Life, 1913-03-27 · page 38 of 60
Life — March 27, 1913 — page 38: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page (appears to be early 1910s) combines **advertising with satirical commentary**. The left side heavily promotes Jack London's new novel "The Valley of the Moon" and Cosmopolitan Magazine's exclusive publishing contracts with famous authors like London and Rex Beach. It's a straightforward marketing push. The right side satirizes American "highbrows"—intellectuals or pretentious cultural elites. The article mockingly announces a new Boston society for highbrows and categorizes them into three classes based on social prominence and access to attention. The satire suggests that highbrows are self-important, status-conscious people who need formal organization to feel significant. The small cartoon at bottom (captioned "Truth Will Prevail") appears to show social commentary, though the specific reference is unclear from the visible portion. This reflects turn-of-the-century American tension between celebrating literary culture (via the London promotion) while simultaneously mocking intellectual pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Jack London has just finished a new novel “The Valley of the Moon” E has been working on it for five years. He thinks it the best story he ever wrote, Those who have read the manuscript agree with him enthusiastically. It begins in the April Cosmopolitan, just out. All of Jack London’s new novels and short stories for the next five years will appear in the Cosmopolitan. Think what that means! Another of America’s greatest writers secured exclusively for the readers of the Cosmopolitan! Howard Chandler Christy is illustrating Jack London's great new novel, which deals with the hopes, ambitions, loves and passions of real Americans in our big cities —tull-blooded, live Americans of the present day. They are true Jack London types—characters that have made his novels go like wild-fire in all parts of the country. Big Bill Roberts and dainty Saxon are his Jatest creations—he has put his own heart and soul into them. Another Famous Name has been added to the Cosmopolitan’s already famous staff. Rex Beach has just been engaged on a five-year exclusive contract for all serials and short stories. Nothing in literature or art that money can buy Is too good for the Cosmopolita Every issue a star-cast number; the best—and caly the best—at any price, is the consistently carried out policy which makes the Cosmopolitan “America’s Greatest Magazine” osmopolitan sonounerneenrenenennanennnnenenrenenine "nsrsevsnnannttanntsenenaneanerneneononnetonnnnanenm ner a «]]- Jack London's great story began inthe April Pin a Dollar Bill: Cosmopolitan, which already Is exhausted, Fill out this coupon, pin a dollar bill to it and send it to us—at our risk —tor an8 month's subscription to Cosmopolitan beginning with the May issue. By return mail we will send you—absolutely {ree—the first instalment of “The Valley ofthe Moon" in pamphietform. Ifyoudon't think this serial alone worth the dollar, we will send your money back. COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE, 381 Fourth Ave., New York For the dollar encloved enter my subscription to the Cosmopolitan for 8 months, bexins ning with the May mu! faim lo reeeive, alnolutely free, a pamphlet containing the rst faetalment of Jack London's story "The Valley of theMooa.”* Lou Address. Highbrows Coming to Their Own A society for highbrows in the United States, with headquarters in Boston, has at last been formed, and all highbrows, regardless of age, weight or previous condi- tion of mental servitude, are hereby invited to enroll, For some time one of the most lamentable facts in our American life has been what might be called the disor- ganization in highbrow circles. Zvery town in this country, no matter how small, con- tains at least one highbrow, and in our large cities their number is constantly increasing. But up to the present time their efforts have been more individual than con- certed, and a great deal of energy has been lost. By form- ing a society of American highbrows, therefore, we shall be able to put highbrowism upon the right basis At present all highbrows are divided into three classes. The first-class highbrow—He lives only in large cities, attends all public banquets, and is periodically interviewed his opinions upon subjects that by the papers, giving come up. The second-class highbrow—This gentleman inhabits the smaller cities, where he lives a distinct existence, much wider than the narrow confines of his hom The third-class highbrow—This gentleman is probably one of the most pitiable objects in American life. He labors under the impression that he is a first-class high- brow, without having any of the qualifications. Other varieties of the highbrow are the theological, the literary and the artistic. The philosophical highbrow is constantly increasing in all parts of the country and is thought by many to be a menace to our institutions. By segregating him in the highbrow society it is hoped that his energies will be limited within specified fields. What is a highbrow? A highbrow is a person who knows how to deliver an opinion upon any subject in such a manner as to make it unmistakable that he is a highbrow. This definition may not seem to be conclusive to those who do not know what a highbrow is. But all others will understand it at once. Lady highbrows will form a separate organization of their own, to be governed by the same laws that govern the main organization It is not thought best to permit men highbrows to mingle with lady highbrows. For some | reason they do not seem to get on together. TRUTH WILL PREVAIL comicbooks.com