Life, 1909-12-09 · page 20 of 32
Life — December 9, 1909 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life magazine contains several short humorous pieces satirizing American society around the Progressive Era (early 1900s). **Main Content:** The cartoons and jokes mock contemporary absurdities: grain cereal marketing ("There's a reason"), class pretension among European nobility, Scottish frugality, and spelling reform—likely referencing President **Theodore Roosevelt's actual push for simplified spelling** in Washington. **Key Social References:** "The Seat of Punctuation" directly satirizes Roosevelt's spelling reform movement by suggesting Battle Creek sanitarium's focus on treating colons becomes metaphorically the "seat of punctuation reform"—a pun linking bodily and grammatical correction. Other pieces humorously contrast British and Scottish culture, children's literacy, and even mock theatrical desperation (a playwright seeking free room-and-board from a collaborator). **The Satire:** Life uses these brief anecdotes to gently ridicule contemporary fads, political initiatives (spelling reform), social pretension, and economic anxiety—typical of early 20th-century satirical magazines targeting educated middle-class readers. The advertisements for handkerchiefs anchor the page commercially.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SSW Z| Ci5 (6) 4 hie The Seat of Punctuation VT 9°R), ANT, Nv At the time Colonel Roosevelt was \ Sy carrying on his simplified spelling move- Lia ba htt caes ment in Washington there was a meet a ing of educators at Battle Creek, Mich., A Cereal Story A Valid Reason and they visited the great sanatoriums alked among the shredded wheat, Tue Count: Vat! Economize? there. ; a They hown through, a : When grape-nuts were in season; Tue Countess: Yes. Father says we ey were shown through, .and par. . ” ticular stress was laid by the guide on He asked her why she seemed so sweet, are living beyond his means,."’—Lippin- y guide. é ; és the success that attended operations She answered: “There's a reason "— "Brooklyn Life. there on enlarged and diseased colons, it being claimed that here was the seat " of most disease An Annual Luxury There was a banquet that night and An English boy went to visit his two one of the visitors opened his speech like Scotch cousins during his summer vaca- : this: tion. His breakfast every morning con- “Washington, as we all know, is the sisted of plain oatmeal, and he got very : : - scat of spelling reform, but, I take it, tired of it. “ Say, Ja he said, don't ~ - le Creek is bound to be the seat of you ever have milk with your porridge?" punctuation reform, for, as we were told Jack turned to his brother. “Eb, s Z, \ to-day, you come here with a colon and Tom,"' he J, “the lad thinks it's \ y you depart with a semi-colon."’—Satur- Christmas.""—Success. SS * Ai day ing Post Physiological The Troubles of a Dramatist ysiological Here's an advertisement taken fro “Effie,” said Margie, who was la- y morning paper that shows to what a boriously spelling words from a first : aN saat! pass genius may come in a great city: reader, “how can I tell which is a ‘d’ Ys 8 | “Wasten—A collaborator, by a and which is a ‘b*? z a CN * young playwright. The play is already “Why,” replied Effie, wisely, “ the written; collaborator to furnish board “d? has its tummy on its back.""—Tit LIFE’S WALL STREET COLUMN and bed until play is produced."’—Sue- Bits AMALGAMATED cess. Published by Lire Peatisiuxc Comrany, 17 Mest Thirty-first Surect, Live is for sale by all Newsdealers in Great Brian. ny. at rs Mics, Srey e s y Lane. London . England, Ac . 37 Ave. de Oper, Paris; ons, $5.00 a year in advance. tional postage fe 1 2 s i Exchanges. 1, Le s London: 9, Ree Union, $1.04 a year: to Canada, $2 cents. Single current copies, 10 cents, yeorges, Paris; 1, Via Firenze. Milan; Mayence. Germany. Months from date of publication, 25 cents. The text and illustrations in Live are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights in Great Britain athty No contribution wwii returned uniess accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. Live to Live, 1 hampton Ww. C. does mat hold itself responsible for the (oss or non return of unsolicited contributions Prompt notification should be sent by subscribers of any change of address. For Christmas Gifts Few gifts are more appropriate, acceptable and useful than Pure Linen Handkerchiefs. Our holiday assortment of these is now ready, and nowhere is it possible to find a larger collection of sizes, designs and styles than we display, and,—most important,—every handkerchief is of absolutely pure linen. We quote prices as follows : Hemstitched Handkerchiefs —12}4c, 25c, 40c, soc, 75¢, $1.00 each and upwards. Initialed Handkerchiefs, embroidered in a wide variety of letters —25¢, 40c, 50¢, 7§¢, $1.00 and 1.50 each. Lace Trimmed Handkerchiefs—2sc, soc, 75c, $1.00, 2.00, 5.00 each and upwards. Embroidered Handkerchiefs—25c, soc, 75c, $1.00, 2.00, §.00 each and upwards. In addition to these we show a large variety of little novelties, su as Armenian Lace Trimmed Handkerchiefs, Colored Bordered Han: kerchiefs, Madeira Handkerchiefs, Silk Handkerchiefs, etc., suitable for Holiday Gifts. All are packed in McCutcheon Spinning Wheel Boxes. A WHISKY THAT WILL AGREE WITH vou} } 2s heat hone, re James McCutcheon & Co. 5th Ave. & 34th St. N.Y. warrastoria. Mail Orders receive our prompt attention. Reg. Trade Mark. comicbooks.com