Life — March 11, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 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.