Life, 1899-02-09 · page 13 of 20
Life — February 9, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon (by Kemble):** Depicts soldiers in combat, with the caption sarcastically suggesting that if America had sent "aromatic beef" (canned meat rations) against the Spanish instead of to its own troops, it would have been more effective as a weapon. This references the Spanish-American War (1898) and the notorious scandal over spoiled or low-quality provisions supplied to American soldiers—a major public complaint during the conflict. **Middle Section (by Metcalfe):** Describes a wealthy New York woman who deliberately wears conspicuously large hats to theater performances and refuses to remove them, blocking other patrons' views. She seeks notoriety through disruption. The author suggests her ejection would earn applause, mocking attention-seeking behavior among the social elite. **Bottom Dialogue:** A brief joke where "Mr. Pincer" boasts his father was in Congress but "learned how to earn his own living"—implying congressmen don't actually work or earn honestly, a common contemporary jab at political corruption. **Caricatures (right side):** Appear to be exaggerated political or social figures, though specific identities are unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Kemble. IP WE TAD ONLY SENT THAT AROMATIC BEEP AGAINST THE SPANIARDS INSTEAD OP TO OUR OWN TROOPS! scenes—and thon will provide @ most enjoyable evening's entertainment, . . . N New York thero is one loydy—whoso actions indicate her walk in life and her right to tho title—whose public ejection from a theatre would meet with tho approval of everyone who happened to witness it, As sho seeks noto- riety, it would be unwise to mention her name, At important first nights she occupies a seat near the front, usually in the first row. She is always gowned expensively, although not in good taste, and wears bats of the most conspicuous largeness. During the entire performanco she sits covered, although every other woman in the house may have followed the commend able and universal custom of removing her headgear. The loydy is so brazen, and her object Is so apparent, that she would probably welcome the attention her ejectment would attract. But tho manager who would order her removal would get a spontaneous and genuine round of applause. Metcalfe, A Makeshift. OBBIE BINGO: Are you a member of Congress? Mr. Pincer: Yes, my boy. ‘Father was once, but be says that was before he learned how to earn his own living.’ T= way of a man with a maid may have been too wonderful for Solomon; nowadays, the way of some men with a married woman would puzzle a wiser than he, “WHY YUM GITTING 80 MAD, Boss?” “WOULD YEZ LUKE AT TH’ 61ZE AV TH’ AEADS TH’ POONY ARTISUT GUY U8.” comicbooks.com