Life, 1917-08-30 · page 16 of 40
Life — August 30, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"The Charity Bazaar" cartoon** satirizes wealthy socialites at a fundraising event. The illustration shows well-dressed attendees in an ornate setting, mocking how the affluent view charity galas—suggesting the event is more about social display than genuine philanthropy for those of "moderate means" (the title's ironic reference to wealthy people). **"The Four Generations"** is a social commentary on technological generational divides: the eldest rejects modern games; the next generation won't use phones or cars; the third type-writes poorly; only the youngest naturally adapt to new technology. This reflects early-20th-century anxieties about rapid technological change fragmenting society across age groups. **"The Lyric Baedecker: Seattle"** by Arthur Guiterman humorously catalogs Seattle's boasts—its growth, beauty, low death-rate, landmarks like Snoqualmie Falls and Mount Rainier. The satire lies in the excessive civic pride and one revealing line: citizens are polite "except when you flatter Tacoma"—mocking Seattle's rivalry with its neighboring city.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE CHARITY BAZAAR AS IT SEEMS TO A PERSON OF MODERATE MEANS The Four Generations OUR generations of us now share life, The oldest belongs defiantly to the past, and will not learn bridge whist. The next dislikes the telephone, and will not operate the typewriter or the automobile. The third is modern, writes with a typewriter or fountain-pen—and badly at that—does all errands and gi all mes: all the parietal and ground-going mechanisms, and aspires to mana; Besides these there s hy telephone, operat dren, growing up, of course, to be at home in the world they find, and to whom its appliances are second nature. ALL ON ACCOUNT OF KULTUR The Lyric Baedeker Seattle ER carliest settlers, in brief, Arrived with their guns and their cattle, And took from an Indian chief The site and the name of Seattle. | And now, with unanimous voice, Their progeny, brave and prolific, Proclaim that the town of their choice Is Queen of the Azure Pacific! Her thoroughfares bustle and hum; (Her neighboring ranges are gla- cial) ; They boast that she hasn't a slum; Her dwellings are simply palatial. Her lakes, newly joined to the Sound, Are rated as chief of her glories; q Her buildings are widely renowned— The tallest has forty-two stories! Her death-rate’s as low as can be; Her climate is bracing, yet balmy ; And everyone tells you to see Her thundering Falls of Snoqualmie. Her forested parkways invite The stranger with piney aroma; Her citizens all are polite— Except when you flatter Tacoma. Her maidens are none of them plain, You'll nowhere find men who are 1 brainier ; And if she has plenty of rain Her favorite mountain is Rainier. Arthur Guiterman. + DRAFT = comicbooks.