Life, 1914-05-07 · page 32 of 52
Life — May 7, 1914 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a man and woman on a motorcycle labeled as a "1914 model," traveling past Asian pagodas and landscape. This likely satirizes Western romantic fascination with "the Orient"—a trendy exoticized interest among Americans of that era. The phrase "Cycle of Cathay" (Cathay being an old name for China) appears to mock the fashion for Asian-themed romance and adventure narratives popular in early 20th-century culture. The "What Do You Think?" reader responses below reflect Life's typical editorial format inviting public opinion on contemporary issues. The letters debate which American newspapers represent quality journalism—reflecting debates about mass-market versus "highbrow" publications that divided readers of the era. The final equation "+ Foolish Fashions = ?" advertises a puzzle for readers, suggesting commentary on fashion trends (possibly including the Asian-influenced styles referenced in the cartoon).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
836 LEE: A “CYCLE OF CATHAY "—1914 MODEL What Do You Think? We are Constantly in Receipt of Important Letters Which are Too Long for Our Limited Space. Brevity is Desirable. A Different Opinion Lire Pustisutxc Co., Gentlemen: In looking over a recent issue of Lire 1 noticed one of your readers made his selection of what he considers the three best newspapers in the United States. You asked some of your other readers to submit their opinions, and, being in a position where I can glance over most of the large newspapers published in the United States every day, I could not resist the temptation of forwarding you my list, which is as follows: Chicago Tribune, Boston Post, New York World. I feel sure also that you will find the great majority of the American people in these three large cities will agree with me in my selection. While the Boston Transcript, Spring- field Republican and other “ highbrow ” newspapers may be handsome typo- graphically, more cultured editorially and less sensational in their news columns, yet they have not that happy faculty of appealing to the average democratic American man or woman—wherein lics the success of the Tribune, Post and World (and I may safely add Lire itself). In other words, they pride themselves on their “class” circulation, and nat- urally they must cater to it. Regarding the Chicago Tribune, I be- lieve it will be sufficient to remark that ninety-nine out of every one hundred per- sons who know anything about news papers would unquestionably give it a place among the best three. My second selection, the Boston Post, will probably give rise to considerable argument; yet it is unquestionably the most influential and best-liked newspaper in New England, and the very fact that it enjoys a circulation of something like four hundred and twenty-five thousand daily, the largest of any morning news- paper in the United States, is a strong argument in favor of the truth of my as- sertion, Mr. E. A. Grozier, editor and publisher, has the respect and confidence of every honest man with whom he has ever done business, and the Post in a great measure reflects the character and honesty of the man who controls it. The New York World rounds out my trio, because I feelsthat should I have chosen any other paper I would have lessened the strength of my selection fully fifty per cent. P. S—I hope the editors of Lrrr will wake up to the fact that their circula- tion isn’t all “class” and that the com- mon, every-day American people make up the greater portion of their readers, and print some of the articles submitted by them on this subject. As for myself, I am in no way connected with any news- paper, and this little note is simply an expression of my personal opinion. Janes CALLAHAN, Bostox, Mass., March 31, 1914. AN EQUATION THE ANSWER WILL BE FOUND ASHIONS We Are Betrayed! Dear Live: Half of readers are asinine enough to think you are sensible; the other half are sensible enough to know you are asinine. Yours disgustediy, Raatsay Srintman, your 1914. Naughty? Epivor Lire: Deepest sympathy for your loss of the subscription of the Rev. A. W. M., mis- sionary to somewhere in India. Christian religions admit that the benighted and norant heathen is not deprived of wings, halo and harp, regardless of his knowledge of aviation, color of hair, or musical ability. Why send missionaries to teach the poor cuss the beautiful doc- trines of Hell, Eternal Punishment and Infant Damnation when he has been get- ting along nicely for years and years worshipping (at no cost, mind you, other than that of manufacturing) his little wooden god with a clam-chowder can for a crown? Why is a missionary, anyway? WwW. HS Asuvstot, N, H. March 12, 19. Referring to Our Humorous Number Lire, Gentlemen: You must know what you could not so avoided it. humor is or completely have Truly yours, Duptry W. Eaton. Kaysas City, Mo, April 15, 19174. OOLISH — ON PACE 834 OF THIS ISSUE comichooks.c