Life — March 31, 1898 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Lady or the Tiger" This page from *Life* magazine presents an illustration titled "The Lady or the Tiger"—a reference to Frank Stockton's famous 1882 short story about a person forced to choose between two doors, one hiding a lady and one a tiger. The scene depicts four men in formal dress gathered around a table with money and cards, suggesting a gambling game. The standing figure on the right appears to be presenting or explaining something to the seated players. The decorative frame at bottom contains a figure, likely representing the "choice" element central to Stockton's tale. The satire likely comments on gamblers' dilemma: choosing between love/reward or ruin/danger. This reflects period concerns about gambling's moral hazards and the illusory nature of chance-based fortune.