Life, 1912-08-22 · page 13 of 44
Life — August 22, 1912 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration depicts a woman in a forest carving initials into a tree—a romantic trope. The accompanying alphabetical verses ("S was a Summer Girl," "T was a Tourist," etc.) are lighthearted character sketches of different female types. The lower section, titled "The Tariff," discusses tariff policy as "the chief issue in the present campaign," suggesting this is from a U.S. election period. The text satirizes how politicians and editors complicate tariff explanations using complex schedules (Schedule K, E, I, O, U, W), rendering voters confused rather than informed. The "Young America" cartoon shows children discussing money, likely commenting on economic issues affecting the next generation. The overall tone blends romantic humor with political satire about tariff confusion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
S was a Summer Girl, tanned by the sun, Well—maybe that have fun! summer we didn’t T was a Tourist, with guide-book and all; I miss her,—but she will come home in the fall. U was Unwomanly. My heart she smote, When she wanted a latehkey and wanted to vote. V was a Vixen—a beautiful girl Mut her temper would certainly make your hair curl. W was a Writer, she had a good miad; But somchow I never cared much for that kind. X, a Nantippe, a regular shrew: Her caustic tirades made the air pretty blue. VY was a Yankee Girl, clear-eyed and calm ; For plain, wholesome cooking I give her the palm. “BUT THAT'S ANOTHER story” Z was a Zealot in causes galore; But she'd harp on them till all declared her a bore. Carolyn Wells The Tariff Wt are informed that the tariff is to be the chief issue in the campaign, Good! It is a splendid issue. It has excellent tra- ditions behind it. It is respectable. It helongs to one of the first families. But—and this is important—let not the politicians and the editors spoil it all by undertaking to explain. The tariff is the issue. That is enough, for just as soon as we try to lay open the intricacies of Schedule K, of Schedules \. E, I, O, U, and sometimes W and Y, we are lost. Such efforts merely start arguments and lead nowhere. present NYTHING more than a_ little learning is a dangerous thing in society. YOUNG AMERICA "IF YOU'LL LET ME HAVE YOUR NY TLL GIVE YOU PART OF THE CoLD 1 MINE WHAT 1 FOUN’ IN MY BACK YARD. comicbooks.com