Life, 1910-11-03 · page 61 of 72
Life — November 3, 1910 — page 61: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a modern adaptation of the classic nursery rhyme, rewritten as a corruption narrative satirizing early 20th-century American politics and law. Each animal character represents a different profession seeking payment or personal gain from their involvement in the "murder": the fly demands witness fees, the fish and rook expect "graft" (corruption payoffs), the owl charges the commonwealth, the parson demands estate payment. The satire culminates when the trial exposes the whole scheme as fraudulent—the fish forgets his evidence, the fly can't remember details. The point: the entire American justice system, from witnesses to clergy to bureaucrats, is portrayed as self-serving and corrupt. Even "reform" (the cock robin's voting position) offers no protection. This reflects Progressive Era anxieties about institutional corruption and the unreliability of supposedly impartial officials. The page also carries a Premier automobile advertisement, a book bargains ad, and a patent medicine ad—typical period magazine filler.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LURES [00K BARGAINS Ge Gauiog. filled with good Holiday and Library Books at xs. sent free to any address.” We are the Oldest Bape vie ifait Order” Boek Eatablishment in the U Gdaliuhed in 1884. Weare also successors to the Oldest Book-store in New York (ears E Bros., che began be business in rod THE rare LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 225 Fifth Ave., New York City Who Killed Cock Robin ? (As it might be written had the author lived in the year 1910.) “Who killed cock robin?” “I,” said the sparrow, “with my bow and arrow, I killed cock robin.” The prosecutor said: “I see, Clear case of murder—first degree.” “Who saw him die?” “TI,” said the fly, “with my little eye, I saw him die.” This proved the case with ready ~ i case (He got ten dollars witness fees). “Who caught his blood?” “TI,” said the fish, “with my little dish, I caught his blood.” They marked the dish Exhibit “ A,” To be displayed on trial day. “Who'll dig his grave?” “1,” said the owl, “with my spade and trowel, I'll dig his grave. (I'm not in business for my health, So charge it to the Commonwealth.”) “Who'll be the parson?” “1,” said the rook, “ with my little book, I'll be the parson. (Ill make the sermon something swell, And the estate should pay me well.”) “Who'll sew his shroud?” “I,” said the beetle, “with my thread and needle, = PREMIER Premier quality is dominant in every line of this 1911 model It isa car of classic proportions, of grace and dignity and charm. The latest of along line of cars that haye not deviated one iota from the engineering ideal that inspired their initial production, Quite obviously a quality car—that quality which is the heritage of years, and in no other way attainable. That more than 84% of those who have purchased Premier cars during the past three years continue to be Premier owners is proof of Premier satisfaction. Premier cars are conspicuously absent from the ‘second hand, for sale’ lists Our little book “ How to Buy a Motor Car” will proce of interest Jo every man in America who owns—or contemplates owning a car of the highest type: : : Premier Motor Manufacturing Co. Ucensed under Seléen Patent Indianapolis, Indiana Dept. A in the OFFICE, gE 4 Home by. "75,0 000, 000 Send amorted, The 0. Soe aera . K. Mfg. Co., Syracuse, N. Y., U.S. A. xo1D T'll sew his shroud. I know the coroner,” she laughed, “We'll both get in upon the graft.” “Who'll sing a psalm?” “I,” said the thrush, as she sat in the bush, “Tl sing a psalm. (A melancholy threnody, And worth at very least a V.”) “Who'll pull the bell?” “1,” said the bull, “because I can pull, I'll pull the bell. Gratuitously I'll perform, (Cock robin voted for reform.”) But when the trial came, the fish Forgot to bring along his dish, And the silly fly could not remember Whether ’twas August or September. (Continued on page 791) comicbooks.com