Life, 1911-03-16 · page 27 of 44
Life — March 16, 1911 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor: **"Epitaph"**: A darkly comedic poem mocking obsessive rule-followers. John Jones, who rigidly adheres to a rule-book for daily life, dies when he loses that book—suggesting that over-systematization and inability to adapt leads to death. **"Next Week's Cover"**: Describes an upcoming illustrated cover depicting a young woman at a church entrance torn between religious devotion (symbolized by violets and a cross) and worldly temptation (a flirting cavalier). The image shows this internal conflict visually. **"Up-to-Date Chivalry"** (left illustration): A man helping a woman by catching her spilled items, captioned to suggest outdated courtly behavior. **"Another Last Straw"**: A domestic humor piece where a meek husband's breaking point comes when his wife "hobbles" (hems/alters) his nightshirts—highlighting changing gender dynamics and female domestic authority. The ads at bottom mock ineffective patent medicines ("tooth powder").
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
543 Epitaph ERE lies John Jones, who lived by rule. Who led the systematic school ; He had a set, unchanging way For going through each night and day; Of all his rules he made a list So that no detail should be missed And every morn he'd rise and look At that day's rules within his book. Alas!’ We carve this, tearful-eyed : He lost his rule-book once—and died! Next Week's Cover of Life T scene is laid in the entrance to a church, looking out upon the world. A young girl is about to enter, with a prayerbook in one hand. She is dressed quite simply, and the bunch of violets on her bosom and the cross that falls below her waist suggest the two elements of vanity and religion. Just beyond, facing her, as she half turns outward, is his Serene He is dressed in full red, and is bow ing to her in cavalier fashion, as she, in turn, kisses her hand to him. Beyond, through the dome-shaped facade, is the great World—represented by the crowd in the street. The picture, in colors, is painted by Mr. Powers O'Malley. Under it is the text, “THE BOY SHE LEFT BEHIND WER.” Another Last Straw ‘LT OGGONE it!” mutters the meek man. How now!” we exclaim, horrified “What micans this unseemly near-pro- fanity “Why, dadblast it!” he sputters. “My wife has had all of my nightshirts hobbled !” Spread UP-TO-DATE CHIVALRY, “OM, THESE PAKERS! A DOZEN BOTTLES OF THEIR TOOTH POWDER HAVE 1 SWAL- LOWED, AND NOT YET A TOOTH IN SIGHT! ’’