Life, 1899-04-27 · page 13 of 20
Life — April 27, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration, titled "Confusion," depicts the Biblical Tower of Babel—a chaotic scene of people in disarray within a massive, spiraling tower structure. The caption quotes Genesis: "Therefore is the name of it called Babel," referencing the Biblical story where God confused human languages, causing communication breakdown. The satirical intent appears to be commentary on contemporary confusion or chaos, though without a date visible, the specific political target is unclear. It could reference government disorder, social upheaval, or general organizational confusion of the period. The text column discusses theater and stage caricatures, plus dismisses rumors about politician Alger of Michigan supposedly resigning from President McKinley's Cabinet to join the church—framed as an absurd rumor with "not a particle of truth." The Babel image likely serves as visual metaphor for the "confusion" of misinformation and unclear communication that creates such false rumors.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
the lovo stories in sov- eral of the older plays are more absorbing than tho unavailing love of tho old sergeant for Murio Antoinette’s extremely youthful devotee in its first state, was in- teresting, although the interest dragged. By now, it has doubtless been pruned and con- densed to a point where the reproach of slowness is removed, OLLECTORS ot Stagiana, and tho- atre-goers in gen- eral, will be glad to own a copy of Mr. Sewell T. Collins's “Caricatures of the Stage.” The collection comprises well-printed plates of caricature por- traits which first ap- peared in the columns of the Chicago Tribune, The subjects are the best knownstage people of the ‘present day and theartist has managed, in. most cases successfully, to grasp the especially pro- nounced facial charac- teristics, and give them agood-naturedly humor- ous emphasis, The cari- catures—with the excep- tion of two of Mr, Mans- fleld — aro all auto- graphed, so their sub- jects evidently do not object to Mr, Collins having fun with their features, Metcalfe. HAT ridiculous Tumors about great men sometimes get into general circu- lation! The more im- probable and unreal these stories the greater credence they often receive. For instance, there is not a particle of truth in the state- ment that Mr. Alger of Michigan is going to resign from President McKinley's Cabinet and join the church, = Seems 4/7/77 CONFUSION, “THEREFORE 18 THE NAME OF IT CALLED BABEL... comicbooks.com