Life, 1920-03-11 · page 7 of 40
Life — March 11, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features two distinct literary pieces rather than political cartoons: **"A March Song"** is a poem by Edward W. Barnard celebrating spring and urban life, with references to characters named Silvan, Stella, and Felix in Byronic/romantic tones. **"A Blow at Kansas"** is a prose piece critiquing a literary prize competition. It mocks a Kansas gentleman poet named Willard Wattles who offered fifty dollars for the best poem about Kansas. The author sarcastically questions whether Kansas poetry has deteriorated enough to require financial incentives, and suggests Kansas writers should focus on genuine literary merit rather than monetary rewards. This represents urban East Coast literary snobbery toward Midwestern cultural aspirations—a common satirical theme in early 20th-century Life magazine. The etching above depicts a solitary figure in a dramatic landscape, illustrating the romantic themes below.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THERE Is NO cop! A March Song , Na quite Byronic rage, Gentle gales his breezy topic, Silvan sends a crowded page From an tropic. 2 “Written in a coral cave ’Neath a snowyoleander, Where the iridescent wave Limns each hour a picture grander!” Bless me! He is welcome there With his insular Marcella, lf | may be free to fare Up this gusty street with Stella! island semi- Felix flings a merry jest, Bound with Bertha matineeward ; Thés dansants suit Basil best, Where the steps are wild and way- ward. Paul, the pal I lately scratched, Turns sad eyes upon Parnassus ; Other swains still unattached Shrug their shoulders as they pass us I don't seem to want to talk, As I should if it were Bella; I'm content to simply walk Up this gusty street with Stella! What to us are opaled seas, Or their sunny, singing beaches? What to us the austral breeze In a grove's umbrageous reaches? What the beauties of Bohéme, Though the cast include Caruso ?— Listen, friendly what's-your-name, She is shopping for her trousseau! This time next year we may be Somewhere ‘neath a white umbrella, But to-day bliss follows me Up this gusty street with Stella! Edward W’. Barnard. A Blow at Kansas GENTLEMAN poet named Wil- lard Wattles has offered a prize of fifty dollars for the best poem by a native of Kansas. But with all respect) is it right to encour (we ask it age Kansas people to write any more poetry than they are doing at present? Is it right to lure them with good money? Up to the present time Kan- sas has kept itself more or less pure from the commercializing influences of the present generation. Surely the nine or ten muses of Kansas ought to go on strike against this suggestion of brother Wattles that they can be in- duced to write for money IF you wish to be young, mix with the young people. If you wish to feel young, mix with your elders. comicbooks.com