Life, 1908-11-12 · page 5 of 24
Life — November 12, 1908 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts two birds (likely representing countries or political entities) consulting a "Palmist" (fortune teller). One bird appears anxious while examining maps and documents, suggesting concerns about territorial or political matters. Below, "Bohemia: A Lesson in Geography" mocks a European region through satirical verse and dialogue. The poem describes Bohemia's boundaries, resources, and people in exaggerated terms. The accompanying dialogue between "First Society Woman" and "Second Society Woman" jokes about starvation and dinner invitations, possibly satirizing wealthy society's ignorance of or indifference to economic hardship. The overall page appears to critique both geopolitical uncertainty and upper-class obliviousness to social problems through humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UNENNNQUUUUUUUEEENOUOGAGQQQQQQQQUUUUUUUOUNON000000000000UU0UUI1 Vi mae “1 SEE CLOUDS RUSHING ACKOSS THE MOON'S FACE; ABSTAIN FROM FATTENING FOODS. 1F YOU CAN ING A BLACK MOUSTACHE AND A MATCHET.’” Bohemia A Lesson in Geography N THE north it is bounded by mountains of Fame, On the south by the Valley of Tears, On the west by the mystical Highlands of Hope, On the east by the Forest of Fears. Its products are laurels and oats—wild oats; Its mineral, gold of the heart; And its natives are known by the rents in their coats, While the name of its ruler is Art. The tongue of its people is simple to learn; Their chief words are “ borrow "” and “lend,” “Technique "’ and “ idea,’’ “ brok “dinner ’’ and “ beer,” “ Love,’’ “ wine,’ and “to-morrow ’’ and “ friend.’’ The national hymn is a song of good cheer, The national flower, heartsease ; The national emblem, a tankard of beer, And its motto is, “Do as you please! "” Iis latitude? Some say it lies in the zone That runs from the heart to the head; For its day just begins, when respectable folk Are quietly going to bed. AVOID THE SOCIETY OF CRANBERRY SAUCE AND STUFFING OF ALL SORTS? FIND A RELIABLE OBESITY CURE, TAKE 1T, BEWARE OF A TALL DARK MAN WEAR- No laws guard its ports from the stranger without. Would a wanderer enter? He may! Yet, though wide be the world, it is only the few Have succeeded in finding the way. Would you go? Take a train at the town, Dream-of-Fame, Or a ship at the port of Don’t Care, Sail or ride for a day, through the Widening Way, And at Poverty land. You are there. Put up at the hostelry, Cheap Table d’Hote, Where the prince and the pauper may dine, And forget all your ills, all your sorrows and bills, In the national nectar, Red Wine. ‘Tis a wonderful draught, full of bubble-o'-dreams, This draught of the surcease-of-sorrow So drink to that rare land, that work-wait-and-dare land, Bobemia—Land of To-morrow! Helen Rowland. IRST SOCIETY WOMA fected you any? Secoxp Socrety Woman: Dreadfully. We're on the verge of starvation. Do come and have dinner with us. Has the business panic af- comicbooks.com