Life, 1900-09-06 · page 3 of 20
Life — September 6, 1900 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 183 **Top Cartoon ("War Talk"):** This satirizes Uncle Sam's appearance during wartime. John Bull (British personification) comments that Uncle Sam looks "ghastly," and Uncle Sam admits his poor appearance but deflects by claiming it's due to "wearing other people's diamonds"—suggesting America profited from selling weapons or supplies to warring nations rather than direct involvement. **"A Catechism" Section:** This is religious satire using question-and-answer format mimicking catechism lessons. It mocks American institutions by redefining civic concepts: "Heathen" = those without proper national pride; "War" = murder; "Missionary" = one instructing heathens to adopt "pruning books into dominum tablets"—satirizing forced cultural assimilation and missionary work. The content criticizes American hypocrisy regarding neutrality, profiteering, and cultural imperialism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WAR TALK. John Bull: ‘2110, HUNCLE, ‘ow DO 1 LOOK? Uncle Sam: YOU LOOK omAsTLY. “80 Do rou." “MAY BE I DO, BUT 'H NOT CALLING ATTENTION TO IT BY WEARING OTHER PEOPLE'S DIAMONDS.” A Catechism. 4 i ast is to say, an instruction | a to be learned by every person before he be brought to be con- firmed in the Church of St. Mammon and Mars. Question: What ts a doc- trinet Answer; A doctrine ts a dogma, to be avowed as long asit can augment the glory of the terrestrial, and repudi- ‘ted no soon as it becomes ‘antagonistic thereunto. Question ; Name certain of the doctrines under this bead- tog. Answer: The Westminster Confession, the i Monroe Doctrine, the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. / Question; What is Right? Answer ; Might. Question ; What is Might ? Answer ; Right. Question; What 1s @ Missionary? Answer; A Missionary is one who instructs the heathen how to turn their plowshares Into Mauser rifles and thelr pruning hooks into dum- dum bullets, Question: What ia a Heathen? Answer: A Heathen 18 one who tn his bitnd- ness bows down to gods of wood and stone, instead of those of silver and gold. Question; What ts Wart Annwer ; Murder. Question ; What is the Sixth Commandment? Answer: Thou shalt do no murder. Question ; What ts Arbitration? Answer: Arbitration 1s farce prepared for the use of Sunday school entertatnments. Question: Can s man serve two masters? Answer; No, one only. Question ; Choosest thou this day whom thou shalt serve? Answer: Yea, verily. Question ; Which Is he? Answer; Mammou — yesterday, to-day and forever. Question ; What is Imperialism ? Answer; Obedience to % The good old rule, the simple plan : That they should lake who have the power, And they should heep who can.” ©, Leech. Curiosity Involved. ATHARINE: He didn’t ask me to marry him, and I shall feel all my life the cruel sting of disappointment. Nancy: Poor girl! Were your af- fections so profoundly interested? “No; but it kills me to think I can’t ask him why he didn’t ask me.”” comicbooks.com