Life, 1910-05-12 · page 15 of 44
Life — May 12, 1910 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page contains two satirical pieces about Theodore Roosevelt circa 1912. **"The Building of the Shape"** (top) is a patriotic poem with accompanying illustration showing politicians and businessmen constructing something, likely referencing Roosevelt's political influence and legacy-building. The poetic language ironically elevates what is essentially political maneuvering. **"Lack of Imagination"** (main article) mocks those predicting Roosevelt will run for President in 1912, 1916, 1920, and beyond. The satire argues that people making such predictions simply lack imagination—they cannot conceive that anyone would *not_ want to be President repeatedly. The author suggests there's a psychological type (like those obsessed with making money) who cannot imagine preferring anything to high office. **The bottom cartoon** ("It's him!") shows a progression of figures labeled "Retailer," "Wholesaler," and "Gold Storage," suggesting Roosevelt's political influence permeates all levels of commerce and society. The overall message: Roosevelt's ambitions and potential future candidacies dominate political discourse, revealing both his outsized influence and the limited imagination of those analyzing his intentions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Building of the Shape (With apologies to Longfellow) UILD her straight, O worthy Master! Staunch and strong, a goodly thing, That shall risk of no disaster. Humanity with all its fears, With all the hopes of future years, Is hanging breathless on that Shape! Lack of Imagination UR Colonel has seen fit to deny with some expressions of impatience the report cabled to a newspaper (the New York Herald, we believe) that he had said that he was com- ing home to run for President in 1912 It seems mean to grudge to folks who predict that Colonel Roosevelt will run for President in '12, '16, ‘20, '24 and any satisfaction that they may derive from such prognostica- tions. Such predictions are thought to imply political fore- sight and a more or less intimate acquaintance with the work- ings of the Colonel’s mind. In reality they merely indicate lack of imagination. The forecasters are unable to conceive how a man can prefer any other occupation to being Presi- dent, or that, having been President for seven years and a We know what Master laid the keel, What workman wrought those ribs of steel. Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith tri ant o'er our fears, Are all with thee—are all with thee! kali, he can believe that he has filled that office as long as is good either for himself or for the cou Just as there is an order of minds that cannot think of anything that is more desirable than money except more money, so they cannot think of anything that is better than two terms in the White House except three, four, five, six or seven terms. But there is such a thing as making money enough and wanting to do something else, and there is such a thing as a sufficiency ot being President and an inclination for some other employment. It may be observed that no one who has had actual ex- perience of the Presidency for even one term is included among those who predict that Colonel Roosevelt will run “ar's mit’? comicbooks.com