Life, 1901-03-21 · page 9 of 22
Life — March 21, 1901 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "A Dilemma" from Life Magazine This political cartoon satirizes labor disputes in South Africa during what appears to be the Boer War era ("The March of 'Progress' in South Africa"). The main illustration shows a military officer confronting a woman and child in a war zone with burning buildings—depicting the conflict's impact on civilians. The accompanying dialogue between Mrs. von Blücher and Von Blücher, alongside the animal fable ("Labor and Capital Are One"), uses creatures debating economic production to mock capitalist justifications for exploitation. The Rat argues that poverty benefits workers through "comfort," while the Chicken counters that workers deserve fair compensation for their labor. The cartoon critiques how warring powers and capitalists rationalize harm to ordinary people as economically necessary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE MAncH oF “ PROGRESS” A Dilemma. RS. VON BLUMER: I don’t know what we shall do about that cook, ‘Vow Biumer : What's the matter now ? “She threatens to stay.”” First Lock (excited): wuat's tm watren? Seconil Lock (shivering): THERE COMES A SKELETON KEY! IN HOUTH APHICA. “Labor and Capital Are One.” Tas are hard,” said the Picked Chicken. “Why,” said the Rat,“ thisis an era of prosperity; see how I have feathered my nest.’* « But,’’ said the Picked Chicken, ‘‘ you have gotten my feathers.” “You must not think,” said the Rat, ‘that because I get more comfort you get poorer.”’ “ But,” said the Chicken, “you produce no feathers, and I keep none— “If you would use your teeth—,” said the Picked Chicken. “You could lay by as much as I do,” concluded the Rat. “If—,” said the Picked Chicken. “Without consumers like me,” said the Rat, “there would be no demand for the feathers which you produce.” “IT will vote for a change,”’ said the Picked Chicken, “Only those who have feathers should have the suffrage,"’ remarked the Rat. interrupted the Rat. comicbooks.com