Life, 1911-12-07 · page 95 of 112
Life — December 7, 1911 — page 95: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Main Narrative (Left/Center):** A serialized short story exploring class consciousness and spiritual malaise. A wealthy protagonist converses with a woman—likely a working-class acquaintance—who expresses longing to escape her social circle and become a washerwoman for genuine, physical labor. The exchange satirizes the shallow dissatisfaction of the upper classes, who experience ennui despite privilege, while the working poor desire their comforts. The dialogue suggests both classes feel spiritually depleted in "this American vortex." **Advertisement (Right):** Tobey Furniture Company promotes a hand-made mahogany reading stand ($25), emphasizing superior craftsmanship over factory production—an ironic counterpoint to the story's critique of materialist emptiness. **Small Comics (Bottom):** Two brief gag cartoons about dogs rolling cigarettes and kennels advertising Christmas puppies—typical period filler content. The page reflects 1920s-30s anxieties about modernity, labor, and whether wealth brings fulfillment—common Life magazine satirical themes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“you're aNoTHeR!" No,” I said, with a laugh, “I'm just rich.” “That's the difference between us. I'm forced to be both. It seems to be necessary.” She sighed. I's an awful life,” she continued. “I don't know why I say this to you, but I'd give anything to be a washer- woman—I'd like to plow the earth for a living Took vat ‘them! | Osling seach Solid St. Jago Mahogany Reading Stand, as illustrated orbery Sachaneing ine ttest common: —in Wood, Workmanship and Finish a Representative places! I loathe the whole crowd.” é ‘ “T step in here occasionally, or at Example of TOBEY HAND-MADE FURNITURE—$25 similar places,” I replied, “just to get a stimulus. It’s like a glimpse into Hell, you know, and of course you saw I was 1] © Few persons, Compare ely appreciate the wide differ- that sorte tats! hy sou! ‘have (coe | ence in the qualities of mahogany in the market today; Filed Inemes: T' knew else you were the or realize the superiority of the finest hand-workmanship same, I could tell by the look in your ] aa eye. It's strange, isn't it, how people ‘ over the best factory grades; or know the possibilities reveal tbeeeelves toueaeh orher in finishing fine woods in such a way as to bring out the “Thank you,” she said—as I fancied, : : : A almost humbly, “It is strange, and very full beauty of their grains and colorings. ay Course von rfvly Bardoniime-care ‘you smar- It is for these reasons that we submit for present consideration the xisted the “Once or twice,” I replied. . “That moderate-priced Tobey Hand-Made Reading Desk shown above, in the t mneibad seems to be one of the things we can | hope that it may go into many American homes, and that by it we may met lly escape. And you?” be able to demonstrate what we believe to be the highest standard of strength “Two or three times. One has to ex- furniture making the world has yet known. nd. joy in perience those things before one gets at one’s soul.” ye. We are willing and anxious that your opinion of TOBEY HAND- “You believe, then,” I asked inter- fea | MADE FURNITURE shall rest upon the comparison which this : reading stand sustains with any other article of furniture in your home, vigor of ery inch of traar mea SSS eof your WI N T E R You can conveniently | F popular Cruises, by All yoursel 2 Lines, at any of Cook's { CHICAGO— Wabash Avenue and Washington Street my be AND TOURS |] offices” i NEW YORK—Eleven West Thirty-Second Street our Mediterranean with Egypt and Nile, West Indies, | South America, Round the World, ¢ THOS. COOK & SON, US Broadway, 264 Sth Ave., New York. | NEVER-NEVER-LAND KENNELS Miss Mary Winthrop, Own: . pak Malet sid estedly, “in that staple of commerce? French BullDogs : I did once, but I lost it so many tm Beri cad Grove Digs COR \ mislaid it, so to speak—that I finally SALE. From only Registered and gayerdt up: Even by Blue-Ribbon Stock. ing,” T added, with wh SHELTER IS! ND HEIGHTS, congruous levity, “ Vy Telephone, 47 Shelter Island. Cn. CrarieMasor much chance of regaining one’s soul in z this American vortex. Beautiful Boston Terriers and Japanese “1 can't say I believe in it always,” Spaniels for Christmas Presents she replic oring the last part of my Only the best of their kind sold by remark. “It's a convenient name. It us. Book Xmas deliveries now, stands for so much we don't know , But of this I am sure—this taw- SWHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING, HIRAM?” QUEEN OLIVE KENNELS, Hasbrouck Heights, N. J. about. “Su! 1" LEARNING OW TO ROLL a cicaRerts.” 1037 comicbooks.com