Life, 1899-12-14 · page 9 of 20
Life — December 14, 1899 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains two satirical cartoons about war and politics. The **top cartoon** depicts "the man behind the gun"—showing a wealthy, top-hatted gentleman (likely representing political/military leadership or wealthy interests) directing a soldier firing a rifle, while other officials observe. The satire suggests that ordinary soldiers are mere tools of powerful elites who profit from war while avoiding danger themselves. The **bottom cartoon** appears to reference military recruitment or conscription, with the caption mentioning "professional soldiers" and "honors and pity." The dialogue about making "a very nice sauce piquante" suggests soldiers' lives are treated as expendable commodities by those in power. Both cartoons critique how war exploits ordinary people for elite interests—a common theme in *Life*'s anti-war and anti-establishment satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
An Epitaph. E'S done with ills— He's lived his little day— And now that ho is dead and claims his rest, ‘This legond carve above his pulseless breast— “Ho paid his bilts.” What wonderment there thrills Through that mysterious bourno where he is now !— Whero vaguo and shadowy shapes conjecture how Within this sorrow'd valo where wolf- how! abrills And creditors pursuo and cark'd caro kills— Ho paid his bills! What still peaco fills Tho deep cuirn-slumber of this sense- less clay— This heap of dust which only yester- day— A man—toiled hopeless in the grind- ing mills— And paid his bills! Olin L, Lyman. UST after the last etectton a teading Democrat of the Stite of Nebraska, In conversation sald that he didn’t lke Mr. Bryan personally, didn’t like bis principles, didn’t itke his «pecches, but that as an organizer of d—d fools, he had never seen or heard of his equal in the world, Swf “YOUR MAJESTY, 1 AM A PROFESSIONAL WIT, FULL OF BONMOTS AND PITHY SAYINGS, CAN'T YOU FIND SOME USE POR MEY" WHY, YES. YOU'LL PROBABLY MAKE A VERY NICE SAUCE PIQUANTE." comichooks.coyy)