Life, 1902-11-27 · page 5 of 26
Life — November 27, 1902 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: **"The Brutal Game"** (top illustration): Shows cherubs/putti engaged in what appears to be a violent or rough physical contest. The satire likely critiques some contemporary sport or competitive activity as unnecessarily brutal, using the ironic contrast of innocent baby figures to highlight the violence involved. **"The Lesson"** (right side): A dialogue between a Boy and his Father about a Loafer with an empty dry-goods box, contrasting poverty with aspiration. The Father uses this encounter to teach about thrift and industry—a moral lesson common to Gilded Age satire about work ethic and social class. **Other content**: Thanksgiving-themed verses and a brief exchange between Mrs. Highblower and Elsie about discretion in discussing family finances. The page reflects turn-of-century American values emphasizing morality, industriousness, and class distinctions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thanks. OR all the good things of this earth Of mingled gall and honey, For maidens, melody and mirth, And, most of all, for money— This is the day when thanks are due And should be paid with pleasure While toothsome turkeys yield for you A gastronomic treasure. For peace and plenty—these are what A fellow likes to mention As summing up his mortal lot With easy circumvention ; For girls to love, and wines to drink, And bonds to burn—a bank full; For good cigars that make one think Of Cuba and grow thankful. THE BRUTAL OAR, For friends—the best of Heaven's gifts! Be grateful for the true ones ; And as Life's panorama shifts Give welcome to the new ones. For health and hope within the breast, And joy that we are living ; For these, of gratitude our best On this day of Thanksgiving ! Feliz Carmen, | 8S. HIGHBLOWER : Elsie, you al never speak outside of the quar- rels between your papa and myself, do you? Exste: Oh, no, mamma. But when- ever you are pleasant to each other I always mention it. The Lesson. Pa LOAFER sat on an empty dry- goods box and whittled. “You'll never win success that way,’’ said the Boy’s Father to the Boy. A Successful Man happened along. “I wish I could be as happy as that fellow is,” said he, gazing wistfully at the Loafer. But fortunately the Boy did not hear this, and the lesson of thrift and in- dustry sank deep into his heart. FIRST LAWYER: How much is Jagsby's estate worth ? Seconp Lawyer : About ten thousand to Jagsby and two hundred thousand to us, comicbooks.com