Life, 1913-04-03 · page 32 of 52
Life — April 3, 1913 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains reader letters and a cartoon, typical of Life's editorial format. The letters complain about two New York City "con games": 1. **The Inez Milholland Letter**: References a contemporary women's suffrage activist whom the writer dismisses as unintelligent, criticizing her defense of English suffragettes' militant tactics. 2. **The Casino Theater Scam**: A detailed complaint about being systematically fleeced at Emma Trentini's theatrical performance—charged $2.50 for a seat, then pressured into buying a ten-cent program, and cheated out of change. The writer notes ushers deliberately collect dimes from nearly all patrons and higher amounts from some, suggesting orchestrated petty fraud. The cartoon (bottom) shows an absentminded professor at a train station, making a visual pun about forgetting his hat—a lighthearted contrast to the con-game complaints above. The page satirizes urban deception and exploitation of visitors to New York City.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
We are Constantly in Receipt of Important Letters Which are Too Long for Our Limited Space. Brevity is Absolutely Essential to Publication Concerning a Reply Dear Lire: That is an admirable article by Mr. Martin on Miss Inez Milholland and the “dual standard.” There is only one criticism to be made upon it: Miss Mil- holland and her ridiculous claim do not merit so able, serious and dignified a reply. Her intelligence is not of an order to engage an intelligence like Mr. Martin's in combat. The young woman was quoted recently as attempting to defend the English militants by saying that the men fight- ing for suffrage had done worse things than the women are doing now. Any criminal might make the plea of prec dent and example. Most of them are too intelligent to make it. Yours sincerely, J. K. Lurweutys. Bostox, February 25, 1913. The Price of New York's Shame Eotror Lire: Dear Stk: I have visited New York on business and pleasure two or three times a year for more than a decade. I have paid high prices for grub and entertain- ment without regret, for most of the things were worth all they cost. I have often heard of others getting “ stung,” but never run up against a skin game mysclf until two weeks ago, and my humiliation is great indeed when I ac- knowledge that the amount I lost was but fifteen cents, I went to the “Casino” to hear that wonderful little woman, Emma Trentini, warble. I secured seat No, to2 in the eighth row, for which I paid $2.50 at my hotel. I entered the theatre carly and looked around for a programme, but, failing to see any, gave my check to a girl usher who showed me to my chair. The usher asked me if I wanted a Programme and I id “If you please.” She thereupon handed a little book and said “ Ten cents.” I glanced through the book quickly and saw that it con- tained no story of the play or anything except a list of the performers and some cheap pictures, so I handed it back and said I did not care for it. The lady (?) usher took it and said “No?” with an inflection of her voice which would have brought to a man a whack on the jaw I watched the patrons enter and no- ticed that nearly everybody come across with ten cents for a programme, one man next me paying fifty cents for five for his party. After a while I concluded to loosen up and motioned the girl and asked for one of the books, offering a quarter in payment, She gave me ten cents change and said she would bring me the balance, but I could not even get her “eye” from that on, and did not get my nickel. After a bit another girl usher came up to me and said in a brusk and very “un- gentlemanly” tone, “ What's your num- ber?” I might have answered that her side partner had it, but refrained and told her that my check was No. 102. “Let me see it” she then demanded. But I was sure I had the correct seat and answered that my word was suffi- cient. I noticed then, however, that a lady and gentleman were waiting and ascertained that they had purchased two seats together, but had received numbers 101 and 103, on each side of me. I, of course, volunteered to take 103 and allow them to sit together, but the things I Absent-Minded Professor: PUT MY HAT THERE TO REMIN said to myself about a management that would stoop to such methods proved nearly as absorbing to me during the evening as the show. I have been led to believe that there were people in your great city who could get your money,” but after all these years I have finally “got mine” to the tune of fifteen cents and have, therefore, lost all respect for the ability of your “skins.” If I had been inveigled into a poker game and lost ten dollars I would have taken my medicine, But fifteen cents! I'm ashamed of your New York! Yours very truly, Joun R. Tnosrsox. Prrrssurcit. Pa., February 16, i9ts. Be Fair’ Deak Lire: I suppose that the public, after paying the Jew, Dr. F. Cook, $200,000 to find out that he never saw the North Pole, ought to be willing to spend $1,000,000 to discover that the Jew, Dr. Friedmann, never discovered a cure for consumption. Don't you think so? A Constant Reaper. Yes. But why discriminate? All humbugs are not Jews. Cagliostro, John Law and Dr. Jenner, for in- stance; to say nothing of Koch, Metchnikoff and the Pasteur tr ment. And there is our own Dowie; also the Hon. Nelson W. Aldrich, who is still with us. Common courtesy forbids our continuance further. Eprtor or Lire. YOU SEE I PUT MY OVERCOAT ON IND ME OF MY UMBRELLA, AND 1 ME OF MY OVERCOAT, BUT IT EMS THAT 1 FORGOT MY HAT, \ comicbooks.com