Life, 1914-09-03 · page 44 of 48
Life — September 3, 1914 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes **advertisements with satirical content** about American urban culture. ## The Satire: "The New Yorker" The central essay mockingly describes a stereotypical New York City resident as a hypocrite: someone who constantly complains about NYC's restaurants, transportation, taxes, and corrupt politicians—*while* refusing to admit New York has flaws to outsiders. He insists "Little old New York is good enough for me" despite his constant griping. The satire targets **provincial insularity and self-deceptive civic pride**. ## Advertisements The page features ads for **Paris Garters** (men's suspenders) and **Milo cigarettes**, typical consumer products of the era. ## "Vanity Fair" Testimonials The right side collects endorsements from notable figures (Frederick MacMonnies, Jack London, Joseph H. Choate, Ida M. Tarbell, Daniel Chester French) praising Condé Nast's new *Vanity Fair* magazine, positioned as sophisticated and culturally important. The page reflects early 1900s American consumer culture and reflects on urban versus provincial American identity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
POPULAR SONG ILLUSTRATED “HEAR YOU CALLING ME” GARTERS No metal can touch you WHEN your dealer offers you PARIS GARTERS it’s a sign that he wants you to have the best. He may make more money on others; but as a good merchant he wants you to get the greatest possible value. 25c—50c. A. Stein & Company, Makers CHICAGO—NEW YORK Cork Tips in the M Yellow Label Box The New Yorker EE the New Yorker! This gentleman is one of the most interesting heroes in fiction. Apart from the fact that he spends most of his time eating, reading the headlines of the papers, going to base- ball games and indecent plays, and trying to make a living by robbing everybody else, he is an upright and Christian character. The New Yorker works eleven months in the year, and the other he either goes abroad or South. His main object in life is to keep any information about the rest of the country out of his mind. If the New Yorker should know too much about any other place it might make him dissatisfied with New York. And no New Yorker is dissatisfied with New York. That is to say, he will not admit it outside of New York. When he is in New York he is con- stantly complaining about it. He complains about the outrageous prices at the restaurants. . He complains about the way his clothes are made. And the way his surface railways are built. And the way his taxes mount up. And the way he is robbed by the politicians whom he has voted into office, But if you ask him if there is any other place in the world but New York, he smiles serenely and says: “Little old New York is good enough for me.” VERY European monarch has a pet censor. Authentic Heard on the street-car: “ Three more German warships sunk this morning.” “Who by?” “Tain’t sure. Think it was the News.” —Detroit Free Press. Mars. Hiram Orrex: Your recommen- dations are rather poor, I must say. Maio: Well, mum, yez weren't recom- mended very highly to me, ayther. —Boston Transcript. VANITY FAIR TANITY FAIR is admirable. 1 am proud to be repr: in such a mag- azine. My sincere congratulations—you have given it the breath of life. —FREDERICK MACMONNIES FIND I really need Vanity Faiz. It k tag's lille touch wa A te Rippers insinceriies, vanitiey decadent arta, and sinister pleasures of life. JACK LONDON ye FAIR is a wonderful baby. Its summer, stré sound and lively and free from the usual perils of intestine war. —JOSEPH H. CHOATE FEEL that I ought to write you an amusing I letter, but how can I joke about "Vanity to say, finds it ti Freit An “equi Fair? Anything smart enough to wheedle haste twenty-five cents a month out of me is far too serious to joke about. —IDA M. TARBELL groun ment’ youngster has already developed an intelli- you I AM happy to observe that your precocious When gent and almost intemperate interest in want American art. areal —DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH | drink Published monthly 25 cents a copy $3 a year 443 Fourth Avenue, New York City Condé Nast, Publisher ask foi a It y stock supplic Ross