Life, 1906-09-27 · page 8 of 24
Life — September 27, 1906 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration depicts a couple in a park—a woman in a hat and flowing dress seated on the left, a man sitting separately on the right. This visual appears to accompany satirical commentary about political naming conventions. The text mocks William Jennings Bryan's casual first-name familiarity with political figures. The joke centers on the informality of calling the President "Bill" rather than by his proper title—suggesting this undermines presidential dignity. The satire critiques both Bryan's perceived presumption and broader anxieties about proper decorum in politics. Additional short humor pieces address domestic matters: a "Fresh Air Fund," trade restraints, and a Yale student's bathroom access. These appear to be typical satirical vignettes mocking contemporary social and class concerns of the early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our Fresh Air Fund PeEviousty acknowledged. May, and Helen... $a.s30 56 15 60 10 00 es « Sasss 56 Unfair Restraint of Trade WHAT is the ‘dead line ??”” An invisible cordon formed by the police to keep crooks out of places where they might ply their trade.” “Well, then, why do the police put a dead line around Wall Street?” “That, my son, is to keep out com- petition.” Total. Consolation “T_JE IS going to marry the daughter of a Senator.” “Oh, well, when she changes her name people won't know it.” “DRIDGET, | am going out to-night.” “And lave the house alone?” LE, spe pas / jl i] cag a HUT HvUTULMH NUMA IN THE PALL AN OLD MAN'S FANCY —— His Strength Is in His “Bill” The New York Lire thinks it funny to call him “Bill Bryan.”"—Frank Sanborn in the Springfield Republican. ‘T MAY not be very funny to call him “Bill Bryan,” but it is funnier than Mr. Sanborn’s propensity to call the President “Teddy.” The time to call an eminent citizen by his first name is before he be- comes President. After that he is shrouded in the dignity of a great office and should be less familiarly named. * Besides, it is neither injurious nor dis- paraging to call Mr. Bryan “Bill.” It is as “Bill Bryan” that he is strong, just as Lincoln was originally strong as ‘Abe Lincoln,” or Reed as ‘‘Tom Reed.” His appeal is to popular favor. If he“ runs in for President (we doubt if he does), “Bill” Bryan will get ten votes to “Mister” Bryan’s one. But he won't get enough; no, not quite enough. He may come as near it as Henry Clay or Jim Blaine, but he won’t land. YEOH \ JA, Getting Even RESIDENT ARTHUR HADLEY, of Yale, has a couple of sons who inherit a good deal of the genius and independent thought of their father. One morning Mrs. Hadley got up and went into the bathroom and found her youngest, aged about five, busy sailing some tin swans and fish in the bathtub, guiding them with a magnet. She gathered up thé toys and told the youngster that he must defer his amuse- ment, as his papa wanted to take his bath. The kid submitted with bad grace, but went out in the street. Presently he met a lady. “Do you want to know something?” he remarked, ‘‘The president of Yale College won’t have any bath this morning. Do you want to know why? ’Cause I have got the plug to the bathtub in my pocket, an’ it’s going to stay there, see?” comicbooks.com