Life, 1910-06-09 · page 26 of 40
Life — June 9, 1910 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct elements: **Left side:** Poetry on evolutionary theory, likely referencing Darwin's "Origin of Species" (published 1859). The verse traces life from primordial sponges through various creatures, ending with extinct animals (the Moa). It's satirical commentary on evolutionary debate—the phrase "nobler traits / Of birds preceding Noah" mocks religious opposition to evolution. **Right side:** "In the Vegetable Garden" is a humorous dialogue (adapted from Turkish literature) about a master caught stealing vegetables. When confronted, he blames wind and accident, while the gardener demands a scientific explanation. The satire mocks people who evade responsibility through elaborate excuses and fatalism. **Bottom:** A Nast cartoon captioned "WHO STOLE THE PEOPLE'S MONEY? Do TELL!" depicts Tammany Hall figures. This references the famous Boss Tweed/Tammany Hall corruption scandals of the 1870s, when massive public funds were embezzled. The cartoon uses familiar Nast caricatures to satirize ongoing political corruption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1070 Of which each, under Fate, was impelled to his mate By love of the law of Attractions. Soon desiring to pair, Fire, Water, Earth, Air ) monogamous custom unused, Al joined by collusion in fortunate fusion, And so the Sponge-puzzle produced. w the Sponge had of yore many attributes more Than the power to imbibe or expun: And his leisure beguiled with the hope of a child— Crores. © philopro: Mar Then him let us call the first Though the clergy desire to hoodwink us; For he gave to the earth the first animal birth And conceived the Ornithorphynchus. itive Sponge ! ‘ent of all, 1 we were all elaborated and more From this hybrid anim were laid as b more re, but each tin ggled and bred Till one end of the scale dropped its ance And the other got rid of his head. the bill, in brief words, we developed the birds, Unless our tame pigeons and ducks | From the tail and hind le; in the sece © Apes, and—Professor Huxley Windbag, t i in the true style of the mbo € poet sir ises of L If this my song its theme should wror The theme itself is sweet; Let others rhyme the unborn time— 1 sing the obsolete And first I praise the nobler t preceding Noah, I g clan whose meat was Dinornis, Apteryx, Moa. EE Ee * In the Vegetable Garden (From the Turkish of Nasir-ed-din) Straying into a vegetable garden one day the master saw that the vegetables were good and plucked one here d there, dropping them into his wallet. The gardener, perceiving the master thus occupied, addressed himself to and the following talk ensued : Garpexer: Who are you? Master: That is known to me but evidently not to you SARDENEK: Then why are you here? Master: By chane Garvexrr: 1 mean, how came you here? Master: By accident. Garprxrr: Say now, brought you here? Master: The will of Allah RDENER: How Master: It must nh is the governor of all n: presence in this garden. ure ARDENER: Bandy no words with me, but explain w force of nature it was that brought you hither to. pluck my vegetables. Master: The wind came and blowing mightily carried me into this garden Gaxoexer: And did the wind tear up my vegetables? y, friend; but the wind blew me about so self I clutched at every stalk which came near my hand, and thus, with each fresh gust of wind that hore me off, a vegetables remained in my grasp Ganorntr: A fine story, for Master: y fine st Ganvexer: And now, tell me into your wallet Master: Ah, that is really the ¢ both spend the rest of the day in surmising wallet further ado, what without ave been the will of Allah, sine ure, and nature is the cause Could I resist the forces how the vegetables got f question! Let us how the vege- the hints we ¢ 2 prints hers and of fee Excelled in wits the later t And so are obsolete ‘The astrolabe of every babe Rea its fatal sky “ Man's longest room is the low tomb Ye all are born to die. Therefore this theme, O Birds, 1 deem noblest we m fi me, in Acolis. of money by mort- their public piazzas loan was not repaid the mort took possession of | the property, good naturedly allowing pe ple to shelter there when it rained his was announced by a crier call- “Come under’ shelter! rose that the people were s¢ The inhabitant But stupid that they did not know when to seek shelter unless they were told. Strabo. A talkative man was trimming the beard of King Arche nd asked: “How shall T'cut it?” “In silence,” replied the king —Plutarch. NAST'S CARTOON ON TAMMANY! WHO STOLE THE PEOPLE'S MONEY? Do TEL —"From ‘Th. Nast? by Albert Bigelow Paine. Copy right 1904. by Albert Bigelow Paine.” Published in Harper's Weekly, August, 1871. comicbooks.com