Life, 1896-12-17 · page 3 of 20
Life — December 17, 1896 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "Sanctum Talks" Page This page from *Life* magazine (Volume XXVIII, #730) features a satirical dialogue between a woman visitor and a bearded male doctor in his office. The cartoon mocks the doctor's hypocrisy: he preaches moral virtue in Thanksgiving sermons yet lives differently personally. The woman challenges his self-righteousness, suggesting his refined social pretenses mask questionable behavior. The satire critiques how respectable professionals—particularly clergymen or doctors—publicly advocate morality while privately engaging in conduct they publicly condemn. The "sanctum" (inner office/sacred space) becomes ironic, revealing the gap between public persona and private practice. This reflects broader Progressive-era skepticism toward institutional authority and sanctimoniousness among the elite.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XXVIII SANCTUM TALKS. HY, how are you, Doctor?" LiF ny ‘Good day, That Thanksgiving sermon of mine —" ‘*Ah, yes. Seems to have raised a hornet’s nest. But you don't care, do you?” ‘‘N-no, Why should I? I'm honest, and I'm here to—" ‘Exactly, Doctor. You're here to make trouble, but you don’t know it. Have you ever heard, Doctor, that there is a certain place paved with good intentions? Also that the same place ‘hath no fury like a woman scorned '?" ‘* You're speaking of hell, aren't you?" “Well, yes.” “Then why not say so? Why not call a spade by a worse name if possible? That's my way.” “I know it; but that’s the difference between you and me, Doctor. 1 move in refined society, and have to be particular.” “And I—" SAR es Sea — ‘ ‘Well, you talk shop to others.” “Then you don't like me?” “You mean well, Doctor, but if it were not for that superfluous accomplishment do you know what you would be? More or less of a—" “What?” “Humbug. Ti ‘Good day, , Doctor.” MEDICAL ITEM. NDER the tutorship of Coach Lehmann, the Har- vard crew is slowly recovering from its paralytic stroke. WHEN a woman is deceived some man is avenged. “\ HY is it that so many novelists have been newspaper men?” “The first thing that every reporter learns is to write fiction.” comicbooks.com