Life, 1893-01-26 · page 12 of 14
Life — January 26, 1893 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire Page Analysis This page satirizes late 19th/early 20th-century American political corruption and social hypocrisy through multiple comic sections: **"Examination Papers for Office Seekers"** mocks the spoils system—the practice of politicians awarding government jobs to unqualified loyalists rather than merit-based candidates. The questions expose the cynicism: applicants are expected to have failed at business, lack self-respect, accept pittance wages, grovel before officials, and abandon principles with each administration change. The satire targets both corrupt politicians who dispense patronage and desperate office-seekers willing to compromise ethics for employment. **"Medicine to the Rescue"** is a brief joke about a talkative woman whose incessant conversation gives a doctor a headache; his "cure" is telling her to shut up. **"Fin de Siècle"** and **"The Girls to Blame"** are lighter social commentary on courtship and winter accidents. **"Distinguished Naturalist"** offers a darkly humorous revenge fantasy where a lion considers eating a man only to reconsider after learning of his chronic dyspepsia. The overall thrust criticizes government corruption and social pretense as endemic American problems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
> LIFE: LIFE’S EXAMINATION PAPERS. I], FOR OFFICE SEEKERS. 1. How many different businesses have you failed in ? 2. Did you ever earn your own living ? 3. Do you think that any one on earth would for one instant think of giving you employment in any capacity ? 4. Would you rather work in some private capacity at $1,200 a year or loaf in public office at $400 a year? 5. How much time are you willing to spend in dogging the footsteps of congressmen and other influential persons ? 6. If you cannot secure a position as head of a bureau at $4,000 a year, would you be content with a messengership at $t a day? 7. If in the afternoon an official with the power of appoint- ment should kick you out of his office would you come around the next morning smiling and cringing as usual? 8. Do you think that the office should seek the man or the man the office ? g. In case your funds give out while you are hanging around waiting for an appointment, have you any conscien- tious scruples about subsisting on free lunches ? 10. If you think you are competent to fill a public position why do you not go in for one which is awarded by competi- tion under the Civil Service Law ? 11. If your own brother should be an applicant for the place you are after, would you consider it wrong to murder him to better your chances of appointment ? 12, If you receive an appointment, are you willing to be invariably discourteous to such members of the public as you are supposed to serve ? 13. In case there should be a change of administration would you have any objection to change your politics to retain your office ? 14. If you should receive an appointment would your wife continue to support the family by taking in washing ? MEDICINE TO THE RESCUE. E was a young doctor unknown to fame, with pro- nounced ideas about politeness, and she—well—she could fa/k, He had tried to look interested while she exercised her one accomplishment until his head ached, and now as they are nearing her home she looks up with her most coquettish glance: “ Now, doctor, you wwst tell me what to do for this dread- ful sore throat.” A gleam of hope lights his tired face as he responds gravely, * Keep your mouth shut.” THE GIRLS TO BLAME. >)UERICUS: How do you account for there being so Ss many sleighing accidents every winter ? Cynicus: | attribute it to the habit of driving with one hand. FIN DE SIECLE. She: THERE 1S NO FUN IN BEING MARRIED OR ENGAGED. He: BUT WHEN 1S THERE FUN, THEN? She; WEN YOU ARE ANTICIPATING BOTH, Distinguished Naturalist in Africa: BY Jove, MY Boy, 1 GUESS I'm YOUR BREAKFAST! BUT JUST WAIT TILL YOU COMME! To FEEL IN YOUR OWN INSIDE THE 3 OF THE DYSPEPSIA I'VE NAD FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, AND YOU'LL WISH YOU HAD LET ME ALONE. comicbooks.com