Life, 1913-10-30 · page 26 of 40
Life — October 30, 1913 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **two distinct satirical pieces**: **"At the Hospital"** (poem with illustration): A sentimental poem about how a hospital democratizes society—rich and poor, society figures and working people all unite in shared human concern during medical crisis. The decorative illustration shows fashionable figures and peacocks, contrasting elegant artificiality with the poem's theme of stripped-away pretense. **"Marriage à la Mode"** (lower cartoon): A scene depicting urban social climbing and materialism. The caption suggests borrowed or fraudulent wealth—animals (likely peacocks or similar, referenced as "HAW! HAW! BORROWED BEAUTY") represent people living superficially in restaurants and clubs, treated harshly by press. The French title evokes Hogarth's famous satirical series on marriage and social excess. Both pieces critique **artificial social hierarchies and borrowed/false status**, juxtaposing genuine human connection against superficial urban pretension. The magazine targets early 20th-century consumer culture and status-seeking among the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
At the Hospital O after one beneath the iron gate They pass; the rich and poor, the high and low, Great ladies in rich velvet robes that flow Like water, theatre folk and men of state Heavy with many thoughts, young chil- dren white With blank amaze at’ pain, rough artisans, Old women tottering and courtesans Pallid beneath their paint; the fear, the greed For news has passed all bonds of circumstance, They all are welded by one sudden glan To one great tenderness, one human need (Chorus of males) ¢, but ¢: HAW! HAW! BORROWED BEAUTY y camte to the city, where they lived in restaurants, clu OK SALE—A set of Damaged Thoughts. ranted p and offices and wi sellers MAKRIAGE A LA MODE roughly treated by the newspapers, periodicals and best No reasonable offer refused, as owner needs room for a stock ticker. comicbooks.com