Life, 1921-05-05 · page 32 of 46
Life — May 5, 1921 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a recent literary debate between G.K. Chesterton and Hugh Walpole, with Edmund Gosse as referee. Chesterton argued modern novels indicated social decay; Walpole countered that Hardy, Conrad, Kipling, and Henry James proved literature was improving. The referee declared it a draw, saying the debate proved they "know nothing" and are "less sure of what we did know." Life's editors mock this outcome, arguing both debaters equally increased public ignorance about the subject, so they deserve no credit—the "blue ribbon" should go to the contestants themselves for their mutual failure to clarify anything. The page also includes unrelated humor cartoons about domestic spending and tourism, typical of the magazine's satirical format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ADVICE FROM HEADQUARTERS ISABEL, WHEN 1 SEE BY MY ACCOUNT THAT THE CAR HAS COST US OVER A THOUS. THIS YEAR, I GET COLD FEET.” “WELL, HENRY, DON’T BLAME ME. I ADVISED YOU NOT TO KEEP AN ACCOUNT.” “py jove! ON'T walk under the 1adder of fame. Climb it, my boy! ni AS your daughter been out long?” “ No—only about $4,500 worth.” NI WHEN SILAS COMES TO SEE THE SIGHTS AS HE pip 17, AND LIFE A Doubtful Decision THe modern novel was recently ie subject of a debate between Gilber K. Chesterton and, Hugh Walpole. Ey. mund Gosse was the referee. Mr. Chesterton took the gro novels were a sign of social decay Walpole’ argued that, on the cont Hardy, Conrad, Kipling and Henr, were four of the greatest novelists of ay period and that they were evidence of the dawn of a still greater perfection, The dehate was complete, covered the whol subject, and at its conclusion the referee announced that it was a draw. “We know nothing,” he dectared, “that we did not know before, and we, fe less sure of what we did know.” In our humble opinion, he should have mock awarded the blue ribbon to | The object of all del crease the stock of ignorance subject under debate, and as Mr. t: and Mr. Walpole had an equal share in this result, they should not have been let off so easily, contest ants, ton LONDON physician ha there are remarkable he: This is also the case, we under- stand, with radium. in coal. AS HE DOES IT, comicbooks.com