Life, 1899-11-23 · page 3 of 20
Life — November 23, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 403 The top illustration satirizes imperial power dynamics, depicting an eagle (representing America) and a lion (Britain) toasting over a goblet, with smaller figures below—likely representing colonized peoples or rival nations. "The South-African Catechism" is a satirical Q&A mocking British justifications for the Boer War. It ridicules claims that British intervention was benevolent, revealing the actual motives: controlling territory and resources ("a desire of the English to control a country"). The catechism format parodies religious instruction, suggesting the war's justifications were hollow propaganda. The lower right cartoon shows an owl reading "Life" magazine, commenting on a doctor's lack of baldness remedies—typical period advertising satire. The tea anecdote illustrates social propriety versus reality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Bird 1 AM POR LIBERTY; FIRST, LAST, AND ALL THR TIME. IT 18 A GOOD THING, The South-African Catechism. Why did the Boers migrate to their, present abiding place? Because they abandoned their former holdings fur the sake of being farther away from the English, Were the English undesirable neighbors? It seems a safe inference when a whole nation gives up its homes and moves away. Why did the English fellow them up? Because gold and diamonds were dis- covered in the new territory, What was Jameson's raid? An attempt by the English to possess themselves of this new land. By fair means or foul ? Foul, Then are Jameson and his fellow con- spirators still in disgrace? They have never been in disgrace. They are national heroes, PROBATUM EST, OF IT AS WE CAN FROM AS MANY AS WE CAN, But the English were at peace with the Brera at that time? Yes, Then the raid was in open violation of international law? Distinctly. An indefensible attempt to gain posses. sion of @ neighbor's country in time of peace? Yes. What led up to the present war? A desire of the English to control a country which was not their own, What ts the ultima’e ovject of the English? Treasure. And for what are the Boers fight- tng? For their country. Will the British outnumber the Boers? About ten to one, Do these facts explain why the sym- pathies of civilized countries are wholly with the Boers? They do. LITTLE girl in England was asked out to tea. On her return her mother said: ‘I hope you were very polite, Caroline.” “Oh, yes, mother,” said she, WE CANNOT HAVE TOO MUCH LIBERTY. LET US TAKE AS MUCIT “The first time they handed the cake I said, ‘Yes, thank you.’ And the second time I said, ‘A very small bit, please,’ and the third time I said, ‘Not any more, thank you,’ But the fourth time I did not know what to say.” “Well,” said her mother, ‘what did you do?” “Oh, I eaid just what daddy says, * Oh, take the d—d thing away!'" -¢us—pinns — & Eagle: 8a¥ DOCTOR, HATE YOU ANYTHING POR A RALDNEAD?