Life — December 23, 1897 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, December 23, 1897 This page features an Egyptian-themed cartoon titled "Even as To-Day." The central image depicts two ancient Egyptian figures in traditional dress and headdresses, flanked by hieroglyphics. The caption questions whether men exist "on the other side of the globe," suggesting the earth revolves, and notes "I know there are not men enough on this side to go round." The satire appears to mock contemporary debates about population, geography, or possibly gender relations of the 1890s. The Egyptian setting—ancient and "exotic" to Western readers—contrasts with modern social commentary, a common rhetorical device in satirical magazines. The specific social or political issue referenced is unclear without additional context, though it likely concerns contemporary anxieties about overpopulation or marriage/courtship matters.