Life, 1914-01-01 · page 39 of 44
Life — January 1, 1914 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a humorous poem with a Welch's grape juice advertisement. **The Poem (left side):** R.H. Titherington's verse humorously argues that poets wield real power over nature. It catalogs famous literary commands—Byron's "Roll on, thou dark blue ocean," Shakespeare's "Blow, blow, thou winter wind"—and sardonically claims nature obeys these poetic utterances. The joke is absurdist: it takes the Romantic notion that poets inspire or capture reality and literalizes it into actual command over physical laws. The poem mocks both overstated claims about poetry's importance and perhaps Romantic excess itself. **The Cartoon (bottom left):** Shows a speeding car with the caption "Wal—mebbe ye wasn't goin' as fast as I thought ye was, miss, but don't do it again." It's a rural figure encountering an automobile—likely satirizing the clash between old rural America and modern technology. **The Advertisement (right):** A full-page Welch's grape juice ad featuring a romantic couple and aggressive marketing copy positioning the drink as "The National Drink" for all occasions and social classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Poet's Power wre said that poesy is but an idle, trifling art?— That in the guidance of the world the bard plays little part? Take from the shelf those tomes of verse—we'll put it to the test, And see if any heed is paid to poetry's behest. “Roll on, thou dark blue ocean, roll!” sang Byron long ago; And still, obedient to his word, the restless surges flow. Take Shakespeare—it was he who said: “ Blow, blow, thou winter wind!” Full well doth every wintry gale obey that master mind. “Sing, sing, ye birds, a joyous song!"—so Wordsworth cried one day; Mark how the feathered vocalists pour forth their rounde- lay! “Flow down, cold rivulet, to the sea!” wrote Alfred Tennyson; I think it's wholly safe to say that streamlet still flows on. “Put forth thy leaf, thou lofty plane!” bade Clough, one pleasant spring ; Each year the planes—and other trees—do just that very thing. “ Rise, hills that guard our native land!” said some poetic wight; And to this day those patient hills rise to the self-same height. There’s other evidence galore, but I have said enough To show that he who slights the bards is simply talking stuff. No idle fashioners are they of unconsidered lays; They speak, and nature listens; they command, the world obeys! R. H. Titherington, “WAL—MEBBE YE WASN'T GOIN’ AS FAST AS I THOUGHT YE WAS, MISS, BUT DON’T DO IT AGAIN.” “The lips that touch Welch's are all that touch mine!" As time rolls on the happiest toasts are pledged in Welch’s Each year more and more people come to know and like Welch's. Its popularity rests upon its quality. Its quality is secured for you by the clean, sanitary, exact Welch process of pressing the finest Concord grapes and hermetically sealing the juice. You get Nature’s best AT its best in Welch's “Che National Drink” Men drink Welch’s at their clubs, in cafes and while traveling. Women serve it at formal and informal affairs. Children love it always. Welch Punch—an unfailing favorite Take the juice of three lemons and one orange, add one pint of Welch's, one quart plain or charged water and one cup of sugar. Garnish with sliced oranges and pineapple. Serve very cold, Do more than ask for “Grape Juice,” —Say WELCH'S and GET IT! IF unable to get Welch's of your dealer we will ship a trial dozen pints for $3, express prepaid east of Omaha, Sample 4-oz. bottle by mail, 10 cents, Booklet of recipes free. The Welch Grape Juice Company Westfield, N. Y. comicbooks.com