Life, 1909-03-25 · page 31 of 36
Life — March 25, 1909 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a figure labeled "HE HAD A BAD SINKING SPELL"—a visual pun on the word "sinking." The character appears to be a poorly dressed or vagrant man, illustrated in a humorous, exaggerated style typical of Life magazine's satirical humor. The accompanying story "In the Heat of Battle" concerns a boy who breaks his collarbone during a football game but doesn't immediately notice the injury, only feeling pain later. The narrative is lighthearted, demonstrating the magazine's use of domestic humor to entertain readers. The page also contains advertisements (Perrier water, Income Insurance, Empire State Surety Company) and a letter about Riverside Park accessibility—typical Life content mixing satirical commentary on public issues with consumer advertising. The "sinking" cartoon's exact satirical target is unclear from context alone, though it likely referenced a contemporary figure or social condition recognizable to 1909 readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SLolbleeess “ag Buy TOBACCO DIRECT From Fe] Baz TOBACCO DIRE es DG virnns sant steaks FF rench’s Mixture Dasiisatts Fren * gun edie eet Ha jor Large Sam French Tobacco Ca, Dept se Statesville, N.C. Our Inaccessible Park To tHe or Lire: Riversice Park, the crowning glory of New York's system, and the Mecca of every Gaiting tourist, is the most inaccessible park on this island the mass of our inhabitants and to tbat imp factor in our prosperity known as the f tion. It would naturally be supposed, , that any means which would assist in « this inaccessibility and enable the pe reach the park in comfort and en- joy its bears ies from end to end for a sum with- ia the me f the slenderest purse would be weleon © branch of the city government he administration of this great id. therefore, that the Fifth pany having greatly increased double-decked tor ‘buses for a frequent stage serv- are and Grant's Avenue ( 1s equip the purpos establishi ington S ide Drive, providing a seat for cr for its regular fare of ten ronted by the opposition of the nt. Its right to run a stage serv- stioned, but without giving it or snce to be heard in protest, an adopted by the Park Board + {rom the parkways vehicles over height—just enough to exclude the ice betwee vein France Nature gives France a mo- nopoly in the finest wines. Imitations have resulted in failure. France also possesses the finest table water in the world—Perrier. Beware of imitations in similar shaped bottles. Grocers 39 ALLENNA 4° Champatne of Table Wot In the Heat of Battle There had been a hotly contested football game between the Steam Franklin School George Washington School over and the conte various homes one of Rollers of the the Av Benjamin nches of the After the game was nts had returned to their ¢ heroes of the winning team complained of a feeling of soreness in the lower part of his neck “T didn’t feel it until just now,’ he said; “but it hurts like sixty!" His father examined it. It began to swell, and was very sore to the touch ire the beautiful el z “I believe your collar bone is broken, my Riverside Drive, and none of boy,”” said his father ch AS ave. lOvels VOk Gees - A surgeon was hastily summoned, and made ng to damage them; but we also ming their drooping branches a nore or less, will not injure them rom their beauty, for it is pre- ark Department does every fall bus—the most popular form of nee in-use in this city hat vehicles of that height is fractured. How Do you rex he bo t happen, Walter? g about i “Why, yes,"” answered the boy. “I remember that when I tackled Skinny Morgan I fell on top of him, and I heard something crack, but I thought it was his collar bone.""—Youth's Com- Panion nber any- The Park Department, “WE HAD A BAD SINKING SPELL’ the double-decked ‘buses, t shall be ten feet. more important: the mainte- ark Department of a theoretical trimming, or the establishment hereby the thousands in this ¢ 1o afford the luxury of a priv be enabled to reach and enjoy tk their taxes have provided? not designed for scenic purposes the recreation of our people, and s it to its citizens and to the n its gates to provide, or allow ide, the means of enjoying this beautiful the fame of which attracts so Bany visitors to our city. Out omvints is not_a freak or monstrosity. t is an syproved form of public conveyance Fecognized is standard throughout Europe. In thi k March weather it seems a far i otrid days of next summer, when Rese wor''s would come with more pointed argu- sweltering thousands who will be s breath of fresh air. But if they ice we are ready to provide—to ree miles further north from Sev- Street, through the length of this without additional fare,—they now with no uncertain voice. Respectfully yours, OkK TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, Ricuarp W. Meape, President. March 9, 1909. This man is not worrying because he has Income Insurance Whether laid up by illness of accident, whether his salary or usual income continues of stops, under our Popular Premium Policy he has a regular stipulated amount to de- pend on to pay his doctor’ bills and ex; Exonomical— payments sure and prompt—no physical examination rejuired. Agents Wanted Everywhere Fill out and return coupon below for furt‘er particula: Sirangers atbers to Empire State Surety Company 84 William Street, New York Offices in all important cities carry them enty-secon New Y New Yorx, comicbooks.com