Life — March 1, 1917 — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Facts and Fiction I we should go stati subject of fiction writers and fiction readers, we should undoubtedly find that the ratio of fiction writers to the whole number. of writers is equal to the ratio of fiction readers to the whole number of readers. Moreover, it would be a very high ratio, and for the same reason in each case. Men and women write and read fiction because it is so much easier to write and read fiction than it is to write and read facts, In writing fiction one needs to know practically nothing. Nothing has to be correct, and nothing proved. One's imagination may be allowed full swing. It is merely a question of holding the in- terest of bored people whose interest is easily held. So in reading fiction, one doesn’t have to concentrate. There is nothing that the reader is supposed to know after the book is finished. One can read the first chapter, then turn over to the last chapter to see how it “ comes out.” Upon the rest, if he wishes, he can exercise his own imagination, which in many cases is quite as good as the writer's, On the other hand, it takes a great deal of preliminary work even to discover a few facts. Then it takes a great deal of writing to make those few facts clear and set them in their proper relation to other facts. Then it takes a great deal of per- sistence to get the favorable attention of a publisher, after which it is almost im- possible to find readers with the neces. sary inclination, time and intelligence to A NEW LIFE PRINT son. Life Pub. Co. The Boy Who Became a Lawyer Printed in colors on fine Bristol Board, plate-marked. Size 12 x 16 in. 25 cents each Sent prepaid on receipt of remittance LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 17 West 3ist Street, New York Maer at the Post Ofice Department, Canada, fas Serene “Copyright ta England and the British Possess $1575 7 passenger touring. 125 inch wheelbase. 416 inch tires. Six-40 120 inch wheelbase. ST ne Marion-Handley has a quiet and unobtrusive individuality that is appealing; nothing freakish in design, construction or finish. Perhaps only the keenly observant instinctively sense that it is out of the ordinary, and owned by out of the ordinary motorists. And that is well, because restrained expression of individuality is a form of artistry, which is lost when it passes to the point of general attraction. Not every man will appreciate the subtle touch of distinction in this Six Pre-eminent. We are content that this is so, because we want, as far as pos- sible, to interest those who appreciate just such a peculiar type of individuality as we suggest. See this unusual car at any of the addresses named below. THE MUTUAL MOTORS CO., JACKSON, MICH. SPECIAL MARION-HANDLEY DISTRIBUTING DEPOTS GIVEN BELOW if none is near you, write for catalog and local dealer's address polle— LaCrosse Auto © Augusta, Ga,—Leamtard Motor & Supply ( Rroklye, N. ¥,—Joo. P. Agnew, Ine, land Co. C. Jim Stewart & Sterensin Kaosar—0) itor Sales Co. Padgett & profit by the book, to say nothing of hav- ing the book profit by the readers. Men and women who will eagerly devour a four-million-page novel of De Morgan's could not be bribed to read a ten-page pamphlet containing the facts, say, of our present money laws. No wonder truth is stranger than fic- tion: we spend so much less time getting acquainted with it. Ellis O. Jones OW do you know she is a nice woman?” “T know the women who hate her Capable Couple CAPABLE couple.” “So?” “Yes; he is furnishing the house by means of tobacco coupons, and she is decorating it with bridge prizes.” AVE a heart,” said the news- dealer to the irate customer who had failed to order in advance and was berating him because the dealer had sold out all his copies of Lave. comicbooks.com