Life, 1898-01-13 · page 20 of 20
Life — January 13, 1898 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The single cartoon on this page depicts a pig in formal dress (top hat and tails) spraying flowers with a watering can, labeled "THE PENSION ROLL." **The Satire:** This critiques the expansion of government pension spending. The text below reads: "INCREASING EVERY YEAR, I PLOW WITH SCARCELY AN ENDEAVOR. FOR MEN MAY COME AND MEN MAY GO, BUT I GO ON FOREVER." The pig represents either a corrupt politician or the pension system itself—growing fat and prosperous without genuine labor ("scarcely an endeavor"), while watering something unproductive. The joke suggests pensions are wasteful entitlements that perpetually drain resources regardless of actual need or productivity. **Context:** Published January 13, 1903, this reflects Progressive-era anxieties about government spending and fraud in pension systems, particularly Civil War veteran pensions, which critics viewed as bloated and susceptible to abuse. The rest of the page contains period advertisements for alcohol, tobacco, and patent medicines—typical *Life* magazine content of that era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CIGARETTES, A Necessity'to Smokers of | fined & Discriminating Taste} Ree TAO tHe PENSION ROL HOTEL VENDOME—BOSTON Cd, Hts, INCREASING EVERY YRAR, 1 PLOW Accessible location, excellent table, prompt Restaurants, WITH SCARCELY AN ENDEAVOR. service FOR MEX MAY COME AND MEW HAY 00, CLOTHING.... | ___Established 1814 muy 1 Go ox roreven HENRY KEEN, Tailor 114 High Holborn, London, W C. “* Plus de Maux de Dents” (No more Toothache.) neuic chins ¥4j de Soulac The best that money can buy, that science can produce. FOR BODY AND BRAIN | fa} Promotes perfect hygiene of the ‘mouth and throat, and in the Since 1963, Endorsed by Medical Paculty 1V] Elixir form will absolutely cure toothache. J& Send three cents for sample. \y) Py . 5 ; BENEDICTING DENTIFRICES, 24 and 26 White St., New York. t) immediate fasting efficacious agreeable A Cold Contracted Now may “hang on” all winter if not attended to promptly. Keep a supply of OLD CROW RYE on hand, use it with water at your meals, aiso a stiff glass when going to bed, and you will be glad you took our advice. It’s the best in the world. Buy only of reliable dealers. H.B. KIRK & COo., Name on the Box guarantees the con tents to be the most delicious Agents for the Vicasant Valley Wine Co, Py i, GstionButTon Smith & Lies fei tothele Wesson Revolver fm Cannot Unfast tee in your bedroom Accidentally. is even better‘than a nerve tonic. ’ Soto =wu VER PONHERE Descriptive Catalogue, EVE’ ae ornate air p> 62, Si SMITH & WESSON, Jets erty GEORGE FROSTO, Bosron,Mass, 10 Stockbridge St., Springfield, Mass. product of candy making s| Always ask fog Chocolates and Confections| Sold everswbere. Whitman's Instantancous Chocolate 1s perfect In flavor and quality, delicious #9! healthful, Made Instantly with boiling wae F. WHITMAN & 80%, atnut Bt, Phiieda Hunter Baltimore Rye /,,. OLD The American Gentleman's Whiskey. Perfectly Matured and Mellow Rich, Pure Flavor. Atall Tonical and Restorative, Fine sass Calls Endorsed by Physicians. by syibers