Life, 1912-08-15 · page 19 of 40
Life — August 15, 1912 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1899 *Life* magazine page contains three distinct pieces of satire: **"A Heavier Than Air Machine"** (left cartoon): A satirical dialogue where a "Monopolist" is violently ejected by workers/common people who turn the tables on him—if he's a "failure," removing him makes them "successes." The moral critiques the hypocrisy of the powerful: success justifies everything, even their own logic used against them. **"A Real Need"** (center): Proposes creating a government Publicity Department to enforce transparency—public pension lists, newspaper owner names, customs officers' records, etc. This is progressive-era satire advocating for governmental accountability and anti-corruption measures. **"Even the Milk Turned"** (right cartoon): A small illustration labeled "New Names for Old Places" mockingly renames "Oyster Bay" as "The Bivouac of the Dead." This likely references Theodore Roosevelt's Oyster Bay estate, suggesting criticism of his administration or policies. The "milk turned" caption implies spoilage/corruption. All three pieces reflect 1890s Progressive Era concerns: labor vs. capital, government transparency, and political criticism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“\ MEAVIER THAN AIR MACHINE” actly,” said the mighty one. While we hold an inferior position because we are failures and derelicts,.” “ Correct.” “Very well,” said the spokesman; “if we should suddenly throw you out, you would be the failure and we should be the successes. Is that right?” “Oh, but you don’t understand,” began the Monopolist. But they did not wait to hear him. Attacking from all sides, they ejected him without heed to his protestations. As it was just meal time, they all immediately turned to and ate their fill. “What a selfish and ungrateful set they are,” mused the deposed one, as he tried to squeeze in somewher Moral—There is nothing so success- ful success. E. 0. J. CADEMICIAN—One who with- draws himself from the world and then undertakes to formulate for the world’s guidance rules to which the world pays not the slightest atten- tion. A Real Need addition to the Department of Agriculture, of Finance, of Patents, of Commerce and Labor and of all the other Government departments, why not have a Publicity Depart- ment? Such a department, with a proper head, would do much toward good government. It would investigate every secret activity, and pass upon the desirability for making its affairs public. It would have the power of placing before the people all the facts about any subject. Suppose there were such a depart- ment, and, as a beginning, it should insist upon Public Pension Lists. The names of the owners, including stockholders and directors, of made public. prescriptions, writ- newspapers being Public physici ten in English in duplicate, the patient to have one. Public lists of all customs house officers on duty each day, their names and records, and their posts of duty. Those suggested would be but a be- ginning, PIONEERS “ MOTHER, IT SAYS HERE TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. IS A NEIGHBOR?” O* New Names for Old Places WHAT STER BAY—The the Dead. Bivouac of EVEN THE MILK TURNED comicbooks.com