Life, 1912-03-21 · page 38 of 52
Life — March 21, 1912 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements and light humor**, not political satire. The main poem, "The Third Person" by Edmund Vance Cooke, satirizes the exhausting modern work life. It describes a man who metaphorically "shoots" (pursues money) from dawn until collapse—at his car, work, lunch, and home—earning only basic survival (food, clothes, shelter). The joke is the poem's ironic closing: calling him a fool "very much like you and me," suggesting this grinding routine was the relatable reality for early-20th-century readers. The page otherwise contains period advertisements for corsets (Franklin Simon & Co.), soap, marine motors, and travel to Arizona and California. There are also brief comic anecdotes about a dying merchant's will, and a joke about car terminology ("chassis" as the "nude" automobile). **No identifiable political figures or events appear.** The satire is social commentary on American work culture, not partisan politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Third Person I know a man (accounted wise) Who thinks himself an ancient make Of musket. Breakfast food supplies His powder, and a hamburg steak The bullet, while a flannel-cake Acts as the wadding. Then away He shoots for all that fighting day; Shoots to his car, shoots to his work, Shoots here, shoots there, Shoots everywhere A dollar may be thought to lurk; Shoots out to luncheon, shoots to drink, Shoots home at night, too tired to think! Shoots through the news, and spent, at last, Drops, thankful that the day is past. For all this stress from dawn to sleep He gets his victuals, clothes, and keep. Ho! ho! A foolish man is he (And very much like you and me). —Edmund Vance Cooke in Philadelphia Ledger. In this soap we have caught the fragrance of real violets Send 2c in stamps for a Sample Cake today Tur Axprew Jercens Co. Derr. X. Cincinnati, oO. Franklin Simon & Co. Fifth Avenue, New York “Parfait” Corsets Our own exclusive make. Made by expert French Corsetieres, of French Coutil, Broche Batiste, Tricot and elastic; low bust and long straight hips and back. Suitable for all figures. 5.00 7.50 10.75 “Hélene” Corsets Paris Corsets, imported exclusively by Franklin Simon & Co.. in models adapted to the present style of dress. Of extra fine Coutil and Broche, new low bust models, with extra long hips and back, suitable for all figures. 7.75 10.50 18.50 All Corsets fitted by expert corsetieres . Iilustratiog the newest and most Spring and Summer Weitsine'Snscdeh ot ‘Womens ieee", Style Book Boye sod Intastaready-torseat NOW READY ‘apparel, at popular prices. Matled Prepaid out-of-town upoa appll- cation. ‘Address Department N. FIFTH AVE., 37th and 38th Sts., New York All About It “Tell me about Spain, romantic fp MARINE MOTORS compurrr yy BS OTHER SIZES 2 TO 20 HORSEPOWER . ay PROPORTIONATELY LOW PRICES - GUARANTEED FOR LIFE, y ‘AGENTS WANTED, ERIM Sond for complete marine cage ck FREE AMERICAN ENGINE CO., 400 Boston St, Deed, Mic, cll,” said the motorist, “there are a few bad places as you come down the mountains, but in the main the roads are pretty good."—New York World. Just This Sort of Out-Door Life You can enjoy right now in Arizona Making it Sure An aged merchant was very sent for the family lawyer. “I wish,” began the sick man, as the attorney stood by his bedside, eager to catch every word as it was uttered. “Yes?” answered the lawyer, hastily Let us send you interesting books that tell in text and picture of the wonderful opportunities awaiting you, all along the Southern Pacific Sunset Route New Orleans to San Francisco LH, Nutting, G.E.P.A., 366 Broadway, New York scribbling. “All my property and estate to go to my eldest daughter, I wish to die firm in the knowledge that the property is as- sured to her,” continued the merchant. with eager excitement. “Of course—of course!" fussed the attorney. “Would it be asking too much,” hesi- tatingly asked the dying man, “to sug- gest that you should marry her?” —Argonaut. Repo: Do you know what the chassis is? Gree: mobiles.. Yes, it's the nude in auto- Yonkers Statesman. Caroni Bitters. The best by test Send 25 cents o sample bottle with patent dasher. and be conv’ ed, [or C. Blache & Co., 78 Broad St., New York, Gen'l Distry comicbooks.com