Life, 1899-04-06 · page 12 of 20
Life — April 6, 1899 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains two distinct pieces: **Top cartoon**: Shows two men in a room with a portrait labeled "BEEF ECAN" on the wall. The left figure appears to be a military or government official examining a map. The caption suggests a comedic exchange about daring and "that saber." The reference to "Beef Ecan" (likely a misspelling in OCR) is unclear without additional context. **Bottom section**: "For the Safety of Theatre-Goers" discusses theater fire safety, criticizing inadequate emergency exits and procedures at theaters including the Casino. A cartoon labeled "A MASKED BALL" shows a figure in distress. The article advocates for better official oversight to prevent theater disasters and protect patrons from preventable tragedy. The satire targets theater management negligence and regulatory failures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DEPMT SAVANNAH RIVER Taprew emenTs For the Safety of Theatre- Goers. is sincerely to bo hoped that no one will over raise acry of “Firo!” in the Casino while a performance is going on in that picturesquo pla: when its roof-garden is crowded of a summer evening, Although the Casino has flre-excapes somewhere in its complicated architecture, people ina panic havo a way of seoking tho nearest way out. In the caso of the Casino, the usual routes of exit are not exactly models of roominess and directn The staircases — none too broad—bend and tura and twist in a way that is confusing even to an audience leav- ing tho theatre with the utmost deliberation, Should there be a panic, and should anyone house, or The Alger Boy: YER DON'T vast. The Other Boy: vv 1T ONLY wasn't POR THAT BARREL! fall at such a time, those in the pushing and pushed crowd behind would pile up on top of one another in a way most horrible to imagine. Should an actual flro occur a MASKED BALL.’ instead of only an alarm of fire, there might be accompaniinents of crushing and burn- ing and suffocating the like of which New York has never seen, There are otbers among New York's older theatres that aro not provided with roomy and convenient exits, and it is not unlikely that before long the daily prints will revel in w disaster that will make the recent Windsor Hotel flre seem an insignificant occurrence, It is customary after such ovents to say that everyone knew that the places were fire-traps and ought to have been avoided, but that doesn’t bring the dead back to life, nor console the mourning survivors. This sort of hindsight isn’t of great valuo except as newspaper copy. What wo really need is a little more oMecial foresight on the part of our authorities, which would keep many worthy but unsus- pecting persons from risking their lives to seo popular shows,