Life, 1912-05-09 · page 21 of 48
Life — May 9, 1912 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This illustration depicts Earth surrounded by celestial bodies (planets or moons), with ships or vessels circling the globe—visualizing an "around the world race," likely referencing early 20th-century aviation or maritime competitive expeditions that captured public imagination. The accompanying text discusses a Muse (artistic inspiration) and Mr. Chambers's management of creative work, praising his decision to let her develop a comedy plot ("Japonette") independently rather than micromanaging her. It's a light editorial on creative freedom in commercial publishing. Below, "What's the Use?" presents a satirical dialogue contrasting two men: one wealthy, complacently accepting the existing economic system after receiving dividend income, and another poor, questioning why maintain a system that leaves him unemployed. The satire critiques privilege's blindness to systemic inequality—those benefiting from the status quo see no need for change, while those suffering question everything.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1920 AROUND THE WORLD RACE on pon of instant dismissal, do not do more than dabble your pink toes in the water.” © result, as we know, was “ The Common Law.” lot even the modern Muse, if too constantly reminded of her salaried position, is apt to become broken spirited. So Mr. Chambers, like the wise employer that he is, oc- casionally gives her her head. He did, most happily, you ren mber, in “Tole.” And when (somewhat periunctorily r her recent snubbing and without any very marked ness) she offered him a little comedy plot about a ‘erupt young swell and two of his frivolous but fas- cinuting Western relatives hiring out as social sponsors to a family of rich parvenues, he told her to go ahead and work the thing up on her own responsibility.“ Japonette” (Appletons. $1.35) or “The Turning Point,” as it was calld when appearing serially, was only meant as a pot- boiler. But the Muse had so much fun making it boil that the spirit is catching. J. BOR. What's the Use ? HAT'S the use of disturbing the present system?” asked the man who had just received a quarterly dividend check of large proportions “What's the use of keeping it as it is?” came the answering question from the man who had spent the day looking for work, but without finding it. [7 seems strange that those who profess the most knowl- edge of the next world should display so little knowl- edge of this one. comicbooks.com