Life, 1915-02-11 · page 29 of 44
Life — February 11, 1915 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical commentary on early 1900s American celebrities and social figures, presented as mock letters from fictional "Hon." (Honorable) characters. **Main targets:** - **Harry Thaw**: A wealthy socialite mocked for spending $1,000,000 on a New England vacation - **George M. Cohan**: A celebrated playwright/performer criticized for abandoning serious dramatic art for profitable musical reviews (seen as commercial sellout) - **Krupp field guns**: A reference to German military weapons, used in a surreal joke comparing subway trains to weapons of war—both "achievements of modern times" that kill people **The satire's point**: The piece mocks wealthy elites for frivolous spending, artists compromising artistic integrity for money, and includes cynical commentary on warfare technology. The postal pigeon character literally deflates ("zero with nothing inside it"), suggesting these critiques are hollow gossip. The illustration shows a figure juggling—likely representing Cohan's divided attention between art forms.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sezerreress (Sr WIP Skcres + “Geo. M. Cohan are forsacking serious dramatic art” The tremendulous science with which professors of knowledge has built you to be more durable than pyramids. In all respects mentioned above, I also admire Krupp field guns. I ask to enquire. Why are Subway like Krupp gun? I answer, Hon. Primrose. Because both is greatest achievement of modern times And neither Can restore to life the people they kills, Croak!” Hon. Postal Pidgeon nextly tune up his harmonious bill: “How do, 245 Hon. Harry Thaw! I hope you enjoyed your outing in New England, where city boarders is always welcome spending money. I am told by many unreliable sources That your slight jaunter among friends Cost 1,000,000$. We must worry! Considerable millionaires. has spent considerable more on vacation and had considerable less good time. Next time you escape I hope you do so more quietly.” Now is turn for me to burb up, “O Hon. Geo. M. Cohan, I am told to understand That you are forsacking Scrious Dramatic Art For merely light froth Of Musical Reviews. How shameful That Shakespeare kid of your sublimity of poetickal gift, inspirational up- liftment and devotedness to New Theatre movements, Should go in At this lateness of date For merely making moncy!!” But while I said thus Hon. Mail Pidgeon Turn himself into parcel postage And splutter away Looking like A zero with nothing inside it. Hoping you are the same Yours truly Hasuiavra Toco, (Per Wallace Irwin.) CONGRESSIONAL debate is a scheme for keeping people from finding out what they are talking “ AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST”