Life — March 28, 1889 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Lion in..." (Life Magazine) This political cartoon depicts a woman in classical dress labeled "Mrs. Britannia" (the personification of Britain) tending to a large potted plant with drooping leaves in an indoor setting. She states: "Dear me! Something must be done." The image appears to be satirizing British governance or policy during a period when Britain faced challenges requiring action. "Mrs. Britannia" represents the British nation itself, while the dying plant likely symbolizes a specific political, economic, or social problem requiring governmental intervention. The cartoon's title fragment "The Lion in..." (incomplete on this page) suggests reference to Britain's national symbol. Without the full caption or date, the specific issue being critiqued—whether imperial, domestic, or economic—remains unclear, though the tone implies urgent neglect of an important matter.