Life, 1909-01-07 · page 6 of 60
Life — January 7, 1909 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The left side contains a Brewster & Co. advertisement announcing they've become the sole U.S. agent for Delaunay Belleville automobiles, a French chassis maker. The ad emphasizes the cars' quality, competitive pricing compared to American vehicles, and availability of spare parts and service. The right side features an illustrated poem titled "Ballad of Talk" by Harold Susman, accompanied by a whimsical drawing of a child climbing a tree while being watched by what appears to be a bird or creature. The poem humorously catalogs human behaviors and their social consequences—essentially: "no matter what you do, people will talk." It's general social commentary on gossip, not political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Brewster& Co. Announce That they have accepted the sole agency of the Delaunay Belleville chassis. The firm of Delaunay Belleville is one of the oldest and most re- spected in France and the chassis is one of the simplest and best made. Delaunay Belleville After having thoroughly tested these cars, Brewster © Co. take pleasure in recommending them to their customers. The cars are offered at a price to compare favorably with that of American cars. They will be sold with specially designed Brewster bodies and can also be procured with bodies of less expensive makes if desired. A complete line of spare parts will be kept in stock and adequate facilities provided for prompt re- pairs. Brewster & Co. Broadway and 47th Street New York “Gee! I'p LIKE TO GET MY HANDS ON THE FELLER THAT TOLD ME TO CLIMB A TREE THIS FASHION,” Ballade of Talk O* if you sleep, or if you wake, And if you smile, or if you sigh, And if you mar, or if you make, And if you sell, or if you buy, And if you praise, or villify, = And if you spurn, or if you woo, If you pollute, or purify,— Why, folks will talk, whate’er you do! Oh, if you give, or if you take, If truth you tell, or if you lie, If you be saint, if you be rake, If you disgrace, or dignify, If you enrage, or pacify, If creeds you preach, or creeds pooh- pooh, If you amuse, or terrify,— Why, folks will talk, whate’er you do! Oh, if you build, or if you break, If you be bold, if you be shy, If you be brave, or if you quake, If you be slow, if you be spry, If you admit, if you deny, If you retreat, if fou pursue, If you corrupt, or edify Why, folks will talk, whate’er you do! ENVOY : Oh, be you low, or be you high, If you be false, if you be true, And if you live, and if you die— Why, folks will talk, whate’er you do! Harold Susman. comicbooks.com