Life, 1910-05-12 · page 18 of 44
Life — May 12, 1910 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces typical of early 1900s American political commentary: **"Popular Birthdays"** mocks Vice Presidents Levi Morton and Charles Warren Fairbanks with backhanded compliments—praising their obscurity and unremarkable records while slyly referencing corporate trusts and political scandals they navigated. **"Prospective Triumph of Theodore Africanus"** satirizes an upcoming Roosevelt reception (June 17, likely 1910). The satire imagines an absurdly elaborate procession mixing political figures, wild animals, and social commentary—suggesting Roosevelt's popularity would draw massive crowds. The title's "Africanus" appears to mock grand historical pretensions. **"A Throb of Long Ago"** is a humorous mock-ancient text presenting a romantic note as a "deciphered papyrus" from Babylon, juxtaposing modern romantic secrecy with ancient settings for comic effect. The **cartoon** shows a military/political figure struggling with peace symbolism, captioned about doves becoming "scarecrows"—likely critiquing Roosevelt's militarism versus pacifist rhetoric.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIF E* NBTHOAYS LEVI P. MORTON Born May 16, 1824 Here's to our handsomest Vice-President! Also minister to various countrics and gentleman farmer, d distinguished member of the Republican party! — What more is there to say? Except, possibly that Mr. Morton's farm produces the most delectable milk known at trust prices. Sir, you are eminently respectable. We congratulate you upon your birthday. May you continue to outlive many of the thin; for which you have been obliged to stand! CHARLES WARREN FAIRBANK: Born May 11, 1852 This gentleman was one time Vice-Presi- dent of the United States. He filled the office with equanimity, and amid the clatter of falling trusts, the protests of undesirable citizens and the ravage of panics kept faith with a normal and healthy obscurity We salute you, sir, upon your distinguished anniversary and wish you many future vice- presidencies under calmer ski Prospective Triumph of Theodore Africanus PERSONS in the confidence of the management of the reception to Roosevelt, on June 17, disclose that the doings in New York on that day likely to make the Hud- son-Felton celebratién seem like a little gathering of the neighbors on the front porch. The committee members intimate guardedly that they are hearing from the country, and that the country expects to be here. No doubt it will be an occasion, and if the pictorial side of it is properly handled it may highly memorable. There is to be a pro- cession. The seventeenth of June is the an- niversary of the battle of Bunker Hill and is a good day for processions, On that day, in 1875, Boston had one that is still remem- bered. Not length but quality and personality is what makes processions interesting. The Rough Riders are to be in the Roosevelt procession. Dear, dear, how interesting it could be made—the Rough Riders on bucking broncos riding next to the police. Colonel Roosevelt on an elephant; President Taft ditto; Mr. Bryan on a donkey; Mayor Gaynor leading a muzzled tiger, animals from the Bronx Zoo, wealthy malefactors in cages, Methodists and Roman Catholics on a float exemplifying Peace, ex-Chicf Forester Pinchot with an axe exemplifying Conservation, the insurgents on Fifth Avenue stages, and so on and so on. The Roosevelt procession will not have all these features, but it will have the Colonel ‘n it. And it will draw to an extent that will make ‘c interesting 10 watch Mayor Gaynor's reformed police handle the crowd. Mr. Fly: WMATA PUSS THESE CLUMSY MEN MAKE OVER A LITTLE SIMPLE FLYING! A Threb of Leng Ago AV DECIPHERED papyrus, excavated from the ruins of Babylon, which also throws light on the antiqi modern delirium : Dearest Proumry: _ The coast is clear. Come up to the house to-night at nine. I'll be waiting in the niche in the northwest corner of the balcony. Father is worshipping in the Temple of the ven Lights, while mother has gone to an al fresco bridge arty in the Hanging Gardens. Loving arms await thee. Yearningly, “MY LITTLE FRIEND THE DOVE OF PEACE IN SUCH A GUISE!” “NO LONGER A DOVE, DE. CALLED ‘ARMED PEAC EAGLE—JUST A PLAIN SCARECROW comicbooks.com