Life, 1899-12-28 · page 5 of 21
Life — December 28, 1899 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 549 The main illustration depicts two figures in what appears to be a casual drinking scene, captioned as "Sentinels, Doctor," with dialogue about beer and witty remarks. This illustrates "The Real Test for Swearing"—a humorous piece about testing patience through cigar smoking etiquette. "The Coming Flag" is a poem by Alfred A. Wheeler addressing wild men and the Filipino conflict, referencing naval and military concerns of the era (likely early 1900s Philippine-American War period). "The True Condition" features a dialogue between Briggs and Gideon debating whether the world divides into borrowers and lenders, or instead into those who want to borrow versus those unwilling to lend—satirizing human nature and social economics. The right panel cartoon "A Change of Signs" shows a figure at what appears to be a storefront, likely commentary on commercial or social shifts.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ serTTINKS, DOCTOR," QUOTH BOsW! YOU TO SETTLE TNE SCORE.” “1 WoT NOT; TH! TIME THE BEER 18 ON YOU," RETORTED Jom HIS TANKARD OVER TUE HEAD OF IS PAITUPUL FOLLOWER. AT THE END OP A MEKKY DRINKING BOUT, “THAT IT's UP TO S, AS IR PLAYFULLY EMPTIED BOSWELL LAUGORD MEARTILY AT THIS, WITTY SALLY, AND MADE A NOTE OP IT FOR II13 “ LIFE OF JONSON.” The Coming Flag. ILD men red this country had; Afric wild men black did add; Thea to give the picture light, Ireland sont us wild mon white; Now tho Filipino fellow — Millions more of wild men yellow! Lord, preservo my country’s mind ; Let her eyes be color-blind: Then hor banner, if thou wilt, Shall be, Lord, a erazy-quilt, Alfred A, Wheeler. HERE ts a cheerful impudence about the surmise of the Washington correspondent of the Ralttmore Arerican, that the Navy Depart- ment will be carefal how It treats Schley, “because there 1s a strong disposition in the House to make the Department's persecutions the subject of a searching Inquiry.” A searching Inquiry 4s the thing above all others which the Department, and indeed the whole navy, courts, and which Schiey’s wisest friends don’t want a little bit, Bring on your bears, Baltimore, Search and inquire by all means, Admiral Schley owes ft to himself to demand an inquiry, but he ts modest about It and hates to make trouble, If you think the persecutions ought to stop, do all you can to put the House on the trail of them, The True Condition. RIGGS: Do you believe that the world is divided into two classes, those who borrow and those who lend? Gnioos: No, sir!’ My experience is that two other classes are much more prevalent—those who want to borrow and those who won't lend SULTAN OF SULU Hero's Looking at you! We bave heard of You before! At divers and various times. But wo aro about to confess Wo would know you better. Wo understand That you Aro addicted to the habit of matrimony. Indeed, Wo havo heard that this habit With you Is Ingrained ! Wo do not hesitate to say That thero are somo among us Who look upon this habit with disfavor, But they Aro not civilized. They Aro not in it, They Aro unprogressive, Therefore, O Sultan of Sulu, Como among us And sct us an example of wholesale love. Lift us up And enlighten us, 0 Sultan of Sulu, For wo aro way Behind the Times, The Real Test for Swearing. RANGLER: . You say that Job’s patience never was really tested ? Quipaten: I do, Why, he never put the lighted end of his cigar in his mouth just as he wanted to make his argument most impressive. A CHANGE OP S10Ns.