Life, 1909-06-03 · page 23 of 56
Life — June 3, 1909 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American society through an imagined conversation between Mars and Earth. When Martians contact Earth via the United States, they're deeply unimpressed. The satire targets: 1. **American politics**: President Taft is mocked as someone who merely "sits around and looks pleasant" rather than governing effectively—a common contemporary criticism of his presidency. 2. **Capitalism/trusts**: Americans are depicted as serving wealthy corporations ("providing food and clothes for the trusts"). 3. **Social chaos**: The Martians observe "eating, gambling and rushing"—characterizing American life as materialistic and frenetic. 4. **National arrogance**: America's tardiness in responding to aliens, and its supposed stupidity, make Earth itself seem contemptible to superior beings. The joke: Martians conclude Americans aren't worth knowing. It's a withering commentary on American priorities and governance circa 1912, using extraterrestrial perspective to expose domestic failings.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
that all hope is lost of ever again re- peating our experiment. But science must not fail. The truth must be told. The conversation, taken down by our official stenographer, is as follows: “What planet are you?" (this from Mars). “This is the earth." “Well, you have been a long time answering our signal. We have the flash-lamp lighted now for nearly a thon- sand years. Stupid, ch? * “Sorry you think so. Would—" “Wait -a minute. Let me ask you some questions. Where are you signal- ing from?” “ United States.”” “What's that? ”* “A lot of liberty-loving people, pro- 77\ "We are raising a new tariff."" “What's that?"? “I don’t know. No one knows. “Well, what's all that itation going on just below you? "’ “That's New Those are the tants."" “And doing?” “Oh, they arc eating, “gambling and rushing Well, good-by. Don't disturb me again.”’ Professor — Wiggleton, frantic with anxicty, naled at once: “What do you n rs? Surely you Mars York. inhabi- what are they ! signaled back : “I's just as we sus- pected all along. You are not only stupid but unin. teresting, Don’t bother us again. It will do you no good. We don't want to know you."* IN DARKEST AFRICA viding food and clothes for the trusts."” “Who is ruling over you?” “A man named Taft—that is, he is king a bluff at it.” Hum. What does he do?" “Oh, he sits around and looks pleas- ant, and gives the glad hand and smiles.” “Hal What are you doing just Thus ended the greatest scientific achievement of the age. In 1915 NE typical New Yorker to another: Say, Ikey, you oughd to have been with us last nighd. We wend slumming --all down through the Chrisdian quarter. comicbooks.com