Life, 1918-05-23 · page 37 of 40
Life — May 23, 1918 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical short story in *Life* magazine paired with a W.L. Douglas shoe advertisement. **The Satire:** The story presents Martian visitors studying human character flaws. Theophrastus is ordered to display "specimens" of defective humans: the inconsiderate friend, the boastful man obsessed with possessions, the chronically late person, and the stingy individual. By framing these character types as curiosities worthy of Martian observation, the satire mocks these vices as absurdly common human failings—suggesting they're so prevalent they exemplify humanity itself. The humor relies on the reader recognizing these types in their own society and social circles, creating self-aware commentary about modern manners and morality. **Context:** This reflects early 20th-century satirical tradition, where fictional aliens or foreign observers serve as mirrors to expose societal problems through exaggeration and irony. The adjacent Douglas shoe ad is unrelated advertising content typical of magazine layout from this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ingly ift up * song The Committee from Mars COMMITTEE was sent from Mars to discover what were the charac- teristics of human beings, in order that the lessons thus learned might be applied to Mars, When it was ascertained that the com- mittee had arrived, a citizen named Theophrastus was ordered to show them samples of human beings. He thereupon produced the following specimens : The man who is inconsiderate of his friends, who, lacking the imagination or insight to place himaclf in nother’s shoes, is constantly saying things that offend, and betraying himself by his bad manners through ignorance. The man whose possessions are always better than those of anyone else; whose motor car climbs hills better, whose house is more perfectly appointed, whose wife is handsomer, Such a man appears to believe that, owing to some magic power, every material thing which comes within the zone of his ownership takes on an increased virtue. The man who never keeps his engage- ments, who is always behind time, and who, when reproached for this, becomes very angry at the idea that anyone should question for a moment his excuse, which “THE BOY WHO PECCED SHOES” STARTED | ]) IN MANUFACTURING. THE OUTPUT WAS. L. DOUGLAS “THE SHOE THAT HOLDS ITS SHAPE” $3 $3.5084 $4.50 $5 $6 $7 & $8 W. L. Douglas name and the et Mp2 retail price is stamped on the ue bottom of every pair of shoes © Q before they leave the factory. The value is guaranteed and the wearer protected against high prices for inferior shoes. | is always—from his standpcint—a_per- oa save’ money by wear: ing W. L. Douglas shoes. The best known shoes in the world. Tre quality of W. L. Douglas product is Remove unwanted hair rae Dating | __gurastecdby more than 40 yearsex- perience in making fine shoes. The smart stylesare the leaders in the fashion centres ae . . erica. They are made in a well- Best fa the World Only a few minutes to remove equipped factory at Brockton, Mass., by $3 $2.50 $2 unwanted hair from underarms, the highest paid, skilled shoemakers, under the direction and . supervision of experienced men, all working with anhonest deter- s atory is harmless ; 1 = minationtomake the best shoes for the price that money can buy. keeps skin hair-free a long time. ‘ : Tre retail prices are the same everywhere. They cost no Nothing permanently removes hair : more in San Francisco than they do in New York. They without harm. are always worth the price paid for them. < CAUTION — Before you buy be sure W.L. Douglas name ak Depilatory harm] essly BOYS SHOES and the retail price is stamped on the bottom and the in= aide top facing. This is your only protection against Nigh prices forinferior shoes, BEWARE OF FRAUD. rer 9000 jealers and 105 W.L.D. ienttocallat W.L_Douslasstore.ssk your local d make. Write for booklet, showing bow to order President bes W. L. DOUGLAS SHOE CO, 147 Spark St., Brockton, Mass. Factory showing 30x60ft.room in which W. L. Douglas began manufacturing, July 6, 1876. Copyright. W.LDouglas Shoe Co. He at druggists @ department seres—or send Sect with price, w George i. Eraas, Liu The man who is so mean that the prin- question. You are to show AL-MO TRANSFORMERS ___ Save Gasoline—Increase Power Deliver a high tension blue blaze 112 times more intense under compression than ordinary faint spark. tantaneous explosion, any mixture—perfect jon—maximam power—minimum fuel con- ‘easy—keeps plug points clear ot liners pull evenly? protects lant: Fits any plug. “Anyone cam put them oa, will Rewlts guaranteed ce money telunded, Send Ignition Co,__Deot.B,_ St. Louls, Mo. cipal happiness he has is in cutting off all his opportunities for development. The man who is so extravagant that those dependent upon him are ruined in order that he may acquire the reputation of being a “good fellow.” When the committee had gone thus far in their labors they rested. Theophrastus then observed: “Honored guests, I trust that you will not weary too soon. These are only a few specimens of defective human be- ings I have to show you; there is still quite a procession.” The committee were then seen debat- ing carnestly together. At last the chair- man said: “© Theophrastus, let us ask you a various types of human being’ and we notice in the dis- tance, there are many more men to con where are the women? We think it portant that they should be seen.” There is only one woman, your honor.” “How can that be? There should be as many women specimens as there are men.” Theophrastus, who was a married man, and besides had had a long experience smiled sagely as he replied: “This might be so in Mars, your honor, but not on earth. One woman is enough to show you, You will find that one woman contains all the faults which are common to all the others.” comicbooks.com