Life, 1908-08-13 · page 7 of 20
Life — August 13, 1908 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features satirical biographical sketches titled "Who's What: In and Out of America." The visible entries mock public figures through exaggerated heraldic shields and descriptive text. **Austin, Alfred** is ridiculed as a poet with "the worst poetry ever turned out," despite his aristocratic English background and attempt at immortality through verse. **Long, W.J.** (President of the Liars' Club) is caricatured as someone who talks excessively and lacks obscurity—his motto: "Truth Is More Dangerous Than Fiction." The bottom cartoon depicts a young religious revivalist interrupted by a skeptical miner, mocking revival evangelism's earnest naïveté when confronted with worldly cynicism. Overall, the page uses heraldic parody and satirical biography to ridicule literary pretension, political windbags, and religious enthusiasm through humorous character assassination typical of Life magazine's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ustin, Alfred.—The booby prize helder for poetry, descended (a good, long way) from Alfred Tennyson, nd who has kept alive for years the royal family of England, no one daring to die for fear of what he might write of them. This gentleman has survived the Indian uprising, the Napoleonic fiasco, the Boer War, the Jamaica earth- quake and his own work, and bids fair to be immortal—if he lives. He is said to have written the worst poetry ever turned out by any poet laureate, no mean achievement in itself. Principal occupation: Reading the obituary col- umns for ideas. Author of on Me, * The Doggerel of War, Save the King,’’ ete. Address Third Balcony, rear, Westminster Abbey. “WeELLO, MR. spipER! DOING UP THERE? ”’ “OM, I'VE GOT A DATE WITH MISS PLY ON THE 16TH.”" WHAT ARE You *-LIFE: Who's What In and Out of America N FIC es ey ong, W. J.—President of the Liars’ Club (recently elected, superceding E. H. Harriman), all around athlete and President baiter. This young man is a graduate of Harvard, and first came into prominence as the Hans Anderson of the White House. He spent his youth in preparing for the ministry, and did not drift into politics until he had gotten acquainted with all the animals. He has a handy imagination and unfortunate sense of justice and a ready tongue. All he lacks is obscurity. Principal distine- tion: Having been called a liar by T. R. Favorite motto: “Truth Is More Dan- gerous ction."” Address care Jonah. YOUNG enthusiastic revivalist had been exhorting a congregation in a small Western town for over two hours without perceptible effect. He was somewhat discouraged until a rough old miner interrupted him with: Say, brother, I'd like to ask a ques: tion.” The young revivalist beamed. “ Thank you, my man, for your interest,”” he re- plied. “I shall be more than glad to set you right on any question. Your de- sire for enlightenment is a good sign, which I am very, very glad to see. Now what is it you want to know?” “Kin I smoke?’ asked the miner. cot, Elihu.—The power behind the throne and all around author of in- spired utterances. Is a diplomatist by trade and a lawyer by occupation. He makes speeches when necessary, ar- ranges campaigns, manufactures treaties, stands between all foreign countries and the Administration and furnishes a background. He began life in New York, but finding the transportation fa- cilities better in Washington, located there, where he keeps his books locked up in a cyclone cellar. His principal oc- cupation is giving advice and not having avorite amusement: Mark- Y. Journal, it followed. ing time. Address DISPOSSESSED comicbooks.com