Life, 1913-02-27 · page 10 of 40
Life — February 27, 1913 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **presidential inaugurations** as excessively extravagant spectacles. The top cartoon shows crowds and what appears to be circus performers or clowns ("you can't throw me"), mocking the theatrical nature of inaugural celebrations. The text criticizes how inaugurations rival Roman gladiatorial games in excess, mentioning **Thomas Jefferson** tying his horse to a post rather than using elaborate ceremony. The piece argues that modern inaugurations feature wasteful displays—generals in expensive uniforms, decorated chairs, exotic animals—that contradict democratic principles. The satire targets the gap between democratic ideals and aristocratic pageantry: presidents present themselves as kings despite a nation claiming egalitarian values. The final quote questions whether patriotic citizens should take such ostentatious occasions seriously.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Inaugurations NAUGURATIONS are so called from the Roman augurs, couldn’t look at each other with- out laughing. Thomas Jefferson, an early President, rode up to the Capitol and tied his horse to a post, but subse- quent inaugurations have Mr. Jefferson tied to a post. For pomp and unmitigating circumstances we beat the triumphs of the Cxsars to a progressive frazzle. The appur- tenances of a Roman holiday look cheap indeed in comparison with such things as the proconsul of Nebraska driving his three donkeys, Free Silver, Free Trade and Free* Speech, and dragging the Tammany tiger at his chariot wheel. The decorations include among other exotics, many governors’ staffs. These are the flower of the nation’s chivalry. * Special rates to lecture bureaus. “you CAN'T THROW ME” PRAY BE SEATED Nowhere else in the world are there to be seen assembled so many generals and colonels able to pay, out of their own pockets, for such uniforms. But even more impressive is the sight of our moneyed classes rolling in wealth all up and down Pennsylvania avenue. A President isn’t ex- actly a King, but where the right kind of peo- ple have the right kind of a fit over him he can be made to answer almost as well for social purposes. Here, in short, is everything which ‘ought to appeal to the patriotic breast. What are patriotic breasts for if not to take themselves too seriously on such occasions? ” HAT goes up, must come down,” evidently does not apply to the high cost of living. Answer to Rebus on Page 369 of Last Week's Life Pouce graft can only be stopped by honest patrolmen. comicbooks.com