Life, 1899-07-06 · page 3 of 20
Life — July 6, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page contains two separate pieces of early 20th-century American satire: **Top cartoon**: Depicts golf being played in the Philippines, labeled "Snap-shots in our New Possessions: A Game of Golf in the Philippines." This references America's colonial acquisition of the Philippines after the 1898 Spanish-American War, satirizing how American colonizers brought their leisure activities to occupied territories. **Bottom cartoon and story**: "A Discerning Official" depicts a railroad conductor discovering a stowaway and offering him money to leave quietly rather than report him—suggesting official corruption and bribery. The dialogue implies the conductor wants to avoid paperwork and protect company reputation more than enforce rules. Both pieces mock American institutions: colonialism and administrative dishonesty.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
esea nent, Henpecke: TUBRE'LL BE NO PARTING 1 LP YOU WANT A DIVORCE, OLD PELLOW, YOU'D BETTER ATTEND TO IT ON THIS SIDE.” “THAT'S 80. A Discerning Official. HE conductor on a certain railroad dawn South began, toward tho end of arun, to ccunt out the money received for fares during the trip, laying balf the amount on one knee for himself and the other half on the other knee for the com- pany. The only other occupant of the car in which he carried on these calculations was an old gentleman who seemed to bo busy with his newspaper. Finally the conductor camo to tho last SNAP-SHOTS IN OUR NEW POSSESSIONS. A GAME OP GOLY IN THE PHILIPPINES. dollar bill,“ Woll,” sald ho, “shall I give this to the company or keep it mysclf? Well, I guess I'll toss for it, and if it comos down on my pile, all right, and if tt comes down on the other it goes tothe company.” As It happened, It camo down on his own pile, and ho was dividing the money into two reparato packets, with a solf-antisflod air, when tho old gentleman leant ovor and sald: “T am tho presidont of this road, and T would like to aco you at my office to-morrow AVEN, YOU KNOW. morning at ton o'clock.” Accordingly, expecting his dismissal, tho conductor pre- sentod himsolf at the appointed time, and said: “Woll, hero 1s my badge. Of course you don't want mo any longor.” “Hold on for a minuto,” sald tho prost- dont, “I don't*know so much about that. You had better go back to work again. T believe you aro the only man on tho road who would havo given the company a chanco for that last dollar.” comicbooks.com