of a literary and Bohemian conversation. Her knowl- edge of it all was amazing. But then, she has been everywhere and seen everything. “Why, you were even a war corre- spondent, were you not?” we asked, ingenuously trying to make it appear as if this were not an interview, but merely a personal pleasure. “Yes, I was correspondent of the New York American during the Cuban insurrection.” “And you have written books?” “Oh. yes—The Dobleys and The Thirteenth Apostle. I have also writ- ten a three-act comedy, and am at work on a book of my journalistic experiences to be called ‘ The Grind.’” “And didn’t you once take a prize?” “Two of them. One was in the Sun contest, for the best poem answering *The Man with the Hoe,’ and the other was one presented by Munsey’s for the best topical poem. Get down, pussy, and don’t bother the young man.” Mrs. Masterson is a great lover of cats. And so are we. So we con- tinued to hold her favorite—albeit such a big armful—and said: “Can't you tell us something about yourself? Something that our readers——” Dear me! I was born in New- burgh, N. Y., educated at convent schools, and did my first work for Lire, Puck and Judge while at school in Brooklyn. I wrote for the New York Mirror for ten years, running there a matinée girl department. Then I have been a contributor to practically all of the magazines for years. I have even had appendicitis.” * “But your sense of humor?” “How can one be a journalist all ene’s life without having one? Why, ro woman could survive.” “And your delightful style? “Hard work did that, I guess.” “ Pussy,” we whispered, “you have chosen a y wise and interesting per- son for a companion.” Pussy opened and shut his eyes thoughtfully. Then he purred gently, and we knew by that purr that he fully approved of our observation. Encouragement for Persons Not Robust OT all kinds of races are to the husky, nor is it essential in every competition to smash the line. Some things come by the mere day-by-day ap- plication of intelligence. The late John LaFarge, head of his profession and dean of the American painters, said two years ago that he had been an off-and- on’ ill man for more than forty years, since a time (1867) when he was para- lyzed by lead poisoning. “ Notwithstand- ing,” he said, “I have done, I think, as much as any artist since that illness. Indeed, to point a moral, I think such a condition is an enormous incentive to struggle.” Pretty Dry, After All The city of Worcester, with less than one- fifth of its normal water supply in the res- r, is facing a water famine.—December tem. ORCESTER must be thankful that a year ago, after one dry year, she voted wet. At least, she will have beer. A FUTURE AMERICAN AND HIS ANCESTORS comicbooks.com