Life, 1900-02-08 · page 3 of 20
Life — February 8, 1900 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 103 This page contains two distinct pieces: **Top cartoon**: "I Don't See Why They Make Such a Fuss About These Slack-Wire Performances" depicts angels on a tightrope above a cityscape. This appears to be satirizing either circus/vaudeville entertainment or possibly commentary on risky public spectacles of the era. **"Justifiable Embitterment" story**: A dialogue between Saint Peter and a "Disembodied" soul (deceased person) being judged at heaven's gates. Saint Peter catalogs the man's earthly faults—being sulky, quarrelsome with family, and generally disagreeable—while the man protests poverty excuses his behavior. The satire mocks both self-justification for moral failings and the notion that poverty absolves personal responsibility. **Right image**: Appears to show dolls or figures, with caption about "Freddie" being unwilling to play with toys, likely humorous domestic commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ And,” continued the Disembodicd, hopelessly, ‘my wife's sole ambition was to shine us a social star.” "i ** Why didn’t you say so before ?” cried Saint Peter, throw- ing wide the pearly gates, ‘Here, you cherub, show this gentleman to the cosicst nook in the Martyr's Reward, and be sure he gets the most comfortable crown in the bunch.” Aler, Ricketts, "TL AcHer : Give the three tenses of the verb * To Ameri- canize.” ‘The NINE Hunprep Orrnan: Kill—killing—killed. “1 DON'T SEE WHY THEY MAKE SUCH A PUSS ABOUT THESE SLACK-WIRE PERFORMANCES.” justifiable Embitterment. O, I don't think you are cligible,” said Saint Peter, looking up severely over his docket. “T find that you were frequently sulky and acknowledged the Disembodied, hum- Dly, ‘I'm afraid that’s so.” “And that you were habitually sharp and cross with your children,” continued Saint Peter. was,” owned up the Disembodied, sadly. “And you were grouty and irritable in all your intercourse with your fellow-men ?" accused Saint Peter. “Yes, I was,” assented the Disembodied, tearfully. “And you squabbled and fought with all your relatives,” continued Saint Peter, The Disembodied bowed his head with a submissive sigh, “And you quarreled continually with your wife,” charged Saint Peter. “IT did—oh, I did,” groaned the Disembodied, “And you were given to more or less violent outbreaks of profanity.” indicted Saint Peter. “How could [help it" pleaded the Disembodied, helplessly. ‘And in short,” summed up Saint Peter, relentlessly, run- ning his finger down the page, ‘you were generally a cussed, cantankerous, cranky, crabbed chap who would not be a de- sirable acquisition. No, I can't let you in" “But,” faltered ihe Disembodied, ** but my income was only — —— + aie ee a trifle over five thousnnd a year.” - - 3 That's no excuse,” retorted Saint Peter.‘ You should aatbalig Uo sd nabiG EC TREK Pia UIa ew AwHCLET MOLL have been content in that state of life to which —"" He SAID THAT IIE DIDN'T HAVE TO PLAY WITH ANY TOY DOGR. comicbooks.com