Life — January 9, 1913 — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A New Interest in Life Though we can live without a lot of things, Including many dry and sundry books; And though the poet raw material sings Immortalizing “Frinch” and “cullud” cooks— Show me the man with soul and taste so dead That mirth and music are not in the game, Who never to himself, last week, once said, “* Life’ without music never was the same.” (With grateful acknowledgements to the E who has provided the Musical Calendar.) itor Our Sincere Regrets To tHe Eprtor or Lire: Sm—I have for many years been a subscriber to Lire. I have enjoyed much that I read in it, even when I disagreed. I have now reluctantly dis- continued my subscription for two reasons: Its continued misrepresentation of the medical pro- fession and of its splendid accomplishments for the good of humanity; and its equal though more recent misrepresentation of Colonel Roosevelt and of his work and achievements for the same pur- pose. I should not like any members of my family to get their views on either of these subjects from Lire. It is incomprehensible to me that a pefiodi- cal which, about most questions, displays such keen intelligence and such fair-mindedness, should persistently misstate facts about matters that vitally concern, in the one case, every civilized person, and in the other, every Ameri- can, I do not suppose that either my subscription or my opinion seems of the least importance to you, but I have a feeling of regard for Lire that leads me in parting from it to make some explanation, as I would if—for what ap- peared to me to be good reason—I decided to drop the acquaintance of a person who had once been a friend. Yours truly, PHivaenruta, J. Wrurase Ware. Nov. 29, 1912. On the contrary, the loss of an intelligent reader is al- ways important to Lire, and doubly important when we lose an old friend because of a difference of opinion. Tue Eorrors. Habit Dear Lire: You seem rather severe on a faithful subscriber in your issue of December 12, for surely in this country no organization takes “Life” more consistently year after year than does the New York, New Haven and Hart- ford Railroad. Yours respectfully, Amuerst, Dec. 12, 1912. Writarp A. WartTLEs. The Zone System Epitor oF Lire: Sir.—I note your frequent criticisms, and those of several of your contemporaries, on the proposed “zone system” for mail charges. You class this as unscientific and seem to re- gard the present system as being scientific, because it is simpler. Is it not sensible to consider any charge for service rendered, and only that as being scientific even if it does involve some complications? Were you in the railroad business you would not care to transport pig iron to San Francisco from Pittsburgh at as low a rate as to Chicago or Atlanta. Do you know of a simpler system than the zone system that is more scientific than the present sys- tem? Have you submitted it to your Congress- man? It would be welcomed by the postal com- mission. Yours as a constant reader, Reapine, Pa., Orto J. Bauer. December 4, 1912. Abdul Baha Abbas Eortor Lire: Dear Lire—For some years I have been an ad- mirer of your paper and have noted with approval its gentle satire, sympathizing with your campaign against the shams and foibles of the day and enjoy- ing the clean-cut witticisms which scintillate and corus- cate throughout your pages. I have felt—until now—that you were careful to be governed by the truth in your criticisms, and hope it may prove true that in the instance of which I shall write, in the parlance of the day, some- one has “slipped one over on you.” In your current number, November 28, on page’2287, there is a parag:aph under the heading “ Life's Confi- dential Guide to Prominent People” referring to Abdul Baha Abbas, which is so absolutely at variance with the facts as to demand a reply. I have had the honor of being a friend of Abdul Baha Abbas for nearly ten years; have visited him in his Syrian home and know intimately the facts concerning his Ameri- indertaken at the request of numerous societies, ions and individuals whom he has visited during the past eight months. It is a fact—which can be proven upon investigation—that Abdul Baha Abbas has met per- sonally the expenses of himself and his party throughout, and has not only consistently declined many substantial contributions offered to him by sympathizers in his work, but has actually refused, in practically every instance, the hospitality proffered by his friends, preferring to make comicbooks.com