Life, 1909-11-11 · page 23 of 36
Life — November 11, 1909 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The dominant content is a Victor Records advertisement featuring famous opera singers of the era—Caruso, Melba, Tetrazzini, and others—claiming Victor's superior recording quality. The left side contains "A Crank's Thanksgiving," a humorous poem by Walt Mason expressing gratitude for American abundance and values (ships, commerce, honest workers, free speech). It's gently satirical about American materialism and self-satisfaction, not biting political commentary. Below that is a brief joke from *The Sketch* about a drunk misunderstanding drinking advice—mild newspaper humor. The bottom advertises Humyadi János laxative water. **For modern readers:** This page reflects early 20th-century Life magazine's mix of light humor, celebrity endorsements, and patent medicine ads. There's no sharp political cartoon; the satire is gentle and lifestyle-focused rather than investigative.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
~ Bauancuirr Maxon, N. Y. BRIARCLIFF LODGE | A Resort Hotel of High Quality smber Ist with superior accommodations for three jecorated and furnished unier exclusive orders A Crank’s Thanksgiving ce others, I'm grateful for plenty to I'm fond of a plateful of rich turkey For pies in the cupboard, and in the bin, for tires that e rub- ! and motors that spin; for all of treasures, for all that I earn, for forts and pleasures, my thanks I re- ’ - I'm glad that the nation is greasy : 2a roel The world’s greatest singers a hitch; ker barns are a-bursting ching oe make records only for the Victor. for glory and gain. She'll ne‘er d linger, this land of dads, n *. : isa dinger at nailing the seade, | The world’s greatest singers! The greatest tenors; «she is a dinger at nailing the scads. glad that our vessels bring cargoes ne - . a. + antect ¢ . me ~ oreatec e while counting-rooms wrestle with the greatest sopranos; the greatest contraltos; the greatest Jesei ‘that medi know (he baritones; the greatest bassos. Not among the greatest, figures and dates, and tariffs ba ? and railway rebates. but ¢e greatest of all nationalities. there are dreamers not in- . surrounded by schemers Caruso, the greatest Italian tenor Melba, the greatest English soprano oes nod ta: the:plunks. Tmt glad:welve Dalmores, the greatest French tenor Tetrazzini, the greatest Italian soprano raining incompetent jays, not always : four hundred ways, to Scotti Eames } nd collar one big rouble more, Battistini [the greatest Italian baritones Farrar | the dollar they nailed just be- Ruffo Calvé, the greatest French , a . , the greatest French soprano re n glad there are writers more I de Gogorza, the greatest Spanish baritone proud of their screeds than board of Renisud, the greatest French baritone ide fighters of options and deeds. I'm 5 5 . = ind ‘there: ave ‘pbeaehera Ocho. tell’ of Homer, the greatest American contralto Sembrich, the greatest Polish soprano \ shore where wealth-weary people need Schumann-Heink, the greatest German Michailowa, the greatest Russian soprano scheme never more. contralto For books that were written by mas- BD Gerville-Réache, the greatest French Journet ers of thought; for harps that were contralto Plangon nitten with Homeric swat; for can- Sy ¥, ‘ i | These famous artists—universally acknowledged the ses painted by monarchs of art; for H_ininge aniainied by “iricks (of) the greatest, and commanding the highest salaries—make wart; for hearts that are kindly, with . pe . irtue and peace, and not seeking blindly records only for the Victor because only the Victor brings \ hoard to increase; for those who are E ( ar rieving o'er life's sordid plan; for souls BM out their voices as clear and true as life still believing in heaven and man; for 4 : homes that are lowly with love at the Pm itself. voard; for things that are holy, I thank O Lord!—Walt Mason in Ameri- the greatest American sopranos n down Gadski, the greatest German soprano i the greatest French bassos an Magazine. Tue Gextieman at THe Foot oF THE Sraims: Greatesh difficulty getsh here ‘t Il. F’got whether you told me t’ have wo drinks an’ come home at eleven, or levensh drinks an’ come home at two.— a : Oger best results, use I he Sketch, Victor Records are on sale at all 7 dealers on the 28th of each month Too Much Like Work IN THE MORNING Th kippy tithe ofa even old baby, whose chief business seems to ON ARISING TAKE % GLASS OF be making a noise in the world, was paying her sister a visit, and the other evening young Master Harry, aged seven years, was delegated to care for the baby while his elders, were at dinner. So he THE BEST NATURAL LAXATIVE WATER wkeeled it back and forth, forth and back, the length of the library, giving A bottle of HUNYADI JANOS should be in every bathroom, | vent to his sentiments by singing, much ready for use when needed. It is the most perfect Natural f Laxative known—biliousness, torpid liver, sick headache and similar disorders are strangers to those who use it. No wedding bells for me."’ comicbooks.com