Life, 1918-04-18 · page 36 of 40
Life — April 18, 1918 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page primarily advertises John Ames Mitchell's novel *Drowsy*, a detective story about a private investigator named Mr. Buncum Potts solving a theft at a millinery (hat) shop. The excerpt shown depicts Potts reassuring a worried husband (Mr. Bingtop) that his wife wasn't the actual thief, then dramatically producing the real culprit within exactly fifty minutes—a comedic beat emphasizing the detective's competence. The satire is gentle: the melodramatic detective-story genre itself, with its convenient plot resolutions and emotional wife-characters. The page also mocks Life magazine subscribers as the measure of cultured intelligence (a humorous self-promotion by the magazine). The remaining content consists of period advertisements: Old Town Canoes and Cheona Evans Ale. No political cartoons or caricatures appear on this page.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HIS i the life! What. satis: Net faction it is to skim along in ae an Old Town “Sponson Model,”” DUNLO the safest canoe in the world! The air I've chamber on either side prevents cap- over fr sizing and makes it_posi- : ely em inkable. The Canoeing at wonder “Sponson” is th Mary driving canoe for family use. Senet Many other models. Write for catalog. D OLD TOWN GOL CANOE CO. 1734 Middle St. Old Town, Maine pe size, th passed f Note its ing adv the gree Slad Love that is stronger than death and longing, that is mightier than separation are motive powers in DROWSY a story of conquest over space and matter. It’s the latest novel by Joun “Mrs, Bingtop?” “Yes, sir.” The bright young made an almost in} his employer, who turned to Mr. Bingtop. ceptible “This lady has confessed that she committed the cri: in one of our lar She was arrested st milliner’s establish- ments.” Mrs. Bingtop turned to Mr. Buncum Potts. Her eyes were filled with tears, “How can I thank you enough,” she said, “for what you have done for my husband? Without your help he would have worried himself sick over this mystery. Besides, I have spent all the money.” Ames MircuHe.t, author of Amos se Doms mention "replied the great soseea detective modest Judd,” “The Pines of Lory,’” etc. As for Mr. Bingtop, he was too much W | overcome to express himself. All he Published by Stokes. Sent upon receipt could do, after paying his bill, which Cre ee i amounted to one hundred dollars, was to re of $1.50 by Lire Pustisninc Company, een repeating to his wife, as he escorted é . , her down: 2 _ ; : 17 West 31st Street, New York City. Marvelous man! Marvelous man!" |) She t aye HE metric system supplies many For r 5 Second Edition | standards by which to measure ma- | terial things. Only one standard is Her necessary to determine a person's gen- eral culture, sense of humor and all- The around intelligence. That is whether | he is or is not an annual subscriber to “Je Lire. | —— = The NLTLOING He “Je | 4 Evans . —— = = = = NON-INTOXICATING a For dred dollar bill about with me before.” “in fifty minutes. Meanwhile, have “Pardon me, Mr. Bingtop, if I ask you a cigar, and here's the morning paper.” a rather personal question. This, of Turning to his desk, the great detee- course, is strictly confidential, and I as- tive became speedily engrossed in some Fall sure you T should not ask it unless it of his knotty problems. Mr. Bingtop, was abaclutely necessary. Have: you. any confident in his powers, serenely read the a delightful, nourishing beverage that can be | reason to suspect that your wife is not paper. taken with pleasure and benefit at all times. strictly honest?” In exactly fifty minutes there was a Particalarly gratifying in Springtime. R “Well, I have sometimes thought—’ knock at the door. Up to date Grocert, Droggits ad Dealers whi “That will do, Mr. Bingtop. I have “Come in,” said Mr. Buncum Potts. CTL EVANS & SONS, Extabitsbed 1780, HUDSON, S31. | no desire to pursue a painful subject The bright-looking young man entered la, further than our system requires. I shall He was followed by a tall, thin, rather OV: oe have a report— handsome woman, who wore a new hat. ce Mr. Buncum Potts consulted his watch. Mr. Potts arose and bowed rem amy BYEnION ure tid comicbooksena