Life, 1899-07-13 · page 12 of 20
Life — July 13, 1899 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 32 This page presents a satirical story about Islamic justice, featuring characters identified as "the Cadi" (Islamic judge) and "Mustapha." The narrative mocks what the magazine presents as arbitrary and harsh Muslim legal practices. The large illustration depicts figures in Ottoman/Middle Eastern dress, including what appears to be the Cadi administering punishment. The smaller illustration shows two figures in conversation—likely illustrating domestic or social commentary. The satire targets Islamic jurisprudence as brutal and irrational, reflecting 19th-century Western prejudices against Muslim cultures. The detailed costume caricatures and exaggerated depictions of "Oriental" justice systems were typical of period satirical magazines aimed at Western audiences unfamiliar with or hostile toward Islamic societies. The humor relies entirely on ethnic/religious stereotyping.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ae OLY ALLAH!” sighed the Cadi, as he let himself down very gently on the carpet of justice, ‘may the Prophet never pardon the man who invented katzenjammers, Call the first case, Mustapha.” Mustapha dragged to the edge of the carpet a repulsive-looking man, in whose face were equally blended brutality and cunning, and whose head ran up toa point. “ Bismillah!" exclaimed the Cadi, with a tone of disgust. ‘You are already fined ten piasters for living, What else hath he done, Mustapha?” “ He hath beaten one of his wives, ob, fountain of justice “Mashallah! Let justice be diluted with mercy, even as the forbidden spirits of the Giaours should always be diluted with plain soda, Perhaps the woman talked to him about the housekeeping when he had a katzenjammer.” “Tt may be even so, your sublime A KNEESY JOB, The Fat Lady on the Hill: MISTER WIMPLE DECLINES TO FINISH DE GAME WIP YOU, DAT Last DRIVE 08 YOURS HAB KNOCKED OUT ALL LS PRONT TEEP, AND IE PEARS UE HAG SWALLOWED DE ALL. highness,” continued Mustapha; “but the kafir hath also peeked through his neighbors’ keyholes and levied black- mail upon them; he hath kidnapped a baby and held it for ransom; he hath becn a vender of green goods and gold bricks; instead of bathing in the clear waters of the Bosphorus, he hath madca practice of wallowing in the mud of the back alleys.” “* By the sacred nail-brush of the holy Prophet!” exclaimed the Cadi; ‘* the slave shall surely die—” “Mercy! mercy! oh, source of all wisdom! Do not condemn me until I shall have told you my tale.” “Go ahead, then,” said the Cadi; “only bite it off short.” Khoda shefa mid¢thed—God gives relief!” said the man. ‘Know, oh, greatest of Cadis, that I was born of yood parents and carefully brought up. I was given a fairly good education, which, alas! included being taught to read, I was a good citizen and went regularly tothe mosque. I never sworeoff my taxes, nor voted contrary to my con- victions. I wastructomy four wives—" comicbooks.com