Life, 1904-05-05 · page 18 of 40
Life — May 5, 1904 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces typical of Life's humor: **"Industry"** (Carolyn Wells poem): A dialogue between Ant and Bee mocking the tiresome morality tale used to teach children about hard work. Both insects confess they're exhausted by the constant preaching that labor is virtuous—they'd rather play. The satire targets predictable, sanctimonious children's literature. **"Overheard on the Street"**: Two brief jokes. The first references U.S. Steel and Pinkerton (the notorious anti-labor detective agency), suggesting wage theft or exploitation. The second mocks the wealthy, showing a wife more concerned about her hat's safety than their bond investments—satirizing misplaced priorities among the affluent. **"A Proposition in Real Estate"**: A mock-serious proposal to demolish Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-on-Avon and replace it with a generic Milwaukee brick building. The absurdist humor lies in the grotesque suggestion that a culturally irreplaceable historical site should yield to American commercialism and standardization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SAV, MISTER! KIN 1 WALK Wr GIT MUNK ON PoP FER KILLIN’ 1S DAD A Proposition in Real Estate. To The Hon, The Town Council and Board of Aldermen of Stratford-on-Avon. ‘OUR HONORS: If your honors will make conveyance to us of the real estate upon which the Birthplace of William Shakespeare on Henley Street now stands, v by agree to raze and remove the said Birthplace at our own cost and without expense to your Hon. Board, or its succe: s, forever; and to erect on said real estate a three-story building of IN THE FEUO BELT. OU A PIECE? "COS BILL MC GEE'S GUNNIN’ FER ME DOWN THE ROAD THM Industry. T° the Ant, said the Bee, i ‘Have you noticed that we, Each day without fail, In fable or tate, Are held up to youth To illustrate the truth That work without rest 1s of all things the best ?* “Well, yes,” the Ant said, As she nodded her head, “And it’s all very well; But if truth I must tell, I'm tired of the trick, And it makes me just sick ‘To work and to work With no chance to shirk. I'd far rather play Or do nothing all day, Like that gay butterfly." Said the Bee, ‘So would I!” Carolyn Wells, — Overheard on the Street. “ ERE you in United States Steel, Pinkerton? “How much did you have?" bout lons."* thirty gal- More Important. I'm so afraid W this new spring hat will get damaged if it’s left in the home. Hussaxp: Why not put it in our safe deposit closet ? “ Butisthere room there all our bonds?" vo~ but we can take the bonds out."” best’ Milwaukee brick, suitable to housing Board and committees, and to lease the same to your Hon. Board for an annual rental of one peppercorn for a term of ninety-nine ts, Said building to equal in size and architectural attractiveness the town house of any town of equal population to Stratford-on-Avon in the State of Indianny, U.S. A. your Hon, Yours respectful, Jerry Burtper anv Co. Dated Terry Hut, Indianny, April 25, 1904. AN EARLY SETTLER. comicbooks.com