Life, 1901-04-18 · page 19 of 22
Life — April 18, 1901 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon satirizes Jewish immigrants' economic mobility in early 20th-century America. It depicts two figures named Isaac Solomons—father and son—in a desert setting labeled "Israel in Egypt," a biblical reference to Jewish bondage. The joke hinges on a generational contrast: the father laments their ancestors' enslavement in Egypt with "nothing but sand"; the son dismissively responds that today there's "no chance" for anyone but a grocer to escape poverty. This suggests that while biblical Jews faced pharaonic oppression, modern Jewish immigrants face a different constraint—they can only succeed in the grocery business, not other professions. The cartoon reflects period attitudes about Jewish occupational stereotyping and gatekeeping in American society. The title invokes the Exodus narrative to sardonically compare ancient slavery to contemporary economic limitation, implying that professional restrictions constitute a modern form of bondage.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
is Universally Accorded the Preterence on account of its Economy and Delicious Tast grocery stores—order it next time. ELECTRIC SS / S SURREY SLT Brown Rellability—Freedom from ISRAEL IN EGYPT ness, Ride eaaily and quietly. of | tlon, Can be safely run by man, Ivaae Solomons, Senr. (surveying desert) : VELA, 1 DON'T YONDER OUR ANTHESTORS | ‘tare cal ere current cannot be conveniently supplied, we are prepared to furnish estimates VANTED TO GET OUT OF DITH FLATI! NOTTINO BUT SAND—84ND—BAND! for, and erect when desired, almple atid ‘simbmuatic plane’ fot charging electric veblcles, Isaac Solomons, Jun. ; NO CHANCE, WAS DER, PA, POR ANYONE BUT A GROCER? —avconshine, | 140 MILES on One Charge of Batteries, Stub yenrotecrvl ELECTRIC VEHICLE CO., HARTFORD, CONN. All you have guessed about lifeinsurancema,y a ae ee ee The Luxurious Every- Day Train to California The Overland Limited leaves Chicago 6.30 p. m. via Chicago & North-Western, Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railways. Dining Cars a fa carte. Buffet Library Cars with barber, Draw- ing Room Sleeping Cars without change. The best of everything. Send for booklet “California Illustrated.” - Rey York|438 Vine Cincinnati 212 Clarh B,, "+" Caiengel2KingSt.,East,Toronte, Out. > a ae ee ee ee LIFE BINDER, jv CHEAP, STRONG AWD OURABLE, (im WI Mold 26 Numbers. Matied to any part of the United States for $1.00. Address Office of **LIFE," ‘West Thirty-tirst St., New Yorks = AS A SE A 0 Se <A 9g