Life, 1898-12-15 · page 19 of 20
Life — December 15, 1898 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life cartoon satirizes early-1900s Paris, where a routine traffic stop spirals into political chaos. A policeman stops an automobile on rue Cadet for speeding. When bystanders gather, someone shouts "A bas Zola!" ("Down with Zola!")—referencing Émile Zola, the famous author then deeply controversial for his pro-Dreyfus activism during the Dreyfus Affair, which had sharply divided France along political lines. The crowd's cry transforms an ordinary incident into a political disturbance. The uncontrolled automobile then injures civilians. The satire's point: Parisian society is so fractured by political passion (the Zola/Dreyfus controversy) that even minor events trigger mob hysteria, with dangerous consequences. The final caption notes that Paris subsequently banned automobiles from streets—blaming the vehicle rather than the volatile crowd. The joke targets both French political volatility and the absurdity of scapegoating technology for human disorder.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Yesterday an automobile crossed the rue Cadet; a policeman, sup- ing it might be going faster Bean the law allowed, signalled it to atop. Other policemen arrive and endeavor to disperse the crowd. While he was asking * At what sj wero you going?” a dozen persons assembled. the st Unfortunately, some one shouts “A bas Zo'a! where- upon the vast crowd becomes w political disturbance, and a policeman seizes the automobile. Acrowd of about two hundred at once gathered about, obstructing all traffic in reet. He happens to know nothing of the management of the machine, which darts about in the crowd, crushing count- lexs victims, It ts since announced that, in order to avold similar catastrophes tn the fature, automobiles will henceforth be prohibited in the streets of: Paris, —Polichinelle, Like the Promise Made Us in the rainbow, so you can depend upon the assurances made that our Old Crow Rye is pure, the best on earth, and will benefit you. Has been for sev- eral generations before the public. Buy only of Reliable Dealers. H. B. KIRK & CO., fole Bottlers, Hew York. Agents for the Great Western Champagne WASHINGTON, Holiday Tour via Pennsyivania Rallroad. December 27th Is the date selected for the Personally. Conducted Holiday Tour of the Pennsylvanta Rattroad to Washington. This tour will cover a period of three days, affording ample time to visit all the principal polnts of interest at the National Capital, Including the Congressional Library and the new Corcoran Art Gal" lery. Round-trip rate, covering all necessary expenses for the entire time atsent, transportation, hotel accom- modations, guides, &c., $14.00 from New York, $13.0 from Trenton, and $11.0 from Philadelphia. Propor- tonate rates from other points. SPectaL Teactinns’ Tour. A special teachers’ tour, Identical with the above, will be run on the same date, Tickets for this tour, covering all necessary expenses, including accommodations at the National Hotel, Wiilards Hotel, or the Hotel Regent, $2.00 less than rates above quoted, Side trip to Mount Vernon and admission to the grounds, fifty cents addi- tonal. Side trip to Old Potnt Comfort, returning via the Cape Charles Route untt! January Ist, $4.00 additional. For itineraries and full information apply to Ticket Agents; Tourist Agent, 1106 Broadway, New York ; or address Geo. W. Boyd, Assistant General Passenger Agent, Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, C. H. ARNOLD, 27 South Willlam Street, New York. Sole Agent in the United States for the following lines of oxceptionally bigh-class goods. DEUTZ & GELDERMANN, Ay, France, “*Gold Lack” Champagne. D, LEIDEN, Cologne, Rhine and Moselle Wines. CLOSSMANN & CO., Bordeaux, Clarets, etc. CHAMPY PERE & Cie, Beaune, Burgundies JOHN HOPKINS & CO., Glasgow and London, Scotch Whiskies. CH. JOBIT & CO., Cognac, Brandies, Old Sherries, Madeiras and Vintage Ports. Complete Price List sent upon request. New York; 27 South William Street. -C. H. ARNOLD. comicbooks.com