Life — January 22, 1914 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Satire Analysis This Life magazine page (p. 137) contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"New Stories in Stone"** mocks the Fairmount Art Association's plan for historical statues along Philadelphia's Schuylkill River. The satire suggests these should be replaced with more contemporary subjects—Theodore Roosevelt's political maneuvers, William Jennings Bryan's activities, and various recent political/social controversies. The point: the association recycles old historical figures when modern American politics offers equally dramatic (and ridiculous) subjects worthy of commemoration. **"Our Wall Street Column"** presents a humorous anecdote about Herbert Hobbleton buying stock and exchange members purchasing land organs—likely satirizing speculative excess and frivolous spending during the prosperous 1920s. The final dialogue joke about chocolates is light domestic humor.