Life — March 4, 1909 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents satirical cartoons celebrating Abraham Lincoln's centennial (1809-1909). The central image shows Lincoln's log cabin with his name and the date. The surrounding cartoons appear to mock contemporary politics through Lincoln references: - "The noblest Roman of them all" - likely comments on political figures claiming Lincoln's legacy - "Wie geht's" (German greeting) - possibly satirizing German-American or immigrant communities - "Welcome to our city" - depicts what appears to be political reception scenes - "The latest style in cow-boys" and "For the inauguration ball" - seem to contrast frontier authenticity with formal politics The cartoons suggest satirical tension between Lincoln's humble origins and contemporary political pretension, using his centennial as occasion to mock current political figures and social pretenses.