Life, 1909-11-04 · page 34 of 52
Life — November 4, 1909 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several brief humorous anecdotes rather than political cartoons. The jokes target middle-class social pretensions and hypocrisy: **"Sign of Wealth"** mocks newly wealthy people's conspicuous consumption—burning gas in an open fireplace signals sudden riches rather than actual financial security. **"Costly Victory"** references the University of Texas's replica of the classical "Winged Victory" statue; a student's sardonic caption suggests defeat is preferable to such a hollow, mutilated "victory." **"Poor Animal"** satirizes moral reformers who lecture children about animal suffering from fur coats, while the child innocently reveals the real "poor animal" is the father who must work to afford them. **"What's a Gentleman?"** and **"Distantly Related"** use children's innocent definitions to expose adult pretension and class consciousness. The large advertisement below promotes Brewster & Co.'s luxury automobile chassis and bodies. The juxtaposition of satirical content above with upscale advertising below is typical of *Life*'s targeting of affluent, educated readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sign cf Wealth I never knew how rich he was, Nor guessed he'd money in the bank, But now with millionaires and kings Of finance he will ever rank. I thought him but a struggling man, Oppressed by hard and bitter fate; But now I know he must be rich— He burns gas in an open grate. —Detroit Free Press. Costly Victory In a corridor of one of the University of Texas buildings there is a large replica of “The Winged Victory.” A waggish- ly inclined student observed the headless, armless, footless statue, and wrote under- neath: “God pity Defeat! "—Lippincott’s. “I Forbear to State” Every one will recall the orator who, while declaring that he will not mention this fact, nor make any reference to that one, contrives to include both. The Kan- sas City Times gives an every-day in- stance of the same way of at once avoiding and mentioning a subject “I rather pride myself on one thing,’’ said the young father. “ Although I have the brightest, smartest, cutest, best youngster I ever saw, . never brag about him.'""—Youth’s Companion. Poor Animal “Little boy," asks the well-meaning reformer, “is that your mamma over yonder with the beautiful set of furs?” “Yes, sir,"” answers the bright lad. “ Well, do you know what poor animal it is that had to suffer in order that your mamma might have the furs with whict she adorns herself so proudly?" “Yes, sir—my papa.""—Chicago Even ing Post. What's a Gentleman? An exact definition of a gentlemar has been tried many times, never per haps with entirely satisfactory results Little Sadie had never heard of any of the definitions, but she managed to throw a gleam of light on the subject, albe: one touched with unconscious cynicisr The word was in the spelling lesson, ani I said: “Sadie, what is a gentleman?’ “ Please, ma‘am,"’ she answered, “2 gentleman's 2 man you don't know ver well.""—IWoman's Home Companion. Distantly Related Are you related to Barney O'Brien? Thomas O'Brien was once asked. Very distantly,"" replied Thomas. was me mother’s first child—Barney was th’ nteenth.""—Chicago Daily cialist. mig pb Possessic tion, 28 cents, MNbe returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. Lire r now return of unsolicited ¢ is tor sale by all Newsdealers in Great Britain, ‘The International News Company, Breams old strel/ responsible for the buttons. Ruilding, Chancery Lane. London, E. C,. Eni alsn at Saarbach's News Exchanges, 1, New Coventry St. Georges. Paris; 1, Via Firenze, Milan: Mayence, fo Live, 14 Southampton Row, Prompt notification should be BREWSTER @ CoO. Broadway and 47th St. NEW YORK DELAUNAY-BELLEVILLE CHASSIS The New Low-Powered 6-Cylinder Chassis Perfection for Town and Suburban Use PEERLESS CARS (By special arrangement with the Peerless Motor Car Co.) Fitted with Our Exclusive Coach Work BODIES FOR ANY CHASSIS REPAIRS TO BODY OR MOTOR comicbooks.com