Life, 1908-10-01 · page 19 of 44
Life — October 1, 1908 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life magazine features satirical biographical sketches of notable figures from the early 1900s. The "Who's What" section mocks prominent Americans through exaggerated caricatures: **W.W. (likely William Waldorf Astor)**: A wealthy American criticized for his mansion-building and preference for living abroad—portrayed as so obsessed with wealth that he might return if America became a monarchy. **Edward M. Shepard**: A lawyer who uncomfortably supports William Jennings Bryan despite ideological disagreement, creating an ironic contradiction Life finds laughable. **Joseph B. Foraker**: An Ohio politician described as perpetually "waiting" to become president while confined in the Senate, which Life sarcastically calls a "branch office of the New York Stock Exchange." **F. Hopkinson Smith**: A Renaissance man of letters celebrated for simultaneous careers in art, writing, and engineering. The **"Wall Street" section** offers cynical commentary: wealth flows in like a funnel but churches stop the money, and traders profit by selling items back at inflated prices. This reflects Progressive-era skepticism toward Wall Street capitalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
tor, W. W.—An ancestor of the Waldorf Hotel, at one time permit- ted to roam at large in this country, but now a companion piece to Alfred Aus- tin, thus preserving the balance of the British Empire, and the only other prod- uct in this country except alcohol that is denaturalized. At an early age, with nothing but a hundred millions and his own mind between him and the world, he started out to look for a home. Since then he has been chiefly occupied in building mansions, not in the skies. The only cloud that hangs over this country is the fear of its becoming a monarchy, when he will doubtless return. Author of “The Man Without a Country” and “The Renegade.’ Favorite recreation: Forgetting himself. Cable -address, “ Turncoat.”” A Proper Lawyer for Taft DWARD M. SHEPARD finds him- self constrained to support Bryan, hecause, he says, Taft stands for the protective tariff, imperialism, and the continuation of the Roosevelt policies Mr. Shepard would be a very suitable lawyer for Taft to retain to defend against Bryan his claim to be Roose- velt’s true heir. A Puzzler ITTLE JAKEY: Fader, vere do de Gentiles get all de money vat de Jews get avay from dem? *-LIFE- Who's What dn and Out of America Frerker, Joseph B.—This gentleman for years has been almost-a-candi- He comes from Ohio, where they and he s been waiting since he was born. At date. make Presidents while you wait, present he is confined in the United States Senate, a branch office of the New York Stock Exchange, located in Washington. From 1886 to 1900 he was delegate-at-large from Ohio, and has been at large ever since. His favorite occupation is hatching out candidates. Principal motto: It's Never Too Late to Vote. Address Cincinnati, Washington and Wall Street. Wall Street-—Another Opinion HEN you look at it, Wall Street is like a funnel, with a church at the end, to stop any money you pour in a place where you 5 cents, sell it for give the In your dreams, it buy something for 25,000,000 dollar: stake to your enemy for a course dinner, and spend the remaining velvet. on yachts, motor cars and legisla- tures. In reality, Wall Street is where you buy something the other fellow hasn't got, sell it back to him for half what you paid, and give him the last half for the privilege of having made his acquaintance. R.H.G. original steam mith, F, Hopkinson. — lightning change artist, who draws pictures, writes books, builds bridges, talks and advertises himself all at one and the same time, This gentleman was born in Baltimore, the home of clover clubs, terrapin, orioles, and other celebriti and, traveling to Bedloe’s Island, laid the foundation of Liberty; then, hasten- ing to Italy, proceeded to make Michael- angelo, Raphael and other painstaking and un-American personages ashamed of themselves, Tt was but a moment, how- ever, before he was back to America, where he constructed the building of his mental frame nce front and own reputation, an orn structure with a Rena Ladies’ Home Journal rear. Principal occupation: Hearing himself talk. Ree- reation: Not listening to any one else. Address Subcellar, Hall of Fame. “AIN'T YOU GLAD THAT YOU HAVEN'T COT ON YOUR SUMMER PLUMAGE? ’” comicbooks.com