Life, 1907-10-17 · page 21 of 44
Life — October 17, 1907 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Financial Section (top cartoon):** A satirical "stock market report" disguised as financial news. It mocks contemporary political and economic anxieties through mock-securities: "Third-term Roosevelt bonds" (declining—Roosevelt's potential third presidency was controversial), "Depew Resignation debentures" (referencing Chauncey Depew's political resignation), and "Immigration Extension paper" with a "slump in Japs" (reflecting anti-Japanese sentiment of the era). The crashed racing cars illustrate market volatility. **"Mr. Roosevelt as a Nature Faker" (bottom section):** Satirizes President Theodore Roosevelt's recent *Scribner's* article on wildlife. The piece criticizes Roosevelt's nature observations as inaccurate while sarcastically suggesting he focus on animals rather than his controversial trust-busting and railroad regulation policies. The veiled reference to "Japanese" and "Oyster Bay" (his home) suggests Roosevelt's hawkish foreign policy regarding Japan, implying his "observation" of Japanese behavior may be equally dubious.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Riz HE market opened dull and soft, bank receipts not being what Cortelyou had hinted at. Panamas, for future delivery, were heavy. Fonetiks continued active, but were confined to the professional element. Third-term Roosevelt bonds experien a further decline. It is thought, indeed, that this issue may be withdrawn permanently from the market. Early in the day an active interest was taken in Depew Resignation debentures. But rumors from Wash- ington were disquieting, and a steady decline set in. It is not likely that this class of securities will ever pay a dividend. On the curb, Resolutions were firm up to noon, and then broke sharply. Immigration Extension paper was floatedand displayed further marked advances. The slump in Japs, however, continued. Church Attendances were dull and featureless. Best Sellers continued active on display ads., subject to discounts. Fiction Service continued in great volumes. ‘There was, however, no confidence in this class of securities. ‘‘Common Peepul” con- tinued to be overlooked. Just before the ¢lose the market rallied on rumors that the President had decided to do no more talking. On the strength of this there was renewed buying. Wiseacres, however, con- tinued to shake their heads gravely, and called attention to the fact that these rumors came up at frequent intervals, but were never confirmed. THE ROMANS HAD ONLY KNOWN Mr. Roosevelt as a Nature Faker R. ROOSEVELT contributes to the October Scribner's a tranquil paper on his Small Country Neighbors, such as go on wings or four feet. There are those who wish ardently that he would give exclusive attention to this line of discourse, and give up exposition of the habits of railroads and trusts. “I think," he says, “white-foot (the white-footed mouse) is the most plentiful of all our furred wild creatures, taken as a whole.” Caterpillars are more plentiful in our part of the country, whether taken as a whole or bitten in two. The meadow mice, he says, are entirely at home in the water. Yes; the dead ones especially. We have noticed that. There is nothing in the piece about the Japanese, which, though small, are not plentiful enough about Oyster Bay to be observed to advantage. Mr. Roosevelt has made other arrangements for obser- vation of their habits, and we shall doubtless hear about them later. comicbooks.com