Life, 1899-12-28 · page 20 of 21
Life — December 28, 1899 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The cartoon depicts a fashionable woman in an elaborate evening gown speaking with a man in a bowler hat. The caption quotes her asking "Mr. Brown" why "those horrid Boers" are so anxious to "secure poor, dear, Lady Smith." This satirizes the Second Boer War (1899-1902) through the perspective of an upper-class woman who treats a serious military conflict as trivial drawing-room gossip. "Lady Smith" refers to Ladysmith, a besieged British garrison town in South Africa that became a symbol of British resistance. The cartoon mocks how wealthy society women reduced complex geopolitical violence to sentimental concern, displaying ignorance of actual military stakes while maintaining fashionable concern for "poor" places and people. The satire critiques both the Boer War itself and the superficiality of polite society's engagement with serious events.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SWEET INNOCENCE “BCT WAY, MR. BROWN, ARE THOSE HORKID BOERS 80 ANXIOUS TO SECURE POOR, DEAR, LADY SMITH? —Fun, [ToUsANos o SALAD ig NOT ASAD UNT)L FEOPL SALAD itH ae DELIcioutiy SAVORED win & PERRINS SAL ‘THE ORIGINAL & GENUINE WORCESTERSHIRE WHEN BUYING, NOTE THE SIGNATURE- LEA & PERRINS ACROSS THE WRAPPER. HE standard of all Colognes for over 100 years. Used by the Royal and Imperial Families of Europe. An indispensable Toilet Accessory for all persons of refined taste. anufactared only by zB FERD. MULHENS, 4711 Glochengasse, Cologne IR. . U.S, Agents: MULHENS @ KROPF, 35-37 White St, New York. 19 WEST THIRTY-FIRST STREET, NEW YORK. Fancy Crépes. Rich Crépes for Evening and Dinner Dress, Empire Crépes. Faconné, Gouaché, Méteore and Broché Crépe. Velvets. Panno Velvets, Dress and Cloak Velvets. Rich Fancy Velvets for Opera Wraps. Bige ot. NEW YORK. B. Altman & Go, NEW YORK. HOLIDAY NOVELTIES FANCY WORK-—Ilandkerchief and Glove Cases, Work Boxes, Pin Cushions, Photo Frames, Silk Work Bags, etc. TOILET ARTICLES—Hair Brushes in Ebony, Fox and Olive Woods, Tripli- cate Mirrors, Hand Painted Limoges China, Extracts and Toilet Waters. SILVERWARE—Desk Fittings, Cut Glass and Silver Mounted Cigar Jars, Claret Jugs, Bowls, Silver Bread Trays, Water Pitchers and Ice Bowls. ART OBJECTS—Royal Worcester, Sévres, Vienna and Aurelian Pottery; Bronzes, Statuary, Limoges Enamels, Miniatures, Curio Cabinets, Fancy Desks, Teak+ wood Stands, Lamps and Cut Glass. High Standard Peonsyl- vania Pure Rye Whiskey. “ Bottled in Bond” direct from the barrel at the Distillery. comicbooks.com