Life, 1913-08-28 · page 28 of 40
Life — August 28, 1913 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a "Coming Events" satirical column listing upcoming August-September events with pointed commentary. The cartoon shows a woman and man observing nature, with the woman's naive question serving as ironic counterpoint to the cynical items below. The satire targets: **Political corruption**: District-Attorney Whitman's birthday party is mocked because criminals ("gunmen, gamblers, police lieutenants") won't attend—implying systemic corruption he's prosecuting. The Sulzer reference suggests New York political scandal. **Social hypocrisy**: The "Woman's place is in the pageant" mocks contemporary debates about women's roles. Engagement ring prices are satirized as an absurd concern. **Corporate malfeasance**: The railroad company comment sarcastically doubts that public welfare will actually be considered, suggesting habitual disregard for passengers. **General cynicism**: Multiple entries mock current events as meaningless or contradictory (the sun eclipse you must travel to see; the queen/emperor birthday dispute). The cartoon's caption—"Oh, Henry, isn't everything in nature beautiful?"—serves as naive counterpoint to the page's pervasive mockery of human society's corruption and pretense.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
° Coming August 28—Birthday of District-Attorney Charles S. Whitman, of New York. Many of New York's prominent gunmen, gamblers, police lieutenants and ex-senators will be unable to attend Mr. Whitman's birthday party, accord- ing to social gossip in Sing Sing. John Purroy Mitchel, the popular Hearst entry for Mayor, is deeply grateful to Mr. Whitman for having been born a Fusionist. The Webster Birthplace Association will celebrate the restoration of the house in which Daniel Webster was born. Souvenir dictionaries will be distributed. Convention of National Retail Jewelers’ Association, Chicago, Ill. The International Association of Fiancés is preparing a petition demanding an immediate reduction in the high cost of engagement rings. August 29 —Municipal Pageant, instituted by the Woman's Civic League, Darien, Conn, According to the latest revised notions of society, woman’s place is in the pageant. Eighth International Congress of Students, Cornell Uni- versity, Ithaca, N. Y. Whether the trousers should be worn rolled up or turned down is one of the questions of international importance to be discussed. What to do with the local police department on the night of a large football victory is another vital matter that will come up for debate. Conference of Canadian Premiers, Ottawa, Canada. ‘The Conference will be of small interest to the American public, there being no prospects of indictments, impeach- ments, prosecutions for bribery or Wall Street scandals in connection with the event. August 30—The suburb of Kennedy Heights, Baltimore, will hold its third annual agricultural exhibit. Nature will spend the week-end in Baltimore. Prizes will be dis- tributed to any suburbanite who can prove that his vege- tables are as tall as the stories in the seed catalogues. Chautauqua Meeting, Belair, Md. Close students of the Chautauqua programs will note a prominent vacuum in the present list. Mr. Bryan (temporarily) has nothing to say. August 31—Northwestern Bible Conference, Minneapolis, Minn. The book of Job will be recommended for fall reading to Mr. William Sulzer, of New York. Birthday of Queen Wilhelmina, of Holland, born 1880, and of Emperor Yoshihito, of Japan, born 1879. Brother Yoshihito has accused the queen of plagiarism. He claims that he hit on the idea of having August 31 for a birthday a year before Her Majesty was born. Mr. Carnegie has offered to arbitrate the question. A partial eclipse of the sun will occur. In order to see Old Sol disappear one must travel to Labrador or New- foundland. Many persons, however, will manage to stay’ at home and wait for the sun to go down as usual. Mr. John Drew will return to New York for the the- atrical term, The young ladies of the nation are in the accustomed flutter. “OH, HENRY, ISN'T EVERYTHING IN NATURE BEAUTIFUL?” September 1 —Opening of the oyster season. Many of the most exclusive hotels, restaurants and eating estab- lishments are preparing receptions for the débutantes, most of whom have been spending a quiet summer at the sea- shore, Mr. Howard Elliott will take up his duties as president of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, Mr. Charles S. Mellen to the rear. Among the rumors of reform now supercharging the atmosphere is one to the effect that the public will be considered in the future conduct of the road. The rumor has yct to be.confirmed. Convention of International Association of Fire Engi- neers, New York City. Steps will be taken to lighten the severe burdens put upon factory owners for violation of the fire laws. A fine of fifty dollars per violation is entirely too onerous, say the unprejudiced factory owners. Newport Horse Show, Newport, R. I. There will be the usual sprinkling of foreign titles to assure the success of the show. September 2 —Major William W. Harts begins his duties as military aide to President Wilson. The fact that the President has military aid, however, does not neces- sarily mean armed intervention in Mexico. FD. B. comicbooks.com