Life — October 5, 1899 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Education of Lxxvii" This satirical illustration depicts a christening ceremony for a newborn child, titled "The Education of Lxxvii" (Roman numerals suggesting perhaps the 77th in a series). The scene shows multiple well-dressed adults gathered around an infant being held by a gentleman in formal attire, with toys scattered on the floor below. The satire appears to mock upper-class child-rearing practices and social pretension surrounding infant "education." The various adults—likely representing different social influences or educational philosophies—attend to the baby, suggesting the era's obsession with proper upbringing and social training from birth. The casual toys underfoot contrast with the formal, serious demeanor of the adults, highlighting the cartoon's ironic commentary on overly elaborate approaches to early childhood development among the wealthy.