Life, 1899-05-11 · page 15 of 20
Life — May 11, 1899 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Upper Cartoon ("Future"):** A silhouette scene depicting an elaborate formal dinner, satirizing upper-class dining excess. The conversation shows a wealthy diner (Mr. Willioboy) ordering an absurdly elaborate meal with multiple wines and desserts, while his companion enthusiastically approves of each extravagant course. The satire targets the pretension and gluttony of the wealthy during what appears to be the Progressive Era. **Lower Cartoon ("Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego"):** A biblical reference (three men thrown into a furnace) applied to what appears to be military figures, likely satirizing the Philippine-American War. The accompanying text discusses American troops allegedly shooting Filipino prisoners—a controversial and morally troubling incident the author struggles to believe, ultimately dismissing it as implausible despite acknowledging the war's brutality. **Final Dialogue:** A brief gender satire suggesting women dress to compete with other women rather than to please men. The page reflects early 1900s concerns: class excess, imperial warfare morality, and gender relations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
always hold that a dinner {s incomplete without a salad.” “ What is there?” “Celery — tomato — lettuce — romaine— escarole cress —lobster—chickon — arti- choke. How would anico, cold artichoke—” “Oh, what a funny little basket the waiter has—what is it, Mr. Willioboy ?” “Burgundy —you'll havo just a glass, won't you?” “Oh, Mr, Willioboy! I can't drink red winos; they are 60 dreadfully strong.” “Oh, woll, then some sauterno—or hock “Oh, anything that is sweet! I love to see it bubble in those long-stemmed glasses ; don't you?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: YOUR MAJFSTY, AS TRUE LOVERS OP SPORT, WE THANK YOU YOR ENTERING US IN 70-DAY’S FINAL EAT, “Some champagne, perhaps?” “If you like It, of course.” “Very well (teriting); and then—somo— Suppose we try some cream—” “Lovely! With strawberries—" * And little cakes —" “ Perfect!" “And coffee?” “Delightful! Do you know, Mr. Willlo- boy, you can ordor dinner bettor than any man I've over met.” Kate Masterson. ERE is satisfaction in the news that the Administration bas taken official notice of the reports conveyed by soldiers’ letters of the shooting of Fili- pino prisoners by American troops. The great, masterful, fighting virtucs have not been sufficiently developed in us yet to qualify us to hear with equanimity that American troops shoot prisouvers, The story sounds like a lic. Certainly it is insufficiently authenticated. If it isa lie, it ought to be nailed. If it is not a lice—but it must be. The Malays are so treacherous, and we have earned their disregard in such ample measure, that fighting them is evidently a very mixed- up business, in which there is inevitably a good deal of informal and impromptu killing. There has doubtless also been much umnecessary destruction of prop- erty, and some looting. But shooting prisoners is a different matter. That is incredible, OMAN: Why, the very idea that a woman dresses to please the men! Man: Absurd! Of course she dresses. to displease the women, comicbooks.com