Life, 1906-12-13 · page 13 of 28
Life — December 13, 1906 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Section - "Aeroplanes Are Coming":** This satirical piece mocks M. Santos-Dumont's optimistic predictions about commercial aviation becoming accessible to ordinary people. The author ("Golly!") is skeptical, arguing that while airships may eventually come, people should focus on more pressing issues like taxing large estates and improving roads. The joke is that aviation skepticism was common—the piece sarcastically suggests people should "give the aeroplane a little more time" before expecting miracles, implying its practical viability remained doubtful. **Bottom Section - "Yet Another Prophet":** This mocks female millionaire Hetty Green's alleged predictions of violent revolution and trust-busting upheaval. The text suggests her revolutionary rhetoric is exaggerated. The accompanying cartoon shows a man and woman in conversation, illustrating the "Satisfied" anecdote about an Irishman's humorous deflation of heated political accusations—a mild joke about people's tendency to overstate grievances.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ROSES OF YESTERDAY Yet Another Prophet W NOTICE in the New York Times that Mrs. Hetty Green says there is going to be a revolution in this country, “and the people are going to revolt against oppressions of the trusts. The streets will run with blood when the peo- ple are aroused. “The people are gradually finding out about trusts, and when they realize a little more fully how they are ruining the chances of the people, there is going to be a revolution. It will be a deluge, I tell you.” This is interesting as showing how much quicker are the perceptions of the female millionaire than those of the male. Mr. Rockefeller never talks that way, nor Messrs. Morgan, Harriman, Rogers, Ryan, Belmont or influential members of the United States Senate. Perhaps they don’t know as much of the situation as Mrs. Green. Perhaps they do know, but cannot tear themselves away from the Golden Harvest. Satished [fs THE taking of testimony, an Irish- man, who was a witness, had been bullyragged (by the opposing counsel) to the extent that he left the room furious, and, after the meeting, declared: “He wud smash the bla-garrad in th’ face.” The attorney, whose witness the Irish- man was, mildly remonstrated, and said: “Why, Pat, if you would do that you would soon be sorry for it.” Pat meditated a few seconds and then replic “Woll, whiniver Oi d’ annything loike thot, thot Oi’m sorry for—Oi’m dom glad of it.” 749 Areoplanes Are Coming “AJEXT year,” says M. Santos-Du- mont, “people will be able to go to the seashore in their aeroplanes. It will become the fad, and the commence- ment of a new industry.” Golly! But allowing that M. Dumont is over- enthusiastic in his expectations, it is the truth that the airship is coming along ahumming. Let it come! It will take some of the strain off of the country roads, and will lighten the public burdens by accelerating the transmission of large estates from heir to heir, thus increasing the procceds of inheritance taxes. The automobile is pretty good in this line, but the acro- plane will be better. And the thing is really coming! Think of it! Flying machines that will fly! M. Dumont says: “Men will drive aeroplanes as they now drive automo- biles.” Some men will, maybe. It begins to be possible for persons of ordinary credulity to believe that much, and if you can believe that much where are you going to stop? You needn’t believe anything about it unless you like. Only keep eyes in your head to make sure they don’t pop out at unexpected sights. Give the areoplane sharps a little more time, and they will do the rest. “1 TELL YOU, SHORTY, DAT WOMAN IIAS RUINED Me tiret"