Life, 1901-01-03 · page 20 of 20
Life — January 3, 1901 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertisements**, not political cartoons. However, one small cartoon appears titled "Excused, of Course": ## The Cartoon A schoolteacher questions a boy about his absence, noting a scarlet fever epidemic in the village. The boy explains his mother is sick. When pressed about her condition, he responds: "Please, Miss, she says it's a girl." **The joke**: The boy misunderstands the teacher's inquiry. She's asking about scarlet fever; he reports his mother having a baby instead. The humor derives from the child's innocent misinterpretation—he thinks any illness explanation suffices, missing the specific concern about the contagious disease. The caption "Moonshine" suggests this is presented as absurdist humor. ## Context This reflects period anxieties about scarlet fever epidemics and the casual attitudes toward contagion in early 1900s society. The cartoon type—innocent child logic—was common in Life's satirical humor of the era. The remainder of the page consists of product advertisements (cocoa, brandy, soap, health products) typical of the magazine's revenue model.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LEA & PERRINS The Original and Genuine wi fomel Butlers in the best families and all first class cooks can tell you that soups fish, sad raievarien daheees Is and many of! a dis hes are jiven an appetizing relis f flavored with ng, Perrins sauce. tmtoLea VPrre VPrrend John Duncan's ‘SonSAGENTS, NewYorx. Redmond, (3. Kerr& Co. ): BANKER: 41 WALL § ‘ EXCUSED, OF COURSE. (The ecartet fecer epidemic is bad in the village) | Cacviocs Teacuen: Why did you stay away from school yesterday ? Muvver's sick. cavTioes Teac : What fs the matter with her, what does the ts | atau: Pease, ‘Miss, he says it’s a girl.— Moonshine, one cent, WAS AWARDED ONLY GOLD MEDAL OVER ALL COMPETITORS AT PARIS EXPOSITION. CHEW BEEMAN’S PEPSIN GUM Cares Indigestion ‘and Sea Sickness. Atl Gthera are Initaticos. ASK YOUR DEALER FAMOUS Y¥ PSTLANTI HEALTH NDERWEAB™ nay ston MFG. CO. YPSILANTI. MICH IF NOT SEND FOR BOOKLET TO. ~ PRESS OF THE J. W. PRATT. CO, NEW YORK. A double blessing is a double grace—occasion smiles upon a second bottle of It puts man in right relations with the laws of life, heatth and happiness. ©. H, Bvans & Sons, Hudson, N.Y. “h Genuine Old Brandy made from Wine.” — Medical Press (London), Aug. 1 MARTELL'S THREE STAR |t BRANDY AT ALL BARS AND RESTAURANTS. Geo. N. That eee Ky., prominent railway official My bead was rocovernd with dandrafft #0 Soap has completely ented my balr has regained its luxuriance”” f th celebrated Faso Soap will THE TOILET. 10 19 splendid for all rposestor which sexy fee? reqalaiey particu: larly as A HAIR DRESSING giving tho bair a lox. FOR THC BATH Foso Soap is rich and and giving the roots pale will flat it jun strength and tone. Pp soap ie" have sought FOR SHAVING | ‘or. It ls unequalled; eaves | COSTS NOTHING, 0 skin smooth, soft [to try, Merely ens the beard, allays all | name and emarting er irritation | 2 and is antiseptic. FOSO SOAP COMP. 107 Betterfield Bidg., Clacionati, Onio, U. S. & veueulionmnveeevonvenvecuenveveewy vevecensoeeet comicbooks.com