Life, 1903-01-08 · page 6 of 20
Life — January 8, 1903 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes parental indulgence and child discipline. The caption reads: "A MACHINE FOR PUNISHING PARENTS WHO NEVER REASON WITH THEIR CHILDREN, BUT ALWAYS SLAP THEIR FACES FOR TRIVIAL OFFENCES." The image shows what appears to be an infernal contraption in a dark, cave-like setting—suggesting Hell or the underworld ("Hades"). A figure operates a mechanical device designed to punish negligent parents through ironic reversal: rather than reasoning with misbehaving children, such parents resort to physical punishment for minor infractions. The satire targets early-20th-century parenting practices, advocating for rational discipline over corporal punishment. The elaborate machine suggests that parents who physically strike children deserve mechanical retribution—a dark humor commentary on what the magazine considered abusive parenting norms of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
[ T isa real pleasure to ebironicte an ine tellectual treat among the books of the The attitude of the essayist seems ‘The man who “ keeps office hours with his own soul” is a by Doll al de ideals tothe wall. day out of vogue. number ties have driv he Lost Art of Keading, IL these 1 mere . dares to ree methods, to practice these self-coumunings, to defend these broken idols, Some of us will shrug at the volume. Others of us, having read it, will keep it near us. (G Putnam's Sons.) Out of the West isa first novel by a new writer, Elizabeth Higgins, It is aspecimen of the story political, An Eastern black sraska, becomes a Popu- list leader and gocs to Congress. Here, being by nature a black sheep, he, so tosay, returns to his mutton, and the book ends with a fit of repentance of which loubts the permanence. As reading matter it is neither Jnor bad. (Harperand Broth- ers. $1.50.) A political novel of moredash anda story of holdfast interest is The Hrnckman, by Mark Lee Luther. Items of Republican methods in Western New York relations between “The Boss” and 'T Henchman” strongly suggest well-known figures in not too ancient history. (The illan Company. $1.50.) We have so many books upon old > York, its traditions and changes, that additions to the list seem Yet Rutus Rockwell King is ompilers of such nd his New York, Old and New is better planned and better written tha It appears in two attractive volumes Lippincott Company, Philadelphia associations, supertluou one of the most pleasing subjects most. WJ. B. $3.50.) Musings Without Method is the title of a collection of monthly articles republished from Blackwood’s Magazine for 1900 and 1901. They are by an anonymous writer, Analist,” and deal with current events— political, literary, artistic and social. The author hi pretty turn for satire, but of the matters touched upon have y been forgotten, even in England, and few of them are of moment (McClure, Phillips and Company.) here. ilimpses of China and Chinese Homes, by Sdward 8. Morse, of travelers’ impre: ffers from most records ions by the compara- -LIFE- tively technical nature of its subject. ‘The author has been a resident and a student of Japan, and visited China for the purpose of studying their interiors comments are accurate and reliable. (Little, Brown and Company. $1.50.) His drawings and Sir Alfred Lyal’s biographical critique of Alfred Tennyson forms a contribution to t English Men of Letters Series whieh main- f this interesting work, (The Macmillan Company. tains the excellence 75 cents.) J.B. Kerfoot. No Danger. IRST FINANCIER: Aren't you afraid this deal may land us in jail? Srconp Financier: Nonsense, You seem to forget that millions are in- volved. Wine, Woman and Song. WW 20 loves champagne, soubrettes and song Is wise, or else the pro’ But it is true that love like this Means Paris first—then paresis rb's wrong 5 Feliz Carmen, HE egoist is an optimist: he ex- pects his neighbors to love him as he does himself. Genius. TY FLLOW EDITOR: Have you ~ had any experience as a re- porter? AppLicant: No. Tam a born liar. But they tell me SNAPSHOTS IN HADES. 4 MACHINE POR PUNISHING PARENTS WHO NEVER REASON WITH THEIR CHILDREN, BUT ALWAYS SLAP THEIR PACES POR TRIVIAL OFFENCES. comicbooks.com