Life, 1914-09-10 · page 41 of 48
Life — September 10, 1914 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mixes fiction, poetry, and social commentary typical of *Life*'s satirical format. **The narrative** at top depicts a romantic triangle—a man and woman kissing are caught by "Billy," who graciously accepts it, declaring the man the only person he'd trust with "this little girl." The satire likely mocks sentimental melodrama and naive trust. **The poetry section** by Max Eastman attacks E.S. Martin, mocking his claim that professional hoboes (including Upton Sinclair and Pancho Villa) lack intelligence. Eastman retorts that Martin's refined writing obscures harsh social reality behind "smiling fineness" while ignoring "multitudinous reality" and "rough and bloody" truth. **The cartoons below** are minor: one about phonograph records being temperamental, another a domestic joke about a woman delaying ("It's so dreadfully hot sitting here in the broiling sun"). The page exemplifies *Life*'s blend of literary debate and light humor, with Eastman's critique representing early-20th-century progressive calls for social realism over genteel aestheticism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
I ae ee ee ee ee RO al wanted to be your best friend, and now it’s all over—I can’t help it. I love you!” Suddenly he caught her in his arms and kissed her. “Don't!” she whispered weakly. “Billy's coming.” But she did not resist. The boat had landed. There was a rustle below the bank-on the gravel path. A shout. Billy stood before them. “Ah! Here you are!” he shouted. He touched her lips slightly with his. Then he turned to her companion, shaking him by the hand. “TI was thinking, old man, as I came up.” he said, “ what it means to have a friend. Do you know, you are the only man in the world I would dare trust with this little girl!” To Edward S. Martin From a Professional Hobo. Are our best people intelligent? Of course they are not, absolutely ; but are they relatively intelligent— wise, that is, compared with profes- sional hoboes like Leonard D. Ab- bott, Upton Sinclair, Max Eastman, Becky Edelson, “ Wild Joe” O'Cai roll, Frank Tannenbaum and Pancho Villa? —E.S Martin, in Lire, July 2, 1914. OW old, my friend, is that fine- pointed pen Wherewith in smiling quietude you trace The maiden maxims of your writing- place, And o'er this gripped and mortal- sweating den And battle-pit of hunger, now and then Dip out, with nice and intellectual grace, The faultless wisdoms of a nurtured race Of pale-eyed, pink, and perfect gen- tlemen! How long have art and wit and poetry, With all their power, been content, like you, To gild the smiling fineness of the few. To filmy-curtain what they dare not see In multitudinous reality, The rough and bloody soul of what is true! Max Eastman. Artistic “Dkk. UW. 7.1) Tie Customer: These grand-opera A Reliable Horse Nail phonograph records are no good. I can't Horse Owners can depend upon “The Cape- get anything out of half of them. well” nail. Costs but a small fractionofa! = = Tie Saursmax: They are our finest F225 Per fore shod than cheapin- | | achievement. You never can tell when {see bread; Best i tee warts ore these records will sing. They're so tem- gf gy yrsagpnberrs peramental.—London- Opinion. ford it. Holds shoes best. P “LOVING citizens of this countr; Tnvitations, Announcements, Ete. wACE ne y 100 in script lettering, including two will now rise up and tender a hearty He: Marvy DEAR, CAN'T You HURRY A sets of cavelopen, $2.50. Write for vote of thanks to Columbus for having LITTLE? 11'S SO DREADF MOT SITTING 100 Visiting Cards, 50c. ’ comichooks.coiy) L. OTT ENGRAVING CO. 1010 Chesteet 8 Philadelphia, Pas discovered America.—Chicago Herald. HERE IN THE BROLLING