Life, 1898-06-30 · page 12 of 21
Life — June 30, 1898 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Who Nose?" - A Satirical Commentary on Reform This page from *Life* magazine presents a satirical critique of reformers and their social activism. The top section, titled "Who Nose?" depicts four caricatured figures representing different types of reformers—labeled "Politics," "Health," "Piety," and "Armor"—each with exaggerated noses, suggesting their prominence or intrusiveness in public affairs. The accompanying text criticizes reformers for standing on lecture platforms preaching about others' faults while ignoring their own inadequacies. It argues that reformers burden both themselves and their audiences, and suggests that limiting public speaking on contemporary abuses would benefit society. The bottom section, "A Short-Hour Movement for Reformers," continues this mockery, advocating that reformers' causes deserve attention but their constant agitation has become tiresome to the public.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE WHO NOSE? has none to lift up for him on the platform the voico of pity. to reasonable limits the length of public Yet on whom do the wrongs of the present rest’ speaking on contemporary abuses would more heavily? For his hard toil he is underpaid. greatly lighten the burden of both lecturer He takes enormous risks in leaving the ordinary pur- and audience. suits of hardworking humanity for the desultory pursuit To the reformer it would givo a little of elusive abuses, and in turning his attention constantly time for true living. He could read, study, from his own faults to the faults of others. Surely think, It would give leisure for that he is entitled to. special protection at the hands of better half of life called home. In tho society. home is the spring of action, Enormous Righting one of his many wrongs would greatly is the danger of depriving anyone of its ameliorate his condition, Life could be made easier gracious influences. To secure quiet and sweeter for the reformer by securing for him hours in which the reformer can forget shorter hours of work, At present he is compelled here his absorbing effort would mean in- to stand to the point of exhaustion on lecture plat- calculable service to an oppressed class, forms, injuring voice and brain, A law that would cut and possibly the salvation of society. AFTER THE CEREMONY. ws A Short-Hour Movement for Reformers. HE generous agitation of the present for the oppressed has failed to touch one overburdened class, The roformer pleads every man’s cause, No one pleads the Ludwig: Now THAT WE ARE ONE, I HAVE A SECRET TO REVEAL TO YOU. 1—T WEAR cause of the reformer. He alone A wiG.