Life, 1912-08-08 · page 21 of 40
Life — August 8, 1912 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a title or section page rather than a complete cartoon. The Latin phrase "MORITURI SALUTAMUS" (We who are about to die salute you) is historically associated with gladiators greeting the Roman emperor before combat. The sketch shows a large crowd of people at what appears to be a public gathering or stadium, with spectators in the foreground wearing hats typical of early 20th-century America. The composition and Latin phrase together suggest satire about American mass gatherings or public spectacles—possibly commenting on how modern audiences participate in potentially dangerous or morally questionable events with the passive acceptance of ancient gladiators. Without additional context or caption text, the specific target of this satire remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MORI TURI SALU TA MUS comicbooks.com