Life — May 20, 1909 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a "Grand Banquet" held partially underground—suggesting a secretive or illicit gathering. The upper ground level shows a respectable domestic scene with a house and garden; below, numerous figures in period dress (appearing to be late 19th or early 20th century) crowd beneath a banner labeled "Grand Banquet," with visible signs referencing organizations like "Army" and what appears to be "Dining Society." The cartoon likely satirizes a hidden or hypocritical gathering of a specific group—possibly a fraternal organization, political faction, or exclusive society operating under a veneer of respectability. The juxtaposition of the innocent domestic scene above with the crowded, conspiratorial gathering below suggests the satire mocks the contrast between public propriety and private behavior, or the secretive nature of the group's activities. The caption "Courage Boys, Dinner Will Soon Be Ready" adds ironic encouragement to this underground assemblage.