Life — October 26, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *Life* magazine shows a black and white illustration titled "His Favorite Author." The image depicts a man reading what appears to be a menu or program at a dining table, surrounded by other diners in formal attire. A handwritten notation in the upper right identifies this as "E. FOSTER LINCOLN" (though the artist credit is unclear). The satire appears to play on the phrase "favorite author"—treating a menu as literature. This is likely mocking either someone's pretensions (treating a mundane document as great literature) or making a joke about dining/gastronomy culture. Without additional context about the specific issue date, the exact political or social figure being referenced remains unclear, though the formal dinner setting suggests commentary on elite social circles.