Life, 1909-04-08 · page 11 of 32
Life — April 8, 1909 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"The Spirit of '09"** (left cartoon): This satirical sketch depicts three figures carrying various supplies and provisions, representing a shipment or inventory check. The caption "A Regular Shipment" suggests commentary on commercial ordering practices. The figures appear to be laborers or delivery workers managing goods, likely satirizing bureaucratic inefficiency or the absurdity of detailed inventory procedures. **"To Be or Not to Be"** (top right): Shows a hen with an egg, referencing Hamlet's famous soliloquy. This is wordplay humor—the chicken's existential dilemma parallels Shakespeare's philosophical question, creating comedic absurdity. The page also includes poetry titled "A Fond Farewell" and an advertisement for "Hercules and the Hydrant," suggesting mixed editorial and advertising content typical of Life magazine's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
APRS! THE SPIRIT OF ‘09 A Regular Shipment HE. clerk of the weather was check- ing up the last consignment. “Be careful, now, Billy, to get this order correct, as it’s important. Go on. I'm all ready.”” “One batch of light snow storm: “ AML right.”* “One lot of fine rains and one of sud- den showers.”" * Correct.” “Eighteen sudden falls in tempera- ture, five of them ten degrees, five fif- teen, five twenty, and three of thirty.”” “T have it “An assortment of variegated shine, in colors.’” “ Right.” sun- “One first-class hurricane."” “ Cheek."” “One balmy day, with not a cloud in the sky, and the temperature just right.” “ Down.” “One hot spell.” “ Here.” “One cold spell.” “True for you.” “A large box of variegated microbes, containing billions of pneumonia, bron- chitis, tuberculosis germs and so on.”” “Very well.” “TO BE OR NOT TO BE’’ “That's all.” The Clerk of the Weather signed the bill of lading and wrote down the di- rection. “Here, Billy,” he said, perishable and put on it “mark this “New York, N. Y. “One Month's Supplies.” A Fond Farewell RISSA came from County Meath, Blessings showered upon her; Now she’s gone and bought a sheath,— There's but little on her. Nerissa only wears her sheath When she’s dressed to go forth,— Cast aside what went beneath, Panties, skirts, and so forth. For Nerissa weave a wreath! I'd begun to love her; Lut I've seen her in her she; There's but little of her. To Nerissa I bequeath The thought I had to woo her, Ere I saw her in her sheath; There's but little to her.