Life, 1915-09-23 · page 15 of 48
Life — September 23, 1915 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The cartoon at the top of the page depicts a whimsical scene of tiny figures engaged in dining and dancing atop what appears to be a large table or platter. The figures are rendered in a playful, diminutive style—consistent with early 20th-century Life magazine's satirical humor. Below this is "The Black Door," a short story by Gordon Seagrove featuring Lieutenant Townley and Captain Von Dee. The narrative concerns military prisoners facing execution and themes of honor, sacrifice, and forbidden love. The story appears to be dramatic fiction rather than satire. The cartoon's precise satirical target is unclear from the image alone, but its small-scale figures engaged in civilized dining suggest possible commentary on society's absurdities or human pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ae ¥ to the door. The man who stepped within carried an armful of packages. With her eyes riveted on these, her own arms tightened around the emaciated form she held. “Maery!” said the newcomer, gently. “*Ye have been telling me I'd be finding the Christ Child if I tried hard—I do remember ye said He always came to the pooer an’ sick first; to the honest an’ thru! Ye knew, Maery, me girl! . Sure, it’s in the holy name of ye—the faith. Well, I found Him to-night!" He stood silent, his lips twitching and aoe ~ ¥ y A DINNER-DANCE his face drawn against an emotion that shamed him. ‘A wordless cry came from the woman. She struggled to her knees and leaned toward him, her eyes shining with the light that ever is on land and sea where angels pass. “Mike! Where?” The packages slipped from Mike's arms to the floor, and his lifted face blanched with the wonder of some far-away scene, and a revelation undreamed of in his hard, narrow life. And then with 2 twinkle in his Irish eyes: “In the heart of a Jew,” he whispered. The Black Door ‘By Gordon Seagrove “fT IEUTENANT TOWNLEY,” said Captain Von Dee sharply, “as a spy you will be executed in two hours. Persuant to my custom you will be given a choice in the matter. Either you may elect to be shot in the customary manner, or you may pass through the Black Door which you’ see behind me. State your choice when the hour comes.” Von Dee—“ Von Dee, the whimsical” they called him in the trenches—turned to his reports while Lieutenant Townley was led back to the cell. A great hope- lessness fell upon the latter. So this was the end then? All his hopes, his plans with regard to marriage to Cecile were to be swept away. It was difficult to realize that in another hour he would be sepa- rated by an unfathomable void from the woman whom he loved like life itself and trusted like no man had ever trusted woman before. “Shot... or the Black Door... .” Von Dee's words came back to him. What horrible fate—which legend held was worse than death—met those who passed beyond the Black Door? He knew that not one of death prisoners had dared to pass beyond it. Each had chosen death at the hands of the firing squad, A half hour passed. Then, suddenly, a scrap of paper fluttered into his hands. He opened it and read: “ Choose the Black Door. I know.” It was signed “ Cecile". Now the hour for the execution could not come soon enough. Cecile had re- membered! Cecile had saved him. Per- haps behind the Black Door he would oniy be maimed or crippled and could go back to Cecile. As the guards led him into Von Dee’s quarters his heart pounded gladly, In the gloom of the LEAT HO room he could sce Von Dee and a stranger talking. In another moment he would tell Captain Von Dee that he, Lieutenant Townley, elected to pass through the Black Door. He waited. Apparently his presence was not noted. He could hear scraps of conversation: “I've always main- tained,” Von Dee was “that, no matter how brave a man, he will choose a known form of death rather than an unknown, . ” There was a lull, and then the other voice said: “And you are the only one who knows what lies beyond the Black Door?” " Von Dee answered his brother. “ A woman knows.” Then he added with a light laugh: “She was a former mis- tress of mine! Lieutenant Townley heard, trembled, turned white, then stiffened. Von Dee was before him, talking. “ Well, tenant,” he said, “do you clect Black Door?" “T do not!" the prisoner answered. Von Dee nodded to the guards who led Lieutenant Townley aw: A moment later came the report of the firing squad on the drill grounds. “What did I tell you!” cried Von Dee to his brother. “ Lieutenant Townley, one of the bravest, couldn't face the un- known, He went the usual way.” For several moments he puffed his cigar silently, then: “ Birwitz,” he asked sud- den, do you know what lies beyond the Black Door?” The younger Von head. “ Freedom,” said Captain Von Dee. “And I've never man brave enough to take i the Dee shook his met a comicbooks.com