Life, 1903-09-24 · page 3 of 20
Life — September 24, 1903 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration, "Forever," depicts two figures sitting on a beach in an intimate moment, satirizing romantic idealism. Below are three brief humorous pieces: "A Ballad of Oyster Bay" references Theodore Roosevelt's home at Oyster Bay, New York. The poem mocks someone claiming simultaneous roles as an "honest Oysterman," House member, Senator, and Cabinet official—likely satirizing Roosevelt's expansive political ambitions or a politician's conflicting loyalties. "Selfishness" uses a joke about lobster population decline to mock Jewish people, reflecting unfortunate period antisemitism common in early 20th-century American humor magazines. "Fallen from Grace" presents a brief anecdote about a religious man purchasing an automobile, suggesting satire of hypocrisy or changing values in modern society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Ballad of Oyster Bay. E was an honest Oysterman. (At least, he seemed to be.) I met him ona neck of land ‘That jutted out to sea. And when Tasked him who he was, He answered pleasantly : “Tam the House, and the Senate bold, The chief of the Navy Cre The Cabinet, and you just bet I'm boss of the Army, too.” I fixed him with an anxious look. “ Dear sir, how can this be ? Although quite plain, your answer seems Impossible to me.” He merely looked at me and smiled, And added thoughtfully: *vorrvEn !" “And Tam a steadfast type— A scholar, a sportsman true, A diplomat, a plutocrat, And a writer and fighter, too.” strenucus, “ He is a lunatic,” I thought— “A poor, deluded thing, Whose fancy ‘tis to play the réle Of some archaic king.” And as I turned upon my heel I heard him muttering : “I'm the boss, you know, of the whole blame show, In every respect but this— "Tis very plain that Mr. Payne Is in charge of the Post Office.” “ Childe Harold.” Selfishness. opposed to Jews? Why “Not not?”’ “Why, you see, the lobster supply gets smaller every year and the popu- lation bigger. The larger the propor- tion of Jews in the population the more lobsters for the rest of us, and I particularly like lobsters.” Fallen from Grace. “TS your husband a religious man?” asked Mrs. Skidmore of Mrs. Bunting. “He was," replied Mrs. Bunting, “bot in an evil hour he bought an automobile.” comicbooks.com