Life, 1919-10-16 · page 27 of 36
Life — October 16, 1919 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct elements: **"Awful Thought" (top left):** A brief satirical commentary on military procurement. It jokes absurdly about the Army purchasing hundreds of thousands of cravats and service caps for an upcoming war, then poses the darkly humorous question: what if the next war must be fought without Sam Browne belts (the leather belt and shoulder strap worn by military officers)? The satire mocks bureaucratic excess and the arbitrariness of military supply planning. **"Tax the Poets!" (bottom):** A humorous editorial proposal to impose a luxury tax on published poetry. It argues that having one's verses printed in magazines is such a pleasure that poets should be taxed on this "luxury." The piece satirizes both poets' self-regard and editors' frustration with the flood of mediocre submissions they receive. The rest consists of period advertisements for fountain pens and phonograph equipment—typical commercial content for this era's magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
; Soap’ eet ince of Awful Thought HE Army Director of Purchase in i saiaueton recently asked for sealed proposals for furnishing four bendred and fifty thousand cravats, and four hundred and fifty-six thous- and four hundred and eight service caps. But is it possible that the next ar will have to be fought without any Sam Browne belts? Masters of the musical art made your records. Your phonegra aph_ equipped with the V-A-TONE Reproducer will render them correctly—artisti- cally. The IV-A-TONE Reproducer for your phonograph embodies an entirely new principle. Separation of tone is the most re ble feature 1V-. E Reproducer. principle of tone control, ice or instrument is rendered distinct in itself, harmonizing without blur or confusion, The delightful quality of tone produced combines depth with brilliance and unusual volume. NT: 4 fall at Vaeweetagh poo wes wh —— Sole Agents for the U. S. A. ‘Bids., 599 Fifth Ave., New York sultivating the Dower Expression The power of lucidity that lies in a spoken or written thought depends upon the ability to express that thought. Are you giving your children the oppor- tunity to develop this latent talent? Give them Watermatis(deal Fountain Pen and encourage them to write down their thoughts on any subject. You will find that you have not only furnished the inc , but that you are laying a foundation for one of their biggest assets in later life in either a commercial or professional career, namely, The Power of Expression. Three types, Regular, Safety and Self-Filling $2.50 and up.’ At best dealers L. E. Waterman Company, 191 Broadway, New York Boston - Chicago - San Francisco Tax the Poets! HERE is one source of income that our ingenious government has not thought of T There ought to be a luxury tax on poetry. Certainly there is no greater luxury than that enjoyed by any human being who con- siders himself (or can get an cditor to consider him) a poet. To see his verses ectually printed in ink in the pages of a periodical affords the base bosom of the bard intense jo It is a joy that ought to be mulcted. Therefore we propose that the government should levy, assess and impose a tax upon every printed poem for which the author received actual coin of the realm. This would perhaps do something to diminish the appalling flood of poetry which is such a cruel hardship upon every intelligent editor. comicbooks.com