Life, 1909-10-28 · page 13 of 36
Life — October 28, 1909 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page features a satirical cartoon about a cemetery gathering. The caption quotes someone saying "What's the trouble?" with a response invoking "the trumpet of Gabriel" and an automobile, suggesting death-related humor about early automobiles. Below is a "Popular Birthdays" section celebrating notable figures including Theodore Roosevelt, Whitelaw Reid, and others with humorous birthday messages. The cartoon appears to joke about automobiles as death traps—a common satirical theme in early 20th-century America when cars were new and dangerous. The cemetery setting reinforces this dark humor, with what appears to be graves marked with automotive-related epitaphs, mocking both new technology and mortality. The exact date and all depicted individuals require the magazine's publication date to confirm completely.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHAT'S THE TROUBLE?" ADZ00KS! MAN, DIDN'T VE HEAR THE TRUMPET OF GARKIE REAT SCOTT! VES, BUT | THOUGHT IT WAS AN AUTOMOBILE.’* WHITELAW REID Bern October 27, 1837 Rome had its Tribunes, but you were not there to edit them; hence the de- cline and fall of the Roman Empire Young man. thrice welcome to the roup of those who have lived beyond man’s allotted time. May the shadow of your editorials never grow less To have been horn in Ohio and es caped being President is some thing: to have been a journalist and a diplomatist and millionaire is incidental. Never to have been turned down by the Republi can elephant, in no matter what station it has pleased your wealth and high am bition to call you, is still more. Greeting! THEODORE ROOSEVELT Born October 27, 1858 Another birthday is yours. Howdy! By Taft and the Tariff, by Harriman and Prosperity, by live lions and dead giraffes. by the gods of war and the honor of trusts, we give thee good greet- ing! Here's hoping that you may never create another panic. Here's hoping that you will rest, and shoot no more. Popular Here's hoping that you will continue write jokes for the Outlook for m y. Here's hoping that we be friends, and that no ever come between us g out the frosted cake: ‘The Adam's ale get ready, A "toast, for old time's Here's looking at you, DAVID CRAHAM PHILLIPS Born October 31, 1867 You have not yet slain your Goliath, but you are mighty, nevertheless, in the court of the Philistines. Never mind if you are somewhat cyni- we ereet you as a Young-man-not- -of-his-pen. Already you have done third Welcome to your forty-fourth year! May you write slower, and therefore better, as time goes on. ROBERT TREAT PAINE Born Octobr 28, 1835 To have been a son of Boston is some- thing. To have been a_ philanthropist and overcome the effect of such a name is better. A widely expressed sympathy for the unfortunate, and the proper reserve and Birthdays taste in expressing it, have been your possession of money is incidental distribution of it is an courtesy, You have done well And, by the way, we had no idea that you were so young. Here's a health to you: Live en, and rejoice in the number of your friends. WILLIAM STEPHEN RAINSFORD Born October 30, 1850 Greeting, Doctor! To modernize Horace, non homini contingit adire Africanum May you never shoot any more ani- mals, and may you live long and prosper, in peace and good will to all men RICHARD HEBER NEWTON Born October 31, 1840 Some men are born theological, some have theology thrust upon them and some rise above We congratulate you upon the attain ment of a new birth. The pen is some- times mightier than the pulpit. Veritas odium porit. But your frients are mighty and will prevail. Long life to you! cuivis comicbooks.com