Life, 1913-06-05 · page 18 of 52
Life — June 5, 1913 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a moralizing poem titled "Be Moderate" by R.H. Dyer, accompanied by a satirical illustration of a groom struggling with an enormous bridal bouquet of American beauty roses—the bride herself barely visible behind the flowers. The joke contrasts the poem's earnest advice about temperance and moderation with the visual gag: the groom is literally overwhelmed by excess (the massive bouquet), ironically illustrating what happens when one *fails* to be moderate. The "Society Notes" caption adds light satire about wedding conventions. Below appears a rebus puzzle (visual wordplay). The answer to the *previous* week's puzzle is noted: "The Militant Suffragettes By Their Extreme Methods Have Managed to Offend Mankind"—indicating this magazine took satirical jabs at the women's suffrage movement, viewing their tactics as immoderate and counterproductive. The page blends domestic humor with period political commentary, typical of Life's early 20th-century approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EAIRRTE: Be Moderate BE moderate, annihilate the vices you accumulate, And calculate the words upon your tongue; Discriminate before you state, the principles you tolerate, And be sure of how your theories are hung. Investigate a tempting bait before you take it from the plate And you'll see the trap and know how it is sprung Deliberate, and scratch your pate. Go easy, yes, but don't be late, For the man behind is very often stung. Now, meditate upon the fate of criminals who violate The laws of God and man, and how they fare Be temperate. Let drunkards prate of jolly times when on a skate, You will miss them when you climb the Golden Stair. Don’t hesitate to cultivate a taste for things that educate If the higher joys of life you wish to share. Just estimate upon the weight of senseless things you contemplate And you'll never be compelled to rave and swear. Be moderate, when you debate on questions deep and delicate, ‘Twill climinate the smiles at your expense. Be moderate, when you relate how others live and dis- sipate, For perhaps you are the same in every sense. Be moderate, abominate the nectars that intoxicate, . And_you'll add another stone to your defense. SOCIETY NOTES So regulate the hand of fate by being ever moderate, The bride came down the aisle. on the arm of her father, And I know you'll think my logic is immense. She wore a real lace veil and carried ‘a large bouquet of R.H. Dyer. American beauty roses WIA EVERS, EMPRESS, eugene 2 7st iT IT SZ THE ANSWER TO THIS REBUS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN NEXT WEEK'S LIFE Answer to last week's rebus: “The Militant Suffragettes By Their Extreme Methods Have Managed to Offend Mankind” comicbooks.com