Life, 1910-10-20 · page 16 of 44
Life — October 20, 1910 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** A silhouetted couple in an airplane gazes at the moon below. The caption's romantic tone ("Oh, Harold! Isn't it just lovely to sit here and look down at the moon?") contrasts with the perspective—they're actually looking DOWN at the moon, which is impossible. This is visual satire on romantic delusion or the absurdity of lovers' talk. **"The Ideal Man" Article:** A satirical essay by Franklin Gayforth argues that the "Ideal Man" must exist (since so many women, voters, and preachers seek him) yet successfully hides because any man publicly identified as ideal immediately proves otherwise when scrutinized. The piece mocks the gap between idealized masculine perfection and reality. **"Our Future" Piece:** Political satire on the "New Nationalism" (likely Theodore Roosevelt's progressive platform). It mockingly argues we needn't fear the policy threatens the republic—we can confidently saddle future generations with massive national debt, trusting posterity to manage it. **Bottom Cartoon:** A Scottish figure asks where he is; another responds sarcastically that if he can't recognize Scotland, he shouldn't be there—simple ethnic/regional humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OH, HAROLD! 15: The Ideal Man HE Ideaf Man would make a very successful criminal because of his incomparable skill in keeping himself concealed. All over the world there are millions of women, young and old, who are si ig him assiduously; there are voters who want to put him in charge of their affairs; there are preachers who want to hold him up for emulation; there are writers who want to describe and enlarge upon him; there are wives who want to shame their erring husbands by pointing him out. Everyone is familiar with his appear- ance, for descriptions of him have been continuously sent broadcast ever since the art of printing was discovered, but somchow or other, every report that he has been discovered has later proved to be false. And yet there is good reason to believe not only that there is an Ideal Man, but several of him. Where there is so much smoke there must be fire. They are lurking somewhere in clever disguises. 'T 1T JUST LOVELY TO SIT HERE AND LOOK DOWN AT THE MOON??? Why do they not come forward and claim the éclat that awaits them, you ask? They do not come forward be- cause, being Ideal Men, they wisely avoid the dangers of a popularity run rampant. They have observed that every man who was ever suspected of being Ideal has turned out to be otherwise as soon as the public gaze was directed full upon him. Accordingly, they are fearful that the in- ability of these others to stand that public gaze with equanimity is exactly the point at which their ideality fell short. Franklin Gayforth, Our Future S VERAL editors object to the New Nationalism on the ground that it ens the future of our republic. If that were the only danger we need not disturb our serenity Our confidence in the ability of posterity must remain firm and unshaken so long as we are willing to give it a large na- tional debt to struggle with. If they can take care of that, as our national credi- tors will, of course, insist that they should, they can take care of anything. If, then, we may assure ourselves that the New Nationalism does not threaten the present life, peace and happiness of the republic, we might contract for it at once and pay for it, if necessary, on the installment plan. Bird With the High Hat: coopxess! ERE AM 1? MOOT, MON; DINA YE KEN SCOOTLAND WHEN YE SEE 1T?'" comicbooks.com