Life, 1911-11-30 · page 32 of 40
Life — November 30, 1911 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This essay-cartoon criticizes the decline of propriety in modern (early 20th-century) American society. The author argues that "tact"—formerly a valued virtue—has become incompatible with contemporary life's blunt efficiency and speed. The satire uses three examples of traditionally tactful behavior now abandoned: men no longer politely avoid eye contact on crowded streetcars; bribes are accepted without moral pretense or the "conscience-wrestling" of earlier generations; and across all walks of life, people prioritize results over refinement. The accompanying Mrs. Back-Bay/Ellen dialogue humorously illustrates this shift: the servant's blunt "Ain't you goin' to be in?" lacks the diplomatic courtesy expected of household staff in upper-class society. The piece reflects broader anxiety about industrialization, commercialism ("loaded subways, stock margins, subsidies, automobiles and tariffs"), and perceived moral erosion accompanying American modernization—a common LIFE magazine theme satirizing new social rudeness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Thisis for the un- initiated, the pro- crastinators and smokers who are missing some- thing because of not knowing Philip Morris la Baglish Mixture ana Cut Plug If you smoke for the fun that making the “eagle scream”: that good tobacco costs so much. Pe $2.00 the pound, in 25e SOc and $1.00 tins we sell you tobacco perfection, If your dealer does not stock these to- baceos send us his name and address with 2Se for trial 2 oz. tin of either brand, PHILIP MORRIS & CO., Ltd. York The Passing of Tact Taet, once a bright star in the diadem of virtues, has sunk into disrepute and oblivion. It is incompatible with mo- dernity. Our blunt celerity and un- swervable momentum permit no refine- ment of method, no Chesterficldian frills. erly when a man wished to keep his seat in a crowded car, he tactfully held his newspaper before him or fixed his steadfast gaze upon an imaginary dog fight two blocks back. Now he just sits, upon his face the brazen, unapolo- getic spirit of the twenticth century. Formerly when a man wished to take a bribe, he tactfully went throug heartrending struggle. He took out his conscience, looked it over in a kindly fondled it, talked to it softly and y convinced it that a bribe was the best thing for it. In actually receiving the bribe he tactfully made it plain to the bribe-giver that he considered it not a bribe, but a leg al emolument for patriotic servi red. Nowa- days whatever conscience he may have left is packed in moth balls in an up- HAND COLORED PHOTOGRAVURE si. DREAMLAND = Only We will send this beautiful hand colored phot cgravure for Some inating. oF only 10 cents, and also a sampl, Ie copy of vistian Herald wi of : ony of FheCavistian itn a copy of our Gtr. Utehcock’s painting. “A Tulip Garden In Tolland ‘This book tetls you how to secure a8 premians pete, Beat book of the year, Samantha at Coney Il CHRISTIAN HERALD, 667 Bible House, Matchless Pocket Lighte A pertectivnter-, Qecupica no mere wana na poste than & en 10 every smoker. Dae, fsbertren, td wes ‘moot stairs closet and he proceeds on the doc- trine that the only thing wrong about a bribe is getting caught. And so in all walks of life. Tact can- not live on the same block with loaded , stock margins, subsidies, auto- and tariffs. Mrs, Back-Bay: I shall want you to be dressed by three o'clock, Ellen, to re- ceive any friends that may call. Eurex: Oh, lor, mum Ain’t you ‘ede pad goin’ to be in?—Boston Transcript. led, . . ais UTICA, N.Y. “RECREATION — :: F 24 West 3%hSt. BROOK TROUT BLACK BASS These Two Fish Pictures Free with RECREATION. Each picture is in natural colors and is 13 x 151/4 inches in size. Such pictures sell at art stores for $1.00. Read “Our Just to Get Acquainted Offer’ below. RECREATION is a big and beautifully printed outdoor magazine. Its text and illustrations are furnished by men who tell with-pen and camera about what they have seen and experienced. This means accurate and authoritative, as well as interesting, articles and pictures, RECREATION tells the man who hunts, canoes, camps, goes fishing, or engages in any recreation which takes him into the open, just how, when, and where he can get the most out of his favorite sport. RECREATION writers ate people who have something worth while to say—ele they could not write for RECREATION. Sometimes they have big names, but we buy the articles, not the names. RECREATION’S Editor is on a four-thousand mile trip, editing the magazine en route, camping, fishing, hunting, and talking to sportsmen everywhere. This is one of the ways RECREATION gets its actual knowledge and practical information for sports- men. The following extract from a letter received from a subscriber rounds out a descrip- tio. of RECREATION tersely: ** | want to compliment you on your superb illustrations, and especially on the excellent material used, and also on the all-'round recreationsatmosphere and absence from fadism.” OUR “JUST TO GET ACQUAINTED” OFFER RECREATION is $300 a year or 25 cents a number, To ntroduce it to! men who do not koe the maaasne we will sod it for one year for ONLY'S20N, and, ali send fee the two beau pictures; one of BROOK and one of BLACK BASS, reproduced in their natural colors fram Melste ede capecally for us by HA. DRISCOLE, firmus’ ass oak of efi These pe tures are worthy of framing for your den. Price of pictures above 60 cents. You can. buy December RECREATION at the news stand (or send us 25 cents if you prefer), and then ACCEPT our offer ot send us $2.00 as above on our usual guarantee of money back if not satisfied. Cive your order to yout home newsdealer if you prefer. NEW YORK CITY