Life, 1892-09-22 · page 12 of 14
Life — September 22, 1892 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 166: Satirical Commentary This page contains three separate satirical pieces: **"The Ruins"** mocks boxer James Corbett's recent victory over John L. Sullivan in New Orleans, suggesting Corbett merely defeated an already-weakened Sullivan damaged by alcoholism ("John Barleycorn"). The cartoon sequence shows a fat man (representing alcohol's effects) being knocked down repeatedly, satirizing that Corbett's real opponent was liquor, not a worthy fighter. **"The Prevailing Epidemic"** jokes about labor union exclusivity: two burglars cannot work together because one isn't union-certified, applying labor union rules absurdly to criminal activity—mocking rigid union protocols. **"Sell Her—That's Right"** is darker satire by Tom Hall condemning human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It describes selling a young woman into prostitution as a commercial transaction, with the church providing absolution "for a pittance." The text bitterly critiques the commodification of women and institutional complicity in their degradation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
166 THE RUINS, IFE has no wish to detract from the glory of James Corbett, but the fact is not to be ignored that it was John Barleycorn he recently knocked out in New Orleans, and not the original John L. Sullivan. It might be more precise to say that J. Barleycorn having already knocked out Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Corbett had an easy victory with the liquor laden remains, WIPING OFF TWO SCORES AT ONCE. - LIFE: pert “TaN dinner v still Mr. THE PREVAILING EPIDEMIC. First Burglar: BEFORE WE CRACK THE SAFE I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. DO YOU BELONG TO THE BURGLARS’ UNION? Second Burglar: No. First Burglar: THEN 1 CAN'T WORK WITH YOU ON THE SAFE. L AIN'T PERMITTED TO WORK WITH scaRS. I'M A UNION MAN! P SELL HER—THAT’S RIGHT. > ELL HER—that's right! She is young, she is fair. ‘There's the light of the sun in the coils of her hair; And her soul is as white as the first flake of snow That is falling to-night. "Tis a bargain—a go! Sell her—that's right ! Sell her—that's right! For a bag-full of gold. Put her down in your ledger, and label her “sold.” She's only a beauty with somebody's name, And the church, for a pittance, will wash out the shame. Sell her—that's right. Tom Hall. comicbooks.com