Life, 1917-02-22 · page 13 of 42
Life — February 22, 1917 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct items: **Top section:** "Why That Room Still Remains an Extra Guest Chamber" lists furnishings a husband and wife each wanted for a spare bedroom—his choices (desk, typewriter, Yale pictures, lamp, smoking stand, magazines) versus hers (sewing machine, sewing table, Vassar pictures, rocking chairs, fancy-work basket, magazines). The humor lies in the satirical gender divide: his space emphasizes intellectual/leisure pursuits; hers emphasizes domestic crafts. The "extra guest chamber" remains unused because they can't agree. **Lower section:** "The Poor Railroads" discusses how American railroads earned over one billion dollars net income yet faced government criticism for allegedly "watered stock" and other financial practices. The text suggests railroads were unfairly blamed during an era of changing economic fortunes. **Bottom cartoon:** "Father Washington—And Now With Your Little Hatchet You May Cut It Up Into Stove-Wood!" appears to satirize government attempts to break up or regulate railroad monopolies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GREAT AMERICANS MISS TOOTOO SWIFT, WHO KICKED THE COCKTAIL SHAKER OUT OF LORD SLAKING- THURST'S HAND The Poor Railroads ORE than one billion dollars net income from operations was made hy the railroads of the country in the year just closed, according to the. sta- tisticians of the Interstate Commerce Commission. It is unfortunate—for the railroads—that these startling fig- ures have so unceremoniously been dragged out into the rude glare of pub- licity by the discourteous government officials. In the good old days, as soon as the railroads discovered how much money they were making, they would immediately have given vent to a loud lament that their losses were frightful, cut large melons of watered stock, raised passenger and freight rates— and carried through their little game most successfully. It is, indeed, high- ly unfortunate that the times have changed—unfortunate for the rail- roads, , 301 Why That Room Still Remains an Extra Guest Chamber WHAT HE WANTED THERE D*s* and swivel chair, Typewriter. A few college pictures (Yale) His favorite bobks. Lamp selected with the sole idea of affording a good reading light. Two morris chairs, Pipe rack. Magazine stand containing copies of System, Outlook, Collier's, ete. Smoking stand. Fifteen ash trays, WHAT SHE WANTED THERE Sewing machine. Sewing table. A few college pictures (Vassar). Her favorite books. Lamp selected with the sole idea of conforming to proposed color scheme (pink). Two rocking chairs. Basket for fancy work. Magazine stand containing copies of Good Housekeeping, Vogue, etc. Bon-bon dish. Five plants and nine vases for cut flowers. Hayward Bartlett. Her Wish LIA: Is the plumber coming again to-morrow, Bridget? Sure he is. nd will he begin where he left off? “Oi hopes so. He was on the point av kissin’ me whin he left to-day.” Father Washington: xp Now wit TL HATCHET you UP INTO STOVE-woop! comicbooks.com