Life, 1907-05-02 · page 15 of 48
Life — May 2, 1907 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"The Teddyssey" cartoon** (top) parodies Homer's *Odyssey*, reimagining President Theodore Roosevelt as the hero. The goddess of hunting (Diana/Artemis) trains "Teddysses" in the chase—a reference to Roosevelt's famous enthusiasm for hunting and outdoor pursuits. The classical allusion elevates Roosevelt's adventurousness to epic status, likely both praising and gently mocking his rugged persona. **"Mrs. Pepys's Diary"** (bottom left) satirizes upper-class leisure through repetitive monotony—a wealthy woman's entire day consists of bridge games. The joke is that privileged society life lacks substance and variety, reduced to endless card-playing. **"The World's Platform"** (bottom right) celebrates Joseph Pulitzer's newspaper's editorial standards—fighting corruption, defending the poor, maintaining independence. This appears promotional rather than satirical, celebrating the *World*'s progressive journalism ideals. The page dates to 1907, during Roosevelt's presidency.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE TEDDYSSEY. BOOK II—YOUTH THE GODDESS OF HUNTING, AT THE REQUEST OF PALLAS COLUMBIA, ACCUSTOMS TEDDYSSES TO THE PERILS OF THE CHASE Mrs. Pepys's Diary A. D. 1907. January 1 HIS morning I dropped in at May's And had a game of bridge. At Fan’s to lunch, and afterward A little game of bridge. To-night we entertained at hone— Adinner; later, bridge. Cooked supper in the chafing-<ish, And finished up with bridge. (Repeat 364 times.) The “World's” Platform [A cablegram from Joseph Pulitzer to the executive staff of the New York World read at their dinner in honor of his sixtieth birthday. XPRESS to the editors, managers and entire staff my warm appreciation of their excellent and successful work for an in- Ewnice Ward stitution which should always fight for progress and reform; never tolerate injustice or corruption; always fight demagogues of all parties; never belong to any party; always oppose privileged classes and public plunder; never lack sympathy with the poor; always remain devoted to the public welfare; never be satisfied with merely. printing news; always be drastically independent; never be afraid to attack wrong, whether by predatory plutocracy or by predatory poverty. Joseph Pulitzer. Mr. Pulitzer’s paper has been governed by those sentiments. The editorials in the World are squarely for morality, public and private. Not only excellent specimens of English litera- ture—clean cut, forcible and always to the point—they display a persistent courage and a love of justice unique in modern journalism. It is not expected that all our contemporaries will agree with the statement so often made that “the World editorials are the best in town.” comicbooks.com