Life, 1901-12-26 · page 19 of 33
Life — December 26, 1901 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine showcases satirical illustrations by prominent cartoonists T.S. Sullivant and O. Toaspern, with accompanying text by J.A. Mitchell (likely the magazine's editor). The central content is a humorous quote attributed to Henry Hutt, depicting a chain of responsibility-dodging: blame shifts from one person to another (Masson → Metcalfe → Martin), illustrating how accountability disappears in bureaucratic passing-the-buck. Mitchell's accompanying text defends *Life* magazine's moral and social mission, claiming it guides public morality while also providing charitable work—specifically, annual country outings for poor children. The piece concludes by quoting John Gay's maxim "Life is a jest," but argues *Life* does more than merely jest; it has serious social purpose. The illustrations are decorative examples of the magazine's satirical visual style, featuring fashionable figures and social commentary typical of early 20th-century American satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
T. S. SULLIVANT. HENRY HUTT. beyond your power of silence—and if you blame me in person, you will find, perhaps, that I will lay it upon Masson; that Masson will attribute it to Metcalfe, and that Metcalfo may hido behind Martin. ‘Thus wo all have our usos. To one who has never tried, it might seem something of ao undertaking to guide the morals of a world and throw tho light of Truth upon every folly. But such matters, with Lire, aro sido issues, Beside scaring tho wicked, encouraging the good, and bringing choor and comfort to mankind in general, Lirg gives a two weeks’ outing in tho country, evory summer, to about two thousand children of the poor. And 80, while the poet Gay may have spoken truly, ho did not tell all {n saying, “ Lifo is a jost.” J. A, Mitchell, ©. TOASPERN,