Life, 1912-11-21 · page 28 of 44
Life — November 21, 1912 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces flanking period advertisements. **"The Stratford Version"** mocks American tourists' ignorance of Shakespeare. An American visitor asks an English villager about Shakespeare, treating him as a contemporary commercial figure (comparing him to magazine writers and trust-attackers). The joke is the American's complete unfamiliarity with the canonical writer, reducing England's greatest literary figure to a brand name for hotels, cakes, and shoes—suggesting American commercialism trivializes cultural heritage. **"A Thanksgiving" poem** (attributed to Carolyn Wells) employs ironic satire to critique nostalgia for "the good old days." The speaker celebrates modern conveniences (beds with springs, telephones, vacuum cleaners, motor-cars) while mock-lamenting the absence of these in the past, sarcastically dismissing romanticized pre-industrial life. The satire targets those who sentimentally idealize earlier eras while ignoring women's lack of rights and the genuine hardships of pre-modern living. Both pieces ridicule contemporary attitudes: American philistinism in one, false nostalgia in the other.
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ay; SAT a 159°R) ANT Nyllv QL SBatah sQ4 The Stratford Version In Stratford, during one of the Shake- speare jubilees, an American tourist ap- proached an aged villager in a smock, and said: “Who is this chap Shakespeare, any- He were a writer, sir.” “Oh, but there are lots of writers. Why do you make such a fuss over this one, then? Wherever I turn I see Shakespeare hotels, Shakespeare cakes, Shakespeare chocolates, Shakespeare shoes. What did he write—magazine stories, attacks on the trusts, popular novels?” “No, sir; oh, no, sir!” said the aged villager. “I understand he writ for the Bible, Washington Star. “Ano how is the new minister getting along?” “All right, He seems to apparently. be able to expound the moral law with- out offending any'of the interests in the pews."—Louisville Courier-Journal. BACTERIA MEDICA (ONE CULTURE ENLARGED ONE DIAMETERS) A Thanksgiving Deepest Thanksgiving I do give, Because I didn’t chance to live In what they call the “good old days” Of homely fare and simple ways. I like the days that we have now, Instead of broom and churn and plow; I like to have a bed with springs, And telephones and vacuum things. Those “good old times,” song! How did the women get along? No bridge or suffrage or bead bags, No motor-cars or gladsome rags! so praised in I'm very glad “old-fashioned cheer” Will not be offered me this year; No squash or pumpkin pie for me— I much prefer patisserie. I can't sce how they lived at all Without a cab or music-hall; Oh, earnestly I do thanksgive That our times are not primitive! —Carolyn Wells in Woman's Companion. Home THOUSAND : Smart society is made up of the worldly, the fleshy and the devilish. —Lippincot’s. a da Lave is published every Thersday, simultaneously in the United States, Great Bitain, Canada and Heitish $5.00 a year in advance. Additional postage to foreign countries in the Postal Union, $1.04 year; to Canada, $2 ce le current copies. 10 cents. Back numbers, after three months from te of publication. 25 cents prior 10 1910 out of Na contribution will be returned antes accompanied br stamped and addreued evelipe, Lae dies at huld ttulf Lire. is for sale by all newsdeaiers in Great Britain and may be obtained from booksellers in all the peiacigl ciieg ofthe world. The foreign trade supplied from Lark's London Offce, Canson House, Rican Baitee. london, F.C, The text and illustrations im Lure. ave copsrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain apply m Lave, It Seuthamptan Rew, Lindon, W. C. Prompt netifcation should be sent by mubseribers of ant chance of aadenis. ipentible for the loss er muncreturn of ed contribution! The ‘*Different’’ Cigarette I am willing to retire before my betters—but as yet I have not found them. MILO. THE SURBRUG COMPANY New York Belle Mead Sweets Bon Bons & Chocolates Pure, delicious candies, which we believe to be the only bonbons and chocolates made containing no artificial coloring, chemical pre- servatives or cheapening adultera- tions. At good drug stores. comicbook eon