Life — May 18, 1911 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

Two Letters Dear Sir: As an old reader and lover of Lire I think [ have a right to protest against the stupid mischievousness of the “ Breadwinner’s Number.” Lire is too intelligent to stand for such rot, I hope it is only a tempo- rary aberration. Very truly, S. D. McConnete, Easton, Mp,, April 27, 1911. Dear Epitor: I wish to express my tl onks for your “ Reflections of a Factory Child.” Also for “Mr. Bluff, the Clothing Manufacturer,” “ April Fool,” and, in fact, the whole “ Breadwinner’s Num- ber.” May the good work continue. Yours for Socialism, Cnas. R. Kuennarret, Denver, Coto., April 25, 1911. Neo-Bryan To tHe Epitor or Lire, Sir: There are so many things in the “ Breadwinner’s Number” of Lire that are strong, that are brave and that ring true that I hesitate to criticise it at all, but in your reference to Mr. Bryan you fall so easily into the common error of viewing him as an insatiable office secker that I cannot refrain from protesting against the false light in which you place him. To Mr. Bryan more than any other man in public life to-day is due the credit for the insurgency that is so rampant in both political parties. Mr. Bryan has for the past fifteen years made a magnificent fight against spe- cial privilege, and while we may at times disagree with him as to the par- ticular remedy he proposes for the An Omission \, Epitor oF Lire, evils he attacks, no one, I think, can question his sincerity or his unselfish- ness of purpose. He opposed Mr. Martin as leader of the Senate minority just as he opposed the nomination of Judge Parker for the Presidency, and in order to defeat the personal ambition of a man like Hearst, he was willing to lead a for- lorn hope in the last Presidential con- test, and so keep his party true to its principles, rather than win an election by a compromise with those who would traduce it. I am a single taxer who believes that Mr. Bryan has the limitations, in some respects, of a country lawyer, and yet I consider that he fitly and ably represents the protest against preda- tory wealth that must sooner or later come to an issue if this Republic is to endure. It is, therefore, a matter of much regret to me to find that so able and so fair a molder of public opinion as yourself should question the propriety of Mr. Bryan offering advice in the councils of his party. Very sincerely yours, Louris B, Parso: New York, April 28, rorr. A Voice from the Grave Lire Puntisuinc Company, Dear Sirs: As a great admirer and sub- scriber of your periodical, and also as I am greatly interested in the differ- ent numbers you have issued, would be very pleased to know as to why you do not get out an “ Undertakers’ Num- ber.” You know our name may sound dead, but that does not imply that we are “dead.” Yours truly, F. W. Patterson. Attanta, Ga, April 12, 1911. One of the prettiest tributes paid to canine intelligence and faithfulness that I know is the inscription which Lord Byron wrote for the grave of his dog, “ Boatswain.” As I think it should he immortal, and as it did not appear in “What the Immortals Say About the Dog,” in your Dog Number of Lire, I am taking the liberty of quoting it herewith: “Near this spot Are deposited the remains of One who possessed beauty without vanity, Strength without insolence, Courage without ferocity, And all the virtues of man without his vices. h » Which would be unmean- ing flattery if inscribed over hu- man ashes, is but a just tribute to the Memory of Boatswain, a Dog, Who was born in Newfoundiand, May, 1803, and who died at Newstead Abbey, November 18, 1808.” This inscription, doubtless, comes too late to print, but I thought that its sincerity and just tribute might ap- peal to you, who are doing so much for canine protection. Yours sincerely, L. B. Bau. Bock Istanp, R. 1, April 25, 1911. “LIFE” AS IT SEEMS TO SOME OF US comicbooks.com