Life, 1900-03-29 · page 20 of 18
Life — March 29, 1900 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon, titled "Overheard in France," satirizes the Dreyfus Affair's lingering impact on French military credibility. A French priest and soldier discuss why the English don't win wars. The soldier ironically credits French officers—naming real figures like Esterhazy and Mercier, who were implicated in the Dreyfus scandal—suggesting their involvement in that notorious miscarriage of justice has somehow strengthened France. The joke targets post-Dreyfus France: despite the scandal's exposure of military corruption and anti-Semitic injustice (Dreyfus was wrongly convicted), France ironically claims these same compromised officers as sources of military excellence. It's dark satire questioning French institutional integrity. The page is otherwise filled with period advertisements for ales, brandies, Kodak cameras, woolens, and powders—typical magazine filler of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EVANS ALE AND | STOUT | SUBSTANTIALLY BACKED BY THE PREFERENCE OF ALE DRINKERS FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY | Spring Woolens. Steamer, Golf and Wheeling Suitings, Plaids Stripes, Mixtures and Reversibles, Wool Crashes, Grey and Castor Shades. West of England Worsted Suitings, Faced Cloths, Proaidooay Ks 1988 ot. NEW YORK. “A Genuine Old Brandy made from Wine.” — Medical Press (London), Aug. 1899. OVERHEARD IN FRANCE. Priest: 2% RENGLISIL DO NOT WIN! Soldier; ZAT 18 BECAUSE ZEY MAVE NOT Ze BRAVE OFFICERS, LIKE ESTERMAZY, MERCIER, NOIMDEFFRE, VATY DU CLAM, AND ALL 28 OTHERS WiO FOUGHT So NORLY AGAINST DREYFUS !—Aoonshine, Hit isn't an Eastman it isn't a Kodak sia re BRANDY | | THE PLAIN TRUTH, ———— Kodaks 9 js a Straight Whiskey. is Sold Absolutely Pure. Guarantced to cure the most obstinate cases of Pimples, Blackheads, Freck! Is Ky, Hand-made Sour Mash. Dredichttoparet, oes Is Made by Same Formula as James Crow made it sixty- six years ago. Effect im mediately apparent. 80¢ a bo: ALBION CO..634 Main St., Clacinsat!, Otlo. H. B. KIRK & CO., Sole Bottlers, N. Y. | m3 x at all druggists, or send stamp for sample to Sold by W. 8, ROCKEY, Ath av. 2 2610 st Oth ar. 8 424 ot, Broad’y & SOL, N.Y. CY. Best Line to Cincinnati and St. Louis—New York Central. PALES OF THE J, W. PRATT 20., NEW YORE. comicbooks.com