Life, 1917-11-01 · page 14 of 38
Life — November 1, 1917 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Section ("No Hope"):** A satirical dialogue between two men. One asks the other increasingly suggestive questions—about smoking, "delicious little favors," perfume—all of which the other man prudishly refuses. The joke mocks Victorian-era sexual prudishness and the impossibility of romantic/seductive interaction when one party refuses all conventional flirtation. **Bottom Section ("The Mystery of a Dead Man's Trust"):** Discusses an unsolved legal matter involving a bequest of 300 shares from a deceased Connecticut manufacturer (Gilbert of Redding). Three trustees control accumulated dividends intended for Lir's Fresh Air Farm charity. The mystery: why do the trustees withhold substantial funds ($10,000+) meant for poor children's welfare? The satire implies the trustees' motives are questionable. **Fashion illustrations:** Two women in period dress, apparently unrelated commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Mystery of a Dead Man’s Trust HERE is an unsolved mystery con- nected with a bequest of three hun- dred shares of the Gilbert Manufac- turing Company disposed of under the will of the late Edwin H. Gilbert of Redding, Connecticut, and now in the hands of Davin H. Minter of Georgetown, Con- necticut; Daniet Dav necticut Dr. R, W. Lowe of Ridgefield, Con- necticut, and certain employees and relatives of Mr. Miller as trustees. The trust created by the will is based on this clause: “ The dividends and income thereof to he used for the support and maintenance of the work carried on at said Lire Farm,” the reference being to Lire’s Fresh Air Farm at Branchville. The “dividends and income” ac- crued on the stock which Mr Gilbert's will entrusted to the keeping of his friends has accumulated in their hands since December, 1910, and now amounts port of Bridgeport, Con- to considerably more than ten thousand dollars. The health and safety of the poor children Lire sends to the farm would he safeguarded by a considerable ex- penditure for improved sanitation and fireproof construction. Lire’s Fresh ¢ io] “PAUL GOOLO IF WE HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP TO WEAR THIS COSTUME AND NO OTHER, Air Fund has made repeated requests and demands for the accumulated funds in the hands of the trustees to be expended for these and similar pur- poses, The trustees still hang on to the money. Under the laws of the State No Hope you ever smoked a ciga- “Have innuendoes become second- nature to you?” “No, sir.” “Can you give a delicious little shiver?” “N-no, s “Do your lips become tremulous, your soul come to your eyes, when stirred by the divine passion?” “II am afraid not, sir.” “And do you put a gossamery bit of lace, faintly scented with a heart- quickening perfume, to your eyes?” “N-n-no, sir.” Then we are both wasting time. You cannot be the heroine of any modern story. WOULD THERE BE AS MANY FIGURES LIKE THIS IN THE WORLD? of Connecticut they cannot be com- pelled to release their strangle hold. The mystery is, Why do they keep the money from the children? They are presumably reputable men, and the trust of their dead friend was a ‘very simple one.