Life — February 18, 1909 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Liars' Number" - Life Magazine, February 18, 1909 This political cartoon by James Montgomery Flagg depicts a rotund, well-dressed man standing on a tree stump, looking upward at birds perched on a branch above him. The title "Liars' Number" suggests the cartoon is satirizing dishonest statements or exaggeration. The man appears to be a politician or public figure telling tall tales, while the birds above—a traditional symbol of spreading rumors or "birdsong" gossip—mock him. The stump setting evokes the American tradition of politicians delivering speeches from improvised platforms. Without additional context about February 1909 political events, the specific identity of the figure remains unclear, but the cartoon likely critiques a contemporary politician's credibility or truthfulness during a particular scandal or controversial statement.