Life, 1912-10-31 · page 11 of 44
Life — October 31, 1912 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Illustration:** The cartoon depicts "Spiritual and Physical Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith Going Home on Election Eve." On the left, ghostly/ethereal figures represent their "spiritual" selves; on the right, their ordinary physical appearances. The contrast suggests the transformative power of election day on ordinary citizens. **The Articles:** "The Call" (a poem by Deems Taylor) celebrates autumn and Indian summer, apparently using seasonal imagery metaphorically. "A Glorious Triumph" credits the election outcome to popular will triumphing over corruption and uncertainty. The editorial notes social progress—unemployed poor finding work, wage increases, and the wealthy questioning their privilege—suggesting optimism about post-election reforms and renewed faith in democratic institutions and progress.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL The Call B UT yesterday ‘twas Autumn here; he city streets seemed chill and bare; ‘The sadness of the dying year Hung drearily upon the air But now, my vagrant fancies stray, Where golden rod and sumach grow ; I dream of crimson fields and gray— Forgotten Summer's afterglow. Wouldst know the sign that bids me heed, Amid the city’s din and shout, ‘That Indian summer's here. indeed? The Christmas magazines are out Deems Taylor. PORTRAITS OF MR, AND MRS. JOHN A Glorious Triumph (Eortor’s Note.—This article is pub- lished by mistake. It should not have appeared until next We congratulate the people of the United States upon the outcome of the el It is a glittering triumph for everything that anybody has been standing for: a stern, sharp and stinging rebuke for everything that anybody has standing against It has been a hard struggle. but easily worth all it cost. Already the night of uncertainty and corruption is scattering before the dawn of right- cousness and universal regeneration. Politicians, grafters. criminals and all tion. glorious and been SMITH GOING HOME ON ELECTION EVE the rest, have been purged of their sins and have set their faces toward the new goal of social uprightness and uplift- nes The idle rich are advertising for positions—the unemployed poor have found jobs. The laboring classes are realizing their selfishness and are looking around for ways to share their earnings with their employers, while the employers are refusing to accept these sacrifices, and are insisting on a general raise in wages The people confronted themselves with mighty questions of far-reaching The people have met these questions and replied to them- no uncertain terms. Thus progress persevere in planting ‘ism upon the out- importance selves in does pillars of pragma posts of posterity comicbooks.com