Life, 1894-12-27 · page 37 of 53
Life — December 27, 1894 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story mocks cultural clash between a Muslim Ottoman official (a Cadi, or Islamic judge) and American commercialism. The "Cadi" represents conservative Islamic values—he's shocked by women in revealing opera costumes and unfamiliar with Western spending habits. The joke targets American Christmas consumerism: Mustapha explains the crowded streets result from Christians frantically buying last-minute gifts. The Cadi repeatedly must pay gratuities (sequins) for basic services—coat check, cab fare—bewildering him with American tipping culture and commercial expectations. The satire cuts both ways: it mocks the Cadi's rigid prudishness while simultaneously critiquing American materialism and the relentless commercialization of holidays. The illustrations show the befuddled foreign visitor navigating unfamiliar customs, a common satirical device in *Life* magazine for highlighting perceived American excess and mercenary attitudes.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LE eksES: 21 that next offender committed to his charge. “Holy Prophet!” exclaimed the Cadi, as he entered the morning he would squeeze ten out of the first rotunda, “but whose seraglio have we broken into? Mustapha, do you not know the penalty truly, oh fountain of greatness. This is no seraglio. It drink. where the Giaours bring their women for food and Tue Cav PNEATH THE DIVAN A HOTTLE. “Allah il Allah,” exclaimed the Cadi “ what means this rush and crush ? your highness,” explained Mustapha, that very many of the Giaours put off buying Christmas gifts, like many other things th ¢ them from, until the last moment. Hence this crowd on the very eve of GETTING DOWN ON HIS MANDS AND KNEES, PRODUCED FROM they entered, * Nothing except hope death may their f The ¢ as his heart commands. Allah Ach! our is a fool. He should make only such gifts —God is great—and we will once more match for the wherewithal to satisfy the cravings of our throats.” “What it is, oh, sublime highness—beer, whiskey or Far be it from your slave to take adv champagne ? AE f so great a Cadi as yourself.” Doth not Hafiz say * Every moment you enjoy, count it gain?’ Therefore let it be champagn nd this time Fate was Again the coins were produced. against the Cadi. The same look came into his face which marked it when he ordered a offender to the bastinado, but Mus- “HoLy Prornet,” excLamen THe Capi, “bot WHOSE SERAGLIO HAVE tapha disguised his terror by or¢ oo ing the cabman to drive to the Waldorf. Here they were obse- “Then why are the women so little clad? Even in the quiously received by a harem my wives and slaves would never dare so to expose man in livery, to whom — themselves.” the Cadi told Mustapha * Min Allah—God forbid, your highness. But this even- to give a sequin. This ing the richest of the Giaours have had an entertainment Mustapha did with ill which they call an opera. There it is permitted to. their grace. As they entered women to go in indecent raiment and thence they come the corridor a youth in- hither to eat and drink tined the last of the sisted on taking charge “Enough,” said the Cadi, as he ‘let us return, But see to it, of their outer garments. champagne from his glass, iaours t Again the Cadi ordered Mustapha, that the next time the ve an opera I + P Mustapha to produce a shall be present.” Mexevrox tHe Can) sequin, which Mustapha At the Mustap DENIER AND LAID IT FL kyne did, inwardly resolving tance from the Cadi’s dwelling, the latter fearing that the ’s direction the cab stopped a little dis- comicbooks.com