Life, 1895-12-26 · page 3 of 51
Life — December 26, 1895 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis The cartoon shows two men in formal dress having a conversation. The caption reads: "Dickson resents your pitching into the devil, Bishop" / "On what ground?" / "Says it doesn't do to antagonize people we may have to ask favors of in the future." This appears to be political satire criticizing pragmatic compromise in religious or moral matters. A "Bishop" (likely representing religious authority) is being rebuked by someone named Dickson for condemning evil ("the devil"), because doing so might offend powerful people from whom future favors are needed. The joke satirizes cynical politicians or power brokers who believe maintaining relationships with corrupt or immoral figures is more important than taking principled moral stands. It's commentary on how practical self-interest often overrides ethical conviction in public life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XXVI. NUMBER 678. “| DICKSON RESENTS YOUR PITCHING INTO THE DEVIL, BISHOP.” “ON WHAT GROUND?” “SAYS IT DOESN'T DO TO ANTAGONIZE PEOPLE WE MAY HAVE TO ASK FAVORS OF IN THE FUTURE.” THE ORIGINAL ONE. DAM had slept too long. like himself, yet strangely different. His surprise increased. He felt sure of it as he stretched himself, yawned,and For some moments he was speechless. Then: rose with a heavy sensation in his head and a lightness “ What are you?” he gasped. round his stomach, to take a turn about the garden. The unusual creature smiled. But, suddenly, he doubted whether he was yet awake. She picked a loose hair off one of his shoulders, com- There, in front of him, was an animal he had never seen _ pared it with his wild, unkempt locks and smiled again. before. He thought it was an animal. But it was strangely “Tam the New Woman,” she said.