Life, 1906-12-06 · page 34 of 64
Life — December 6, 1906 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: **"Trinity"** (left): A sentimental poem by Frank Roe Batchelder addressing three idealized women—representing past, present, and future—asking whether life is worth living. It's a romantic meditation on love across different life stages, typical of early 20th-century verse. **"Methuselah's Diary"** (center-left): A humorous fictional diary from the Biblical patriarch Methuselah, recording mundane details of ancient life (teething, funerals, schooling). The joke plays on the absurdity of applying modern diary conventions to legendary figures, with references to Adam, Eve, and Noah. It's gentle biblical satire rather than irreverent critique. **"The Christmas Tragedy at Huckleberry Hollow"** (right): A comic strip showing a domestic mishap—Uncle Aleck attempting to photograph a family gathering using flash powder, which apparently ignites, causing chaos. The humor derives from early photography's dangers and the Uncle's well-intentioned but bungled assistance. All three pieces reflect early 1900s Life magazine's blend of sentimental poetry, gentle satire, and domestic humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
an edi¢> LIFE Trinity AID of the bygone golden time, Who taught me the wide world’s splendor, Whose soul was a8 piire As the stars Whose faith was so subtly tender— ‘Though my heart rebels at the moil and grime, And frets at Earth’s niggard giving, Shall I dare to Since jou passed I doubt if life sure, way, worth living? Maid of the moment, sweet and wise, Whose will is in thrall to duty, Whose scorn for the base Shines forth from a face Alight with the inner beauty— Though my courage fail and I miss the prize, And my faults need much forgiving, With you Can I lie supine, And ask if life be worth living? { the morrow, Spartan-bred, Whose soul to the heights shall lead me, Whose strength shall abide Like the ocean's tide, Whose in the desert shall feed me— Though my joys be few, when the years are sped And Earth’s gifts are all past giving, If [ have so much As your lips’ light touch, Still, still will life be worth living Frank Roe Batchelder. Methuselah’s Diary EAR 687 since opening day at the Garden of Eden, Am thirty years old to-day; just cut my last eye-tooth. Ma gave me a piece of Adam’s suspender buckle to chew on while it was coming through. After Pa gave me the bottle I went to sleep. Year 697.—Celebrated my fortieth birthday yes- terday by going to Adam’s funeral. Pa carried me on his shoulder, ’cause there was so many animals present. They buried Adam close to the garden wall in the shade of the old apple tree which ve loved so well. Pa said Adam looked just as natural as he did four hundred years ago, when Pa and little Cainy killed snakes together. Most everybody on earth was at the funeral. Ma and M ve sat together, All the animals that Adam had named marched in the funeral procession, except the serpent, and Eve wouldn’t invite him. He was awful mad and sent in a bunch of apple blossoms, but Eve just turned her back and said, “Fruit grate- fully declined.” Year Just seventy years old; went to school for the first time to-day, Little Noah and me sat together. He got licked ’cause he spent all his time ing boats out of birch-bark, I don’t like Noah very well, ‘cause he keeps saying all the time: “It’s goin’ to rain pitchforks.” He’s got a regular menagerie in his backyard. My teacher is Mrs. Abel. She is the first widow ever made. She seems so happy and contented. Once I heard Pa say he wished Ma was a 4A RAS The Christmas Tragedy at Huckleberry Hollow LITTLE CALEB CHICKWEED RECKIVES A CAMERA AS A CHRISTMAS wt axp— JIS UNCLE ALECK, DOWN YOR THE HOLIDAYS, SAYS HELL sHOW MIM MOW TO TAKE A NICE LITTLE FAMILY GROUP BY THE ALD OF FLASH-LicHT, AND— ACCORDINGLY HE 1GNITES— comicbooks.com