Life, 1912-03-07 · page 44 of 60
Life — March 7, 1912 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising and light verse**, not political satire. The main content features: **Left side**: A Cowan Cabinet furniture advertisement showcasing a mahogany spinel desk, priced at $225. The copy claims future generations will treasure such furniture as heirlooms. **Right side**: A poem titled "Flight" about a writer who conceived a brilliant joke while brushing his hair but completely forgot it—a relatable comic scenario about fleeting inspiration and memory failure. The speaker fantasizes about impressing friends like "Titterton" and "Bottleby" with his wit, but cannot recall the punchline. Below are **various product advertisements** for books (Sexology), card games (Rad-Bridge), and corsets (Binney's Famous Corset). There is **one brief satirical piece** titled "Graft" mocking American complacency about institutional corruption—suggesting the "muckrakers" have done their job so thoroughly that citizens can now confidently accept graft as inevitable. The page reflects early 20th-century consumer culture and genteel humor rather than sharp political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Families of the future will bear the same love for their Cowan Cabinet- made Furniture as is today bestowed on old silver, tapestries and jewels. The solid mahogany spinet desk illustrated above is a beautifully figured Cuban mahogany piece, inlaid with East India satinwood—a most unusual, unique and practical home desk, suitable for use with any Colonial or English style furniture. Its length over all is sixty-six inches. It may be pur- chased for $225. If you do not already know the Cowan dealer in your city, write us—Department D—and we will tell you how you may enjoy, without obligation, an inspection of this magnificent furniture. W.K. COWAN & CO. 318 Michigan Boulevard, South. CHICAGO Flight O memory! that which I gave thee To guard in thy garner yestreen— Little deeming thou e’er could’st behave thee Thus basely—hath gone from thee clean! Gone, fled, as ere autumn is ended The yellow leaves flee from the oak— I have lost it forever, my splendid Original joke What was it? I know I was brushing My hair when the notion occurred ; I know that I felt myself blushing As I thought, “How supremely ab. surd! How they'll hammer on floor and on table As its drollery dawns on them—how They will quote it”—I wish I were able To quote it just now. I had thought to lead up conversation To the subject—it's easily done— Then let off, as an airy creation Of the moment, that masterly pun Let it off, with a flash like a rocket’s; In the midst of a dazzled conclave. Where I sat, with my hands in my pockets, The only one grave. I had fancied young Titterton’s chuckles. And old Bottleby’s hearty guffaws As he drove at my ribs with his knuckles, His mode of expressing applause ; A Happy Marriage Depends largely on a knowl edge of the whole truth about self and sex and their relation to life and health. This knowk nor correctly from ordinary, every-day sources, SEXOLOGY (MMustrated) by William H. Walling, A.M., Mf.D., imparts in a clear, wholesome way in one volume: Knowledge a Young Man Should Have. Knowledge a Young Hu ould Fave, a ould is Som, Owiedgs a Husband should Haves ico a Young Woman should Have. ledge & Young Wife Should Have. ledge @ Mother Should Have. Knowledge « Mother Shomid. tmpart to Her Daughter, Medical Knowledge a Wife Should Ha Allin one volume. Mlustrated, $2, postoald. ‘Write for “Other People's Opin "rable ot Contents Puritan ‘Pub, Co., 776 Perry | Bldg. Phila., Pa. know the truth. We are able to sit back Although the muckrakers have done us a noble service, they have worked themselves out of their jobs. Before they began we did not know just how much graft there was in this country. The fear possessed us that some of our institutions were still free from its benign influences. Now we and contemplate a thorough piece of work. We know that we have crowded on every possible pound of graft that the national boilers will stand. Secure in this knowledge, we need not take a back seat for any nation of the world, past or present. We may rest content. Civilization has done its full duty. IBASEADOR BRYC ‘Then up spake Ambassador Bryce, “I'm nothing if 1 am not nyce: His Majesty's Mio! never be sint Cesa th aeceoorien, Tbe standard of the Bridge werld.” Dept. L.. RADCLIFFE & CO.. 146 Pear! 8ti. FAMOUS CORSET Boneless Corset ales te 18 East 45th Street, “New York Comicbooks.com