Life, 1899-05-18 · page 15 of 20
Life — May 18, 1899 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"A Bad Job for Georgia"** addresses the lynching of Sam Hose, a Black man executed by mob burning in Georgia. The article criticizes not the public's rage (which it acknowledges) but Georgia's failure to execute justice through legal means. The satire's point: a "progressive" state allowing such barbaric punishment undermines civilization itself. The reference to Hayti, Africa, and Thibet suggests irony—suggesting readers would expect such violence elsewhere, not in an "enlightened" American state. **The cartoons below** depict scenes of torment, likely illustrating the broader theme of suffering and moral compromise. **"Love's Predicament"** satirizes the British debate over Sunday newspapers invading London. The joke: like a lover's secret whispered in an ear, the Sunday paper, once introduced, becomes inescapable and invasive—"practically compulsory, like schooling or vaccination." Both pieces critique institutions (mob justice, mass media) that erode personal freedom and decency.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE A Simile. what did they do! A great mob took him, tortured him “a Y ove for thee, vexatious maid publicly, and burned him alive. The country people came (Thine ear art lending ?), by thousands to see the show. The man’s roasted flesh Is liko Eternity—for it was distributed among the spectators; his bones were Can have no ending.” broken up and carried away as relics, This happened ia “And mine for theo,” she laughing said, — Georgia, one of the most progressive and enlightened “ Beyond all sinning, States in the Union, If it had happened in Hayti, or Is like Eternity—for it in Mid-Africa, or even in Thibet, one could have Hath no beginnin moralized over it; but,no, it happened in Georgia. i: a It was of no great consequence, so far A Bad Job for Georgia. as Sam Hose was concerned, by what HAT shall means he made his exit from this wortd; s. we say of but no ove can doubt that he did Georgia ~ what was done in an ill turn by becoming the nucleus of Georgia the other day such an orgie as was held over him. Cell to the negro, Sam Hose! Whoever reads the whole story of tbe ~_, That negro'’s crime can understand why it drove —— crime was un- thousandsof people frantic. Thatdoes = questioned. His not alter the fact that no State can ~~ life was justly forfeit. afford to punish criminals as Georgia —~ The rageof the people punished Sam Hose. It costs far too who took it had ample justification. But much. It is far too demoralizing. LOVE'S PREDICAMENT, He: YoU Wis To SAY BOMETHING TO ME, LovTET “11's A SECRET, DEAMIE, AND 1 WANT TO WHISPER IT IN YOUR EAR.” HE Sunday nowspaper {8 under discussion in London. Two daily papers, tho Daily Mail and the Telegraph, havo lately started Sunday editions, Under stress of public reproaches, the Mail offers to quit if the Telegraph will, Tho Telegraph, at last accounts, lay low and would say nothing. Americans who go to London for rest and change must bo sorry to sce tho Sunday newspaper invade the capital. For them tho Sunday newspaper means an interruption of repose. What it means for the Londoners is another matter. Some find better uses for Sunday than reading newspapers; others don’t. Onco tho Sunday paper becomes prevalent, however, there 18 no escape Dante: WHat WRETCHED #OUL I8 THis, FLOM WHOM EveN Tue FLaues —{FOINIt. It fastens upon tho whole community, and becomes prac- wucoil in pleavet? tically compulsory, like schooling or vaccination. Firgit: 4 SOCIETY REPORTER. BUT THE SIGHT 18 SICKENING; LET US Tho wondor is that London has held out against it so long. PROCERD To TUE NEXT CIRCLE. Ediaburgh may escape it, but hardly London, comicbooks.com