Life, 1913-05-15 · page 46 of 52
Life — May 15, 1913 — page 46: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines advertisements with content promoting Jean Webster's serialized novel *Daddy-Long-Legs*. The main cartoon depicts an extremely elongated stick-figure man—literally illustrating the title's metaphor—captioned as an unknown benefactor who anonymously funds a young woman's college education. The central feature is a letter from "Judy" to her mysterious patron, playfully describing his physical appearance while admitting gaps in her knowledge (particularly whether he's bald). The humor derives from the one-sided correspondence format: she imagines his appearance while he remains genuinely unknown to her. *Life* magazine's repeated endorsements (dated Dec. 1912-April 1913) emphasize the story's appeal across demographics—from "mothers and daughters" to "fathers and most sons." The novel romanticizes a Cinderella-like narrative where a poor orphan is elevated through a wealthy stranger's patronage, a sentimental plot that resonated with early 20th-century audiences. The surrounding ads for weight-reduction powders and handwriting analysis reflect period preoccupations with self-improvement and character assessment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
+ LIFE: “Be Slender) says Madame Nordica HIS book tells of Madame Nordica’s wonderlul discovery, and how she gradually re- duced her weight to an amazing degree in a manner both pleasing and harmless. It is beautifully illustrated, containing photographs of Madame Nordica in some of her lamous operas and the photographs and lacsimile signatures of many prominent society people. Madame , NORDICAL Bath Lowder Tor Reduction of Wight is a simple, pleasant, ellicient method of reducing weight and size. “The Bath Powders which bear my name are precisely the same as I have used with such amazing resuls. They are my own dis- covery. manulactured rom my own locmula, and | personally recommend them for the general good of humanity eg oo lenders 4 —=> Madame Nordica's own, story, The Dream of Fair Women,” will be for warded on receipt of five Zc stamps. This book has proven priceless to thousands. Madame Nordica’s Bath Powders are for sale at many leading drug and department stores and specialty shops. MADAME NORDICA’S COMPANY “CAN YOU SEE BETTER Now?" F | A Tue English novelist, like the starvi tramp who can think of nothing but his hunger, seems to be unable to escape from the obsession of sex, and will re- write the very gospels because the origi nals are not written in the sensuously cestatic style. At the instance of Martin Luther we long ago gave up imposi celibacy on our priests; pose it on our art, with the very unde- sirable and unexpected result that no editor, publisher, or manager will now accept a story or produce a play without “ love interest" in it.—Bernard Shaw, “Three Ploys for Puritans.” H. ing. Expertopinion on forgeries Handwriting Tell August 1912, keeping, Handwriting,” in Scrap Book, YOUR CHARACTER, conariouss ne from your handwnt. nd anonym s address WILLIAM LESLIE PRENCH 9 Broadway, ork. Author of “Wi in Woman's Home Companion upid Graphologist” : December, 1912, 5 the oldest breeders aad exh torsol Uiese dog in the West tnd oa: tala one of the Lrgest and tat wie ta the world Stone & Co, DADDY -LONG-LEGS One of Judy’s Letters Dear Daddy-Long-Legs, You never answered my question and it was very important. ARE YOU BALD? T have it planned exactly what you look like—very satis- factory—until I reach the top of your head, and then I am stuck. I can’t decide whether you have white hair or black hair or sort of sprinkly gray hair or maybe none at all, Here is your portrait: But the problem is, shall I add some hair? Would you like to know what color your eyes are? They're gray, and your eyebrows stick out like a porch roof (beetling, they're called in novels), and your mouth is a straight line with a tendency to turn down at the corners. Oh, you see, I know! You're a snappy old thing with a temper. What Life has said about This Unique Love Story Dec. 19, 1912 DADDY-LONG-LEGS, by Jean Webster. The letters of an ex-orphan-asylum orphan’ to the anonymous benefactor who is sending her to college. Dec. 26, 1912 DADDY-LONG-LEGS, by Jean Webster. A one-sided correspondence between a precocious orphan and a charitable trustee. An effervescent little love story. Jan. 2, 1913 DADDY-LONG-LEGS. by Jean Webster. story that is as bright as a button. A little love Jan. 9, 1913 by Jean Webster. One of those 's that everybody has to fall for. DADDY-LONG-LEG: once-in-a-while love sto April 10, 1913 “Mothers and daughters, whether of the old school or the new, as well as some fathers and most sons, are recommended to read Jean Webster's delightfully sparkling and spontaneous little love story, ‘Daddy-Long-Legs.” It is told in the form of duty letters written (with unflagging verve and originality) by a charity-scholar to an anonymous patron. It is as bright as @ button and as resourceful a8 a pedigreed pup. And while everybody's gnorance (unless they have never known the meaning of youth) is safe in its hands, nobody's funny-bone and_nobody’s heartstrings are guaranteed while in its com: pobos pan: The price is $1.00 net, postage 8 cens. The book is for sale everywhere. Published by THE CENTURY CO. Just think of sending this to the unknown 4 Union Square, New York who is putting you through colleg: La comicbooks.com