Life, 1912-12-12 · page 37 of 48
Life — December 12, 1912 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **primarily an advertisement** for Franklin Simon & Co. hosiery, occupying roughly two-thirds of the space with product images and pricing. The left side contains a **book review in verse** by Arthur Guiterman, critiquing Henry C. Rowland's novel *The Closing Net*. Guiterman uses satirical poetry to mock the plot's melodramatic coincidences: a "Highly Honorable Robber" named Frank Clamart accidentally burglarizes his own half-brother's home, is reformed by an "Angel Wife," foils thieves, feuds with a villain called "Chu-Chu" (killed with Shakespearean reference to Julius Caesar), avoids a "Robber Queen" seductress, and marries a taxi-driver instead. The satire targets overwrought crime fiction conventions—improbable plot twists, noble criminals, exotic villain names, and convenience-store morality. Guiterman's final couplet ("A Taxi-cabby to a Bandit") undercuts the sentimental ending with dry humor about the absurd pairing. The hosiery ad is incidental to the literary critique.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rhymed Review The Closing Net (By Henry C. Rowland. Dodd, Mead & Co.) Shake hands with Mr. Frank Clam- art! No common second-story jobber Is he, but one who fills the part Of Highly Honorable Robber. Through fine, if misdirected, zeal The pinnacles of crime he rose to. Nor want nor weakness made him steal ; He broke the law because he chose to. When caught at last (he sacrificed Himself, of course, to save An- other), He found he'd gone and burglarized The home of John, his own hali- brother! This John possessed an Angel Wife Who saw that Frank was far from hardened; She made him swear to lead a life Of honesty, and had him pardoned. But Frank's confréres of wilder times Came round upon a burgling mis- sion; And thefts of pearls and such like crimes Subjected Frank to Foul Suspicion. With reckless bravery that leaves The reader's mouth agape with won- der Our hero foiled the subtle thieves And soon restored the precious plunder. He thus incurred a deadly feud With “Chu-Chu"—name to the hearer !— Whose hands were horribly imbrued— In fact they called this thug “ The Shearer.” scare They stalked cach other through the town Till, cool as any ice-cream freezer, Clamart pinned wicked Chu:Chu down And stabbed him dead as Julius Ca ar. Our hero knew a Robber Queen Whose beauty gave him palpita- tions— The daring, dashing Léontine— But fled her fatal fascinations And married Rosalie instead ; She drove a taxi-motor, and it Is most appropriate tu wed A Taxi-cabby to a Bandit. —Arthur Guiterman, 18 No. 12. Extra quality, pure thread silk, in black, white, tan and all popular shades, lisle or silk sole, lisle or silk garter top, all weights. (3 pair for 2.75) .95 No. 14. Pure thread silk, white, light blue or pink, richly hand embroidered, olor, “Dub-L” garter top, assorted d 8. (3 pair for 5.70) 1.95 No. 16. Pure thread black silk, richly hand-embroidered in self or colors, “‘Dub-L”" garter top, all weights, assorted designs. (3 pair for 5.70) 1.95 Franklin Simon & Co Fifth Ave., 37th and 38th Sts., New York Useful Gifts Women’s and Misses Silk Hosiery AT SPECIAL PRICES 22 No. 18. Fine. guality pure thread silk, in black, white, light blue or pink, richly self embroidered, lisle sole and lisle tops, all weights, assorted patterns. (3 pairfor2.75) .95 . 20. Superior qual sle or silk sole, pure thread black ub-L” silk garter si top. (3 pair for 3.65) 1.25 No. 22. Pure thread black silk in self or white hand-embroidered clox, Dub-L” garter top, all weights. (3 pair for 5.70) 1.95 comicbooks.com