Life, 1916-10-05 · page 40 of 42
Life — October 5, 1916 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page commemorates Mark Twain's death, reprinting his famous quip: "The rumor of my death is greatly exaggerated"—a remark he made when newspapers mistakenly reported his death years earlier. The article praises Twain's literary achievements and his universal appeal—his works translated globally, read by everyone from Chinese laborers to European royalty. It emphasizes his simple, clear writing style combined with profound philosophy about human nature. The primary content is advertising for a discounted "Mark Twain Complete Works" set (25 volumes), marketed as the author's own preferred collection. The accompanying illustration shows an elderly Twain with a young child, sentimentalizing his legacy for American families. This is essentially a sales pitch dressed as an obituary tribute, urging readers to purchase the complete set during a closing sale, framed as honoring the recently departed American literary icon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fal bl “The Rumor of my Death is Greatly Exaggerated ’’ | | E was togive a lecture that night in London. vel i 25 VOLUMES Novels Stories Humor Essays Travels History Bound in dark green cloth —gald tops, gold lec ges The papers printed a report that he was dead. They hastened to send messengers. He greeted the messengers himself and sent back these words: “The rumor of my death is greatly ex- aggerated.”” laughed. And the world breathed freely and The world breathed freely at that time, but it was a dark day a few years later when that bright and brave spirit passed serenely to rest. MARK TWAIN But he would not have you weep for him. He would have you find comfort in laughter, as he did himself. Many the day you have laughed yourself into serenity over “Huckleberry Finn” or “Innocents Abroad.” And many a time your laughter has stuck in your throat over their pathos and their truth. Even the sublime tragedy of Mark Twain's“ Joan of Arc” shows a glint here and there of his whimsi- cal turn of mind, that makes clearer and bright- er the most splendid story in all the world’s history. Itis a long cry from the ridiculous in “Tom Sawyer” to the sublime in “Joan of Are,” and theman whocould write them both was great beyond our words to tell. He had a style so simple, so clear, so sure, that it does | not seem a style at all. But beyond the style, there is a sane and true philosophy of life and an understanding of the human heart—greatness of soul. That is why Mark Twain has been translated into all languages—why he is read in Chinese on the banks of the Yangste Kiang, why the por- ter at his lodgings in Vienna flew to do him service and showed him proudly his own set in German, why the King of England delighted to walk and to talk with him, why you and your children must have him where you can put your hands on him any moment. The American spirit of de- mocracy and simplicity seems to be fading away. Get it back for yourself through Mark Twain, Half-price Sale Closes This is Mark Twain’s own set. he wanted in the home of each of those who love | Mark Twain knew what hard times meant. him. Because he asked it, Harper’s have worked This is the set | “WOEFUL WAIST MAKES WILFUL WANT” Books Received The Victor Book of the Opera, by Vic tor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J Malice in Kulturland, by Horace Wyatt. (E, P. Dutton & Co. 60 cents.) The Pleasant Ways of St. Medard, by Grace King. (Henry Holt & Co. $1.40.) At the Siog of the Rolling. Pin. (Pub- lished by the Stivers Printing Co, Mid- dictown, N. Y.) The Wastrel Hoard, by Frank Hend rick. (Puritan Play Co., New York.) Heinrich Conrad, by Montrose J Moses. (T. Y. Crowell & Co.) The Penny Piper of Saranac, by Stephen Chalmers. (Houghton, Mifflin Co. 75 cents.) P The Hausfrau Rampant, by E. V. Lu- cas, (Geo. H. Doran Co. $1.30.) Chloe Malone, by Fannie Heaslip Lea. (Little, Brown & Co. $1.35.) The Sapphire Signet, by Augusta Huiell Seaman. (Century Co. $1.25.) The Private Secretary, His Duties and Opportunities, by Edward Jones Kilduff. (Century Co. $1.20.) Wilson and the Issues, by Creel. (Century Co. 60 cents.) Gulliver the Great, by Walter A. Dyer. (Century Co. Boyhood Si Katherine Dunlap Cather. George jories of Famous Men, by (Century Co. y illustrat to make a perfect set at a reduced price. MARPER & The Keys of the City, by Oscar Graeve (Century Co. $1.35.) The Woman Gives, by Owen Johnson (Little, Brown & Co. $1.40.) Seeing the World Through a Porthole, by J. A. Guthrie, M.D. (J. P. Bell Co., Lynchburg, Va.) Dances, Drills and Story Plays, by Nina B, Lamkin. ¢T. $. Denison & Co. Chicago, Il.) Bonnie May, by Louis Dodge. Scribner's Sons. $1.35.) A Slay Soul, by Alexander Kuprin. (G. P. Putnam's Sons. $1.50.) The Rising Tide, by Margaret Deland (Harper & Bros. $1.35.) . Before the war we had a contract price for paper, so we could sell this set of Mark Twain at a reduced price. BROTHERS The last of the edition isin sight. The price of paper has gone up. There Franklin Sq. can be no more Mark Twain at the present price. New York Please send =me MARK TWAIN'S WORKS. I may keep this set for ten days for ¢xamination aed = return it to you, at your expense, if I do not want to keep it. M1 keep the books I will remit $2.00 a month until the $25 has been paid. Life 10 There never again will be any more Mark Twain at the present price. Get the 25 volumes now, while you can. Every American has got to have a set of Mark Twain in his home. Get this now and save money. Send Coupon Without Money This is the first announcement of the final closing of thesale. Your children want Mark Twain. You want him. Send this coupon today—now—while you are looking at it, (Chas. PETER J. CAREY, PRINTER