Life, 1901-08-08 · page 9 of 20
Life — August 8, 1901 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: Life Magazine, Page 109 This page contains three satirical cartoons addressing women's conduct and social propriety in early 20th-century America. The top two cartoons depict a dialogue between a Cadi (Islamic judge) and Mustapha about women's behavior, seemingly criticizing Western women's freedoms—drinking, appearing in public unveiled, and behaving without male supervision. The cartoons use orientalist framing to satirize contemporary debates about women's rights and social roles. The bottom cartoon and "To a Dot" section present domestic humor: a dressmaker demanding payment and a brief dialogue defining a sportsman as someone who accepts game escaping with grace. The page uses these vignettes to comment on class relations, women's economic independence, and masculine virtue—reflecting anxieties about changing social hierarchies in the period.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
409 on my eyes be ft, but it bas struck me lately that our people were using the forbidden waters too freely. “True.” replied Mustapha, * but these women, would stop the sale entirely. How would your Highness, who never tnaulges except in moder. tion, — here Mustapha coughed asilghtly as though something bad stuck to his throat— “like that?’ “That's an extra-judicial matter,” replied the Cadi, ** but let the she devils in.” Mustapha threw aside the curtain, and there entered as motley a crowd of women as the Cadt had ever seen. None of them was yonug and none of them was attractive Their figures dem- onstrated all extremes of angalarity, and false fronts and falxe teeth were strongly in evidence. “So,” said the Cadi, as he perused the Aga's letter, “ you insist that the Janizartes shall not be permitted to drink tn their own quarters even ‘the drinks allowed by the Koran, but that if they thirst they shall satisfy themselves elsewhere and be exposed to the temptation of drinking forbidden fluids, which set the brain on fire and drive them to further excesses?” A babble of women's votces rose tn reply. + Mustapha,” cried the Cadi, © get sour slipper ready and apply it to the mouth of the first woman who speaks. You"—addressing himself to one especially strong-mninded female—* have you no hushand to teach you the modesty that becomes a woman and to keep you from med. dilng with things that do not concern you #* “She had,” interrupted Mustapha, * but he died lwo years ago — talked to death.” *Tbelteve tt,” remarked the Cadi And you" addressing another of the accused —" have you no busband or children to keep you at home tf" “ She has, your Highness,* again interrupted Mastapha, “but the hastand Is a hopeless dyspeptic, und her children go unwashed and uncolmbed because she Is ever at women’s clubs and meetings. ugh, “sald the Cadi. “Mustapha, you WIIl see that these women, and any otbers of their society you may take, spend the rest of thetr Ives scrubbing the floors of the Palace of Justice. That will make them do some good anyway." And as the Cadi disappeared bebind the cur. taln, there was a sound of fuld flowing into s glass, and his voice was beard bumming : w. 7. G., Drink her down, drink her down. W.0.T.U, Drink ber down, dorm, down. Metoalfe. Toa Dot. wm =: How would you define a true sportsman ? Papa: He is a man who believes in giving every kind of game creature a chance for its life, and then is disgusted if the poor creature escapes with it. Kind. M RS. KINGLEY: The dressmaker soa says she won't make me another gown unless you pay her bill. Nieto) Kixoney: That’s good of her. God STS atte 90" bless her! CF comicbooks.com