Life, 1911-04-20 · page 45 of 52
Life — April 20, 1911 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements** for automobiles and motorboats, with one notable editorial letter. The main content is a satirical letter titled "Are We Guilty?" responding to factory fires in New York and Newark that killed young working women. The author criticizes the hypocrisy of calling these victims "the most defenceless portion of our population" while: 1. Allowing their deaths through inadequate factory inspection 2. Funding the "expenses of murder" through "popular subscription" (implying complicity) 3. Passing meaningless protest resolutions 4. Leaving working women powerless to punish negligent politicians 5. Having wealthy women ("women of leisure") offer only ineffective sympathy The satire's point: society acknowledges workers' vulnerability yet does nothing structural to protect them—offering sentiment instead of reform. The advertisements ironically juxtapose this critique: luxury cars and motorboats emphasize comfort and safety for the wealthy while the letter condemns indifference to working women's preventable deaths.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NY PpTJt lm ——Ta. 7 SECURED OR A‘ ENT FEE RETURNED Seod serch for free search of Patent Office Records. Hew to! dhtai> 2 Pateat and What tolavent with lst of laveations wanted ad pelues of! for tnventions seat free, Patents advertised free. | 1 CIO J. EVANS & CO., Washington, D. C. } Are We Guilty ? Formers or Lire: Gextiuemen.—The city of York, emulating the notable example of Newark, has just caused to be bumned to death 137 young working gir May I call your attention to the fact that the incidental expenses of the murder are now being defrayed by “popular subscription ”? The resolutions of protest (they al- ways pass them, you know) allude to these girls as “the most defenceless portion of our population—the work- ing woman.” By this they mean that they were tortured to death because there was not enough money appro- RELIABILITY iy PERFECTION ULTIMATE ECONOMY "Youll always, be proud of your OLCO M4 Bho Cruiser. Sleeps Seven. 20 horte power ‘Seandard Gasoline Engine. Dengned for ocean crusing 'co Express.” Will serve you on the waver as the dott.on land.” Speed 24 miles guarameed, Write for New Catalogue Jiddress 6 175 Avenue A. {co BayonneNJ JENA AT Motoring is a luxury Therefore let it be luxurious UIT \ highest grade. $3200. The unusual comfort and luxuriousness of The Owen are merely the entire absence of strain. This is due to the large (42 inch) wheels, which pass over depressions as if the road were smootn; the easy, slow-acting springs which convert jolts into a gentle and altogether pleasing undulation; and the smooth, long-stroke (6 inch) engine, free from noise and vibration. With these important exceptions, The Owen does not differ greatly from other cars of the Send for catalogue R M Owen & Company Lansing Michigan General Sales Agents for Reo Motor Car Co I priated for adequate factory inspee- some such little political they have no tion—or negligence—and that power to defend themselves by pun- ishing those politicians who may thus jeopardize their souls and bodies, Also it means that the women of leis- ure, who stand ready to give time Prices, W esenses {o> Liberty and 234 St. Ferries, C.R.R.OF N. J Legrand=Paris "Soong Nat For Sale All Dealers, 800 and influerce to their protection, are rendered cqually ineffective. Is it not then specially appropriate (Continued on page 810) Gold edge. 386. Dealers every: . Bend for Catalog Of Bridge. Xccemories. Dept. L. RADCLIFFE & CO... 144 Peart 8. Now York comicbooks.com