Life, 1897-09-30 · page 15 of 20
Life — September 30, 1897 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon depicts a hunting scene with satirical commentary on gender roles. A woman with a gun stands confused while a man points, asking "Which way shall I shoot?" The humor targets the absurdity of women being unprepared or indecisive hunters—a social commentary on women's participation in traditionally male activities. "An Even-Song" is a humorous poem mocking the era's obsession with germ theory and disinfectants. It depicts someone going through elaborate anti-bacterial rituals before sleep, treating microbes like demons to be fought off with "sundry drugs." The satire suggests people were becoming irrationally fearful about invisible germs and over-reliant on commercial disinfectant products—reflecting early-20th-century marketing of "scientific" hygiene products. The bottom jokes use wordplay about occupations: a "scientific boxer" who's actually an "undertaker" (because boxers cause deaths/injuries). All pieces mock contemporary anxieties about science, modernity, and changing social norms.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fi ha A, ia 73 The lady: OH, THERE, i a) \eae ~ HE'S POINTING ! WHICH WAY SHALL 1 SHOOT ? 275 An Even-Song. OW I lay me down to sleep, At dreamy close of day, In trust that Science still will keep The microbes grim away. I'm thankful I have been sus- tained Through long hours twenty- four, And pray there be for me ordained, Microoeless, many more. I'm glad there's been vouch- safed to me A disinfectant sure, Compounded of a recipe Of sundry drugs most pure. Armed thus, I dare the ice- cream hoard, The kiss, the deadly pie— The microbes all, with one accord, Do shrivel up and die. Fresh sprayed, behold me seek my bed (Deodorized full well), But first I bow my reverent head, My praises loudly swell. In vain the microbes would contrive My safeguards to undo, And lo! /aus Deo, | survive The disinfectants, too! Edwin L. Sabin. Contradictory. ELL, that’s queer!” “*What's queer?” “Why, this novel says that the hero was fond of adven- ture, but did not like domes- tic life.” A Slight Difference. ABBER: What does your son do for a living ? * NaBBER: He's a scientific boxer. “A pugilist?” “No, undertaker.”