Life, 1912-03-14 · page 29 of 44
Life — March 14, 1912 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes literary content with period advertising. The left column presents "The Dwarf Avatar," a narrative poem retelling the Hindu myth of Vishnu's dwarf incarnation—a story where a seemingly powerless dwarf tricks a demon king into granting wishes, then uses three steps to span earth, sky, and underworld to vanquish him. The poem's moral—that humble appearance masks divine power—appears juxtaposed with vintage 1912 advertisements for Kelly-Springfield tires, American engines, and notably, the **Thomas "Six-Forty" automobile**. The Thomas ad's "Declaration No. 6" employs pseudo-scientific language to tout engineering superiority (low center of gravity), typical of early automotive marketing. The pairing suggests no deliberate satirical connection; rather, it reflects *Life* magazine's standard format: mixing serious literature with commercial content to attract diverse readers and advertisers, demonstrating the magazine's cultural range and advertising reach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Dwarf Avatar wicked giant, Bali, had obtained ‘eme control from heaven down to hel the humbler dei rain his cruelties unm argued vengeful plans for many anh oni far below he upward looked. wed rogant defiance to their power. length divinest Vishnu forward stepped the senate mighty plaud- And vowed himself—his consort Laksh wept— The foe to disenthrone, and ransom man. The heavenly synod praised him, though they feared His failure through some one of mil- lion harms. he soon appeared, sked of Bali alms. wouldst thou have?” the horrid despot said, And gave the shrinking dwarf a scorn- ful gla 0 fool; premonished by no mystic dread, Kelly- Springfield Automobile Tires hey have to be the best tires made, to live up to the name that the Kell i field carriage tires made famous. KELLY-SPRINGFIELD TIRE CO. 20 Vesey Street, New York Branch oMces in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, OTHER SIZES 2 TO 20 HORSEPOWER PROPORTIONATELY LOW PRICES GUARANTEED FOR LIFE, AGENTS WANTED, Send for complete marine engive book FREE, AMERICAN ENGINE CO., 400 Besten St. Detroit, Mich, The Thomas ‘Six-Forty” Five Passenger Phaeton Thomas Declarations No. 6 We assert that the low center of gravity of the Thomas “Six-Forty,”’ made possible by suspending the gasoline and oil tanks from the chassis frame, gives the Thomas a decided advantage over all other American and foreign cars in holding the road, at high speeds, on sharp turns or on slippery pavements, and that this is a unique and distinct advance in 1912 construction. FOUR STYLES OF OPEN BODIES - TOURING CAR, PHAETON, SURREY AND RUNABOUT PRICE $4,000 FOR EACH TYPE Our Catalog—“ The Story of the Thomas” awaits your request. E. R. THOMAS Motor Car COMPANY, DEPT.G. BUFFALO And reading naught beneath that countenance! little, timid mendicant rep! me so much of thy dominion’s space— The boon is small, but will for me suf- fico— As I can only by three steppings pace.” The blinded Bali, mocking, gave assent, 1 upon him with contemptu- Swift grew the dwarf through such im- mense extent, That one step spanned the carth, one more, the sky! Then looking round, with haughty voice feet the tyrant placed his ancously was thrust to hell —Poetry of the Orient, by W. R. Alger