Life, 1899-08-31 · page 13 of 20
Life — August 31, 1899 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 173: Analysis This page contains satirical commentary and two distinct cartoons reflecting early 1900s social prejudices. **Main Text Dialogue**: A hotel proprietor complains to *Life* magazine about Jewish guests, claiming they're thick-skinned to social snubbing unlike "Gentiles." The proprietor wants *Life* to criticize Jewish "clannishness" and "grasping greediness." *Life's* response defends the underdog (referencing the Dreyfus Affair) while surprisingly accepting some stereotypes, hoping Jews will "forsake their clannishness." **Left Cartoon**: Titled "What the American Wife Sees of Him on Sundays and Holidays"—depicts a man relaxing, satirizing how husbands behave at home versus in public. **Right Cartoon**: Shows two figures in dialect, likely mocking working-class or immigrant speech patterns, discussing standing on someone's feet. **Bottom Text**: Discusses Admiral Dewey's health and an upcoming gold loving-cup gift from New York officials—some of whom may face prison, adding ironic commentary. The page exemplifies *Life's* satirical approach: addressing social issues while itself reflecting period prejudices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Sure. But no matter how vulgar your Gentile may be, there is in hima saving grace of latent sensitiveness that makes him or her amenable to cold- shouldering and snubbing by his kind. With your Jew it is different. In the first place, he gets no such treatment from his kind. In the second, he doesn’t care what the Gentile thinks of him. Any hint, short of a smash with an axe, or a swift kick, is wasted on him.” ** Well, what do you want Lire to do about it?” “Nothiog. Only Lire always seems to be a defender of the under dog—Drey- fus, the Jew, for instance — and not afraid of anyone, the yellow journals especially, and I thought I'd like to tell you my story, in case you cared to make any comment on it.” ‘No, Lreg doesn't care to comment on it—iv’s too old a story. But for your comfort, and that of your fellow-suf- ferers in the hotel business, we will hope with you that some time the Jews will forsake their clannishness, When they do, they will devote the time and energy they now waste in howling about their persecution by people like you, to mend- ing their bad manners, and wiping out their grasping greediness in the small things of everyday existence.” “Thank you, Lire. Good-by.” “Don’t mention it. Always glad to hear from people who have something to say. Good-by, Mr. Meinhost.” WHAT THE AMERICAN WIFE SEES OP DIM ON GUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS. ISQUIETING rumors regarding. Cousin George Dewey's health reach us at the present writing. It is fondly to be hoped that they overstate the facts, for we want that gallant tar to ma ble - “(3% ‘FRAID I'SE BEEN STAXDIN’ ON YOUR PERT, MISTER PRINGLE." “1 KNOW YOU TAS, HONEY, AND 1'SE BEEN A-HOPIN’ DAT YOU HAVEN'T FOUND DEM TOO CORRU- GATED Fo" YOU comPorT.”* be ship-shape for all the enjoyment wo are going to inflict upon him. It will take a very well and strong man to show the proper appreciation when he receives a gold loving-cup bearing the names of Greater New York's Councilmen and Aldermen. The fact that some of those names are likely before long to appear on State’s prison registers adds impor- tance to the gift and the Admiral’s man- ner of receiving it. He shall be very well indeed to endure this and other honors—the Chicago celebration, for in- stance, with Bath-house John on the reception committee. Outside of these things, Lrrg hopes Admiral Dewey will be well enough to consider his duty to the American people in case they should wa_t him to be their President. “V HERE did you get this furniture, old man?” “* Bought it on the installment plan.” “Oh! I thought perhaps you were going to keep it.” comichooks,