Life, 1911-06-01 · page 35 of 52
Life — June 1, 1911 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a book review with automobile advertising, typical of early 20th-century magazines. **Left side:** A "Rhymed Review" of the novel *Marie-Claire* by Marguerite Audoux, translated by John N. Raphael. The reviewer (Arthur Guiterman) summarizes the plot in verse—a French orphan girl's difficult life—while gently mocking both the book's simplicity and readers who dismiss it as "too unsophisticated." The satire suggests literary snobbery: some will scoff at its straightforward style, while others may find it useful precisely because it doesn't demand intellectual effort ("doesn't solve one single Question"). **Right side:** A full-page advertisement for the Matheson automobile's "Silent Six" model, emphasizing mechanical quietness as proof of quality engineering and economy. The accompanying illustration shows an elegant car with well-dressed passengers. The juxtaposition is incidental—both reflect 1920s consumer culture: one mocking middlebrow taste in literature, the other selling luxury automobiles to the same audience.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rhymed Reviews Marie: Claire (By Marguerite Audoux, George H. Doran Company) The French you read? Mais non? Ah, well, You need not miss my quaint nar- ration, For Monsieur John N. Raphael Has made a pretty fair translation. My mother died. My father grew More fond of wine than prayer and preaching. He went av They sent me to An Orphanage for care and teach- ing. But five years old was I that day, ant, sweet and tender. * Maric-Aimée” Became my friend and chief de- fender. Alas! she had a love affair— My prattle es no room to doubt it, Though I, your artless Marie-Claire, Know not one single thing about it! They placed me, next, upon a farm. I lived in comfort, loved and cher- ished, Protecting woolly lambs from harm, Until my kindly master perished. Then young Henri, I know not how, Grew fond of me—unlucky mortal! VOODOOBOHO© HHCGOOSESGTGSIGVOSS HOTDOSV’ & 2 oF Egyptian _ 747 Deities To any pleasant moment they add the completing touch wor eu we Cork Tips or Plain His mother made a horrid row. Again 1 sought the Convent portal. Clear eyes of souls devout and Built for those whio Use the Best “Silence is Golden’”’~in an Automobile The conditions that produce silence in a motor car are those which make for economy in upkeep cost. Silence is the sign board of minimized wear. Silence is proof of economy in fuel and oil consumption. Silence in the operation of running parts is most vital to the life of any car. The silence of the Matheson “Silent Six” is produced by the elimination of the causes of wear. Its long record in private use us demonstrated that it is not only silent when new, but stays silent, The Matheson “ Big Four," which has been a consistent winner of first honors for five years past, is recommended to those preferring a luxurious, powerful, seven-passenger car of four-cylinder chain driven type. Prices —-Silent Sixes, $3,500 to $4,000; Big Fours, $4,000 Our catalogue and ‘The Secret of Silence’ mailed on request. Applications of established dealers considered for open territory. MATHESON AUTOMOBILE CO,, Wilkes-Barré, Penna. NEW YORK CITY BRANCH, COR. BROADWAY AND 624d STREET DISTRIBUTORS Chicago, Bird-Sykes Co., 2210 Michigan Ave. San Francisco, Matheson Sales Co., ton, Roy A. Faye Co., 823 Boylston St. Van Ness Ave. and Jackson St. Buffalo, Matheson Sales'Co., 726 Main St. Phila., Johason Motor Car Co., 326 N. Broad St. But others will demur, “ Not so. lowly My sole relation called; but she Abandoned me, that sordid peasant. 1 took the train for gay Paree— And that, I think, is all at present. Now some who scan my simple prose Will scoff, “ The book is overrated. ‘This baby style is all a pose. She's too, too unsophisticated.” 10R3. May look on weakness, passion, woe And sin, yet mirror naught unholy.” Perhaps it’s what some people need For literary indigestion, Because it isn’t hard to read And doesn’t solve one single Ques- tion, Arthur Guiterman.