Life, 1896-10-29 · page 15 of 18
Life — October 29, 1896 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a dialogue between two figures—an elderly man with a long beard (appearing to represent a traditional holy man or "Mahatma," referencing Indian spiritual figures) and a Western businessman. The joke turns on an impossible wager: the businessman challenges the Mahatma to grow hair on his bald head in twenty-four hours, offering rupees (Indian currency) as an absurd incentive—implying the Mahatma's claimed miraculous powers (growing a tree four feet high in twenty minutes) are fraudulent. This satirizes both Western fascination with Indian mysticism and skepticism toward claimed Eastern spiritual powers. The cartoon mocks gullibility about "miracle workers" while playing on period stereotypes. The page is primarily advertisements (Armour beef extract, Williams shaving stick, Beck bicycle saddles, Field Flowers souvenir book), with this single cartoon as editorial content typical of Life's satirical format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Double, double toil and trouble: Fire burn and cauldron bubble.” That's the old way. of making soup.¢ Put your meat and soup- bones in the ‘cauldron’? and fuss over it for jee. .. ¢ BEEF saves you all that ‘toil and trouble.” Extract water to the Extract and you have, instantly, a really palatable Bouillon or Clear Beef Soup. Anyone can do it. Armbur.& Company, Chicago. Sifting 1, 109, ee YOU THE MAHATMA THAT MANE A TREE GROW FOUR FRET HIGH IN TWENTY MINUTES?” “WELL, SAY, TLL FILL YOUR HAT WITH RUPEES IF YOU'LL GROW A CROP OF HAIR ON MY HEAD IN AS MANY HOURS." For Sale Everywhe' mail receipt.of. ner 2s5¢ ent by mil on Jer ‘does not supply you. Z THE J.B.WILUAMS CO., GLASTONBURY, CONN, ‘Won't Fit Everybody The only saddle that can, b any width, 0) by simpl turnin, tome correct. z Suyllsh Hogekin pads with aes fittings, and mounted.on.a springy-spor ta worth the price v0, be comfortable. (85.09 by express prepaid) | All dealers. Five other attractive, styles. “Send for booklet. BECK BICYCLE ‘SADDLE CO. Newark, N. J. ‘Send yeur name for a Souvenir of the Works of Eugene Field, FIELD.2#FLOWERS The Eugene Field Monument Souvenir tital Art Production of the ce: Duach of the most fragrant of bi soma gat! many fi Pare of Love.’ Sontal a selection of the most deautiful of f Eugene Field. “Hand somely illustrated by. thirty-five of-the greatest artists as their contribution to, the Mon. ument Fund, Bat for the noble comtributt great artista this book coald tured fee 37.00, prepaid react Site. “The love offeringto rechilé's Frost sureate, published by the Cor. miltee to create a fand to build: the Sonum ‘and to care for the family ofthe beloved poet. Eugene Field Monument ‘Soaveuie Pun = sho Meares Street, Chicags, comicbooks.com