Life, 1912-04-11 · page 40 of 46
Life — April 11, 1912 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a humorous verse review of Charles Alden Seltzer's Western novel *The Two-Gun Man*. The satirist (Arthur Guiterman) mocks the formulaic conventions of pulp Western fiction through Seltzer's own mock-confident voice. The joke targets predictable plot elements: a trigger-happy hero named Ferguson, a convenient snakebite requiring rescue by a "Nice Young Lady from the East," her brother as the villain (cattle rustler), a climactic gun battle, and inevitable romantic resolution. The reviewer lampoons the genre's reliance on gunplay ("Bang! Bang!—that's what them guns is for!") and the contrived romantic subplot. The parenthetical dig at "Clara Ver" (likely Clara Barton) references incongruous romances in Western literature—the satirist questions why such stories always pair refined Eastern women with rough cowboys. This reflects Life magazine's sophisticated urban audience mocking mass-market Western pulp fiction as mechanically formulaic and unconvincing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
RAE The latest style of beauty is the natural complexion style, and it is acquired by the use of PEARS’ SOAP. It is a revival of the very charm- ing fashion of a former time, when the dainty pink and white bloom of youthful loveliness remained with a woman from girlhood to old age. It was in the service of natural complexional beauty that Pears was invented more than a hundred and twenty years ago. How efficiently it has fulfilled its beautifying mission is known all over the world, wherever real beauty of complexion is apprecia- ted. _ Avoid common soaps and artificialities, and use Pears if you want skin beauty. Pears is all-potent for refining and beautifying the skin, and securing the charm of a lovely complexion. | } Rhymed Reviews The Two-Gun Man (By Charles Alden Seltzer. Outing Publishing Company.) “Til bet the locks of Yuma jail, Old hos,” says Charley Alden Seltzer, “That I can write a cowboy t As good as anybody else, sir! “My hero, Ferguson, I plan Will have to do some executin’; His nom de guerre, ‘The Two-Gun Man,’ Will hint that he’s plum quick at shootin’, “Tl have him take a cowman's pay To ketch some guys that’s rustlin’ cattle: But when he’s ridin’ that-a-way A pizen-snake what wears a rattle “Will bite him deep, the sassy beast! And, when no company'd insure him, A Nice Young Lady from the East Will feed him medicines and cure him. “And now he'll learn the chap they " cattle ain't no other Than young Ben Radford,—him, no less, The Nice Young Lady's elder brother! “But Ferguson'll set things right; He'll ketch the rustlers, don’t you worry, And when he does there'll be a fight Which folks might call a man-size flurry ! “He'll fill them scamps with holes ga- lore, And no Nice Lady shall repair tem; “Bang! Bang!’—that's what - them guns is for! Wey else d'you think I'd let him wear em? “So, when the thieves is duly lynched And Ferguson's the ranch star- boarder, He'll have that Nice Young Lady cinched,— Yes, Mendelssohn’ll be in order. A Wallet of f Convenie ‘AMERICAN BANKER: SSOCIAFION TRAVELERS CHEQU Use them, in traveling, 2s you wo your own check book a: home. Hotels, railways, stean: the best shops, all ov know they are good as ,old. Your signature identifies you, W. J. Burns National Detec tects them against forgers ar Uncle Sam accepts them fcr customs duti White to Bankers’ Trust Comp: -y, Wall Sty New York, for information as obtain cheques in your vicinity, booklet, " BANKERS TRUST “Why not? If Clara Ver Could flirt with {0 plowboys, Why shouldn't. Nice Young Ladies here, Take up with bray cowboys? “In fact they do beyond a doubt In half the Western books we s! you; But how such marriages pan out Us Authors ain't obliged to tel you.” Arthur Guitermen. RAD-GBIDGE Bie Married? 225% ATTICA | eI Moas able book on the marriage relation ever i. VIDE, {all information sent free. Adis 18 hing Co., 107 Rose Street, New \ ork. Automobile Accessories Are Best Only When Guaranteed Much discomfort is often caused by inferior Automobile Supp!ies— much added expense also; yet they often look as well as the best when new. It would be well, therefore, to see that yours have a cove-ing manufacturer's guarantee behind them—We handle no others— Our prices are favorable, too. A Phone or Postal brings 1912 Catzalo; We refer to all first class automobile manufacturers ‘Ask the maker of your car A. J. Picard & Co. A. J. PICARD E. S, MORRISON - 1720-1722 Broadway, New York, near 55th Street