Life, 1899-02-02 · page 20 of 20
Life — February 2, 1899 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon mocks the U.S. Army's conduct during the Spanish-American War (1898). The large advertisement for "EAGAN, ALGER & CORBIN—Outfitters and Embalmers" is a biting satirical fake ad targeting military leadership. **The targets:** General Nelson Miles (Eagan), Secretary of War Russell Alger, and Colonel (later General) Eagan, who were blamed for catastrophic mismanagement of the war effort—particularly the deaths of more soldiers from disease and poor conditions than combat. **The "services" listed** mock their actual failures: selecting malarial camp sites, detaining medical supplies, appointing incompetent officers, and neglecting wounded soldiers. The combination of "Outfitters and Embalmers" darkly implies their incompetence led to unnecessary deaths. This represents Life's prominent role as a reform-minded satirical publication exposing government corruption and military bungling during a pivotal moment in American history.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IF YOU'RE A DENSCEPTRE ‘S will send on re- Ceipt of 10c. a sampte to any address. ‘Spieiee SURBRUG powder and: All fastidious: revelation to one wh« are to the pene: trat Station, New York. Spring Cottons, White and Colored Piqué, Embroidered Mulls. Printed Dimities. Zephyrs. David and John Anderson's Celebrated Fabrics unrivaled for durabttty gu Procdnay L9H NEW YORK. The Easiest Writing Pen Made norma us | ESTERBROOKS POSTAL No. 477 od TERBR OOK Be One Hundred and. Fifty other Styles. Tre ESTERBROOK STEEL Pen Ct, ‘Works, Camden, N. J. 26 John St, 3.1. RUINART EXPANSION seems to interest the politi cians; the expansion in the sales and popularity of our OLD CROW RYE @ keeps us liusy in supplying 4 the steadily increasing de- mand, which plainly shows that it is a good planto turn out a strictly first-class arti- cle. Buy only of reliable dealers, KIRK & @CO,, Sole Bottlers, N. Y. Agents for the Great Western Champagne. EAGAN, ALGER & CORBIN Outfitters AND... Embalmers———=. We make a specialty of... Selecting Malarial Camp Sites, Leisurely Transportation of Troops by Round- about Routes, Systematic Detention of Medical and Other Army Supplies, Appointment of Incompetent Officers, The Thorough Neglect of the Wounded. As General Promot ry We Refer Foreig e War Investigating ( Washington, D, C., and to all first-class whitewashing establishments. For further particulars, address EAGAN, ALGER & CORBIN, 12 Typhold Avenue, CAMP ALGER, VA. PRESS OF THE J. W. PRATT CO., NEW YORK comicbooks.com