Life, 1915-02-25 · page 37 of 44
Life — February 25, 1915 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines literary criticism with period advertising. The left side reviews "The River," a novel by Ednah Aiken about engineer K.C. Rickard who successfully dams the Colorado River—a feat his predecessor Hardin failed at. The review, written in verse, celebrates Rickard's triumph over both the river and personal obstacles (Hardin's resentful staff and sister). The satire is gentle: the final lines joke that the novel reads so competently it seems a man must have written it, despite Aiken being a woman author—a backhanded compliment reflecting early 20th-century gender biases about technical writing. The right side features a Southern Pacific railroad advertisement promoting the "Sunset Limited" train to California Expositions (likely the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition), emphasizing modern safety features and comfort. Both reflect era-typical American optimism about engineering prowess and westward expansion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE OPTIMIST'S FIRST BITE Rhymed Reviews The River (By Ednah Aiken. Bobbs-Merrill Co.) AGAIN: again an Engineer Has dammed the rushing Colo- rado, As thousands have, in words, severe, Since first 'twas found by Coronado. With piles of dirt and rock and pelf And mats of osier, deftly wickered He made that stream behave itself! His name is Mr. K. C. Rickard. The bungling lout who first essayed The réle that Rickard later starred in (And what an awful mess he made!) Was Rickard's former classmate, Hardin. And, hurt by Hardin's due disgrace, His men, and Innes, Hardin's sister, Surveyed the man who took his place With scowls ;—they loved him like a blister ! Exquisitely Blended and Marked for Your Personal Use by the Makers of Sb wes Thet Cigarette of Elegant Parity Sold ot 30 Cents the Box for the Large Size, by Mail or All Dealers Who Cater to the Celtivated , Itis our very special business to make cigarettes to the order of those who ap- preciate true tobacco of Turkish grow- ing, selected—not only as to the plant —but as to the part of the plant which is the freest from nicotine and where the true tobacco flavor attains its max- imum of delicacy and sweetne 1 | Your 30 cents for trial box will be re- without argument, CIGARETTES MARKED WEFH YOUR INITIAL $3.00 + check oF money onter Inte aa envelope along w! igureries for the Fdveated Taste", wwers of the good things of lite TCHARIC, SIMLEH & COMPANY; Inc. 114.116 East 28th Street Ys “Off to the Californi ornia Expositions’ Shithienn Pacific Sunset Route ‘THE EXPOSITION LINE Goer bye to snow and shivers! Now for the sunshine and roses of Cali- fornia and the magic of the Expositions! Over the Route of Safety on the luxurious Sunset Limited (Every Day in the Year—No Extra Fare) New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Athousand wonders to enjoy through open windows; Automatic Electric Safety Signals; Oil-burning locomo- tives—No cinders, no dust; Through Dining and Observation cars, Choice of Water or Rail Lines to New Orleans Write for illustrated literature and other information. NEW YORK CITY 366 Broadway HOUSTON Southern Pacific Bldg. Asencies all over the United States, Mexico, Cuba, Europe NEW ORLEANS Me itan Bank Bide. SAN FRANCISCO Flood Building Rickard — triumphed, though A lot of matters gave him trouble: The River tried to overflow And wash his work away in rubble. With turbid waves from sources hid Tt swelled the channel full and jammed it; But while the Colorado did lis damndest, “Casey” Rickard dammed it. fight and Innes, too (Of course!)—but never think I’m jeering; This yarn is stronger than a slew Of kindred yarns of engineering. ‘Twas some surprise, in fact, to find That any woman's brain had spur (1 hope the Author doesn’t mind), It reads as though a man had done it arthur Guiterman,