Life — April 3, 1913 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

EEE Bed Time Stories The Giant Lucre and Miss Manners “CYNCE there was a giant,” began Mr. Oracle, when he was stopped by Bright Eyes. “What was his name?” she asked breathlessly, “and is this a really true story?” “His name was Luere,” replied Mr Oracle with a smile, “and it is an honest, true story. Now don't inter- rupt me again, because I have just been reading one of Mayor Gaynor'’s and I've taken on the atmos- phere, and if you as much as wink, 1 might bat you over the head.” Bright Eyes said not a word, but waited meckly at this terrible threat, and Mr. Oracle went on: “This awful giant spent most of his time in building cities, and he got hordes of people from all over to come and live near him and worship him; and although he was extremely untidy —they even called him filthy—they all loved him. He would knock them about and make them suffer, but they crawled up to him just the same.” At this Bright Eyes couldn't help crying. The picture of this great cruel giant making people do his base hidding appealed to her tender little heart. “Yes,” went on Mr. Oracle, “and he crowded ‘em in tenements, and he packed ‘em in ball rooms and he hustled ’em about and gave ‘em in- digestion and starved ’em and worried ‘em with debt, and all for the love of him.” “But why did they love him?” asked Bright Eyes, regaining courage “when he treated them so horribly? I would hate a cruel giant like that. No you wouldn't,” said Mr. Oracle blandly “It is a mystery, of course, but I assure you that you would love him, and do anything to win his favor But I am not getting anywhere with this story, and so I must tell you what happened to Miss Manners.” “Who was she?” “Oh, she was the nicest, sweetest, politest little girl in the world. The three fairies, Courtesy, Breeding and Sympathy, were her guardian angels; and she was born in the country, where the air was sweet and there was room to breathe. She always had a pleasant smile for everyone, and she went about just making people happy Besides, she was tremendously beauti- ful. Whenever you got near her, she just made you feel good all over.” “Did she make cruel King Lucre feel good all over?” Mr, Oracle frowned at this “Now you are getting ahead of the story,” he said. “But I'll say no to that; have patience, and you will know all about it. You see, Bright Eyes,” he added, “you've been reading the yellow journals so much that when you get a real good story like this. with a genuine double-barreled moral to it, you can’t wait to know the end.” “Go on, please,” said Bright Eyes “Well, Miss Manners was walking out in the fields one day, picking daisies and buttercups, when Lucre, leaning over his huge buildings and his horde of human ants in the distance, saw her, and he thought she looked awfully sweet, and would make a nice morsel; and so he beckoned to Miss Manners, and she came to him, and he crushed her—that tender flower, born of the soil—yes, he crushed her without mercy; he took r INF Giant’ the bloom off her cheek, and put paint in its place, and he dragged her through horrid artificial palm rooms, and slums, and he devoured her, and then there was no more Miss Manners left.” “Ts that all?” said Bright Eyes with a sigh, after a short pause. “Yes, dearie, that's all.” “Well, [don't think much of that story. In the first place, it's just a bare statement; then everybody dies but the villain, and besides, the end isn’t at all dramatic; Miss Manners was just absorbed by the Giant; no fun in that.” Mr. Oracle smiled. Bright Eyes had amused him so that temporarily he had forgotten all about Mayor Gaynor. “Do you know why you don't like that story?” he asked. “No, I don't “Well, [will tell you. it’s true.” “Then why didn't you make it up some toward the last and have a brave, handsome knight rescue Miss Manners from Giant Lucre?” But Mr. O ¢ shook his wise head “TL just couldn't,” he said. “1 couldn't tell a plain lie like that; you see, Bright Eyes, I've been reading the papers so much myself lately that it isn’t even interesting to tell a plain lie—it's just discouraging.” It's because BR'ER RABBIT’S LUCKY DAY NOW SHE DOES—NOW SHE DOESN'T comicbooks.com