Life, 1903-01-08 · page 7 of 20
Life — January 8, 1903 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **Doctor William M. Keen** of Philadelphia, a prominent advocate for vivisection (animal experimentation). The text mocks Keen's claim that he once saved a man's life by cutting up three critics—positioning animal testing as ethically justified. The satire ridicules both Keen and **Senator Gallinger** (who apparently restricted vivisection), portraying vivisectionists as humorously callous. The accompanying illustrations—a anatomical sketch and "A Mill Race" (anthropomorphized windmills)—appear to be unrelated cartoons on the same page. The second section, "The Drama," shifts to theatrical satire about hiring cheap actors for untested plays, invoking laws made "when we see something nice we want it." The humor targets scientific establishment figures and legislative debates around animal welfare.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE- Another Champion. OCTOR WILLIAM W. KEEN, of Philadelphia, is a warm supporter of vivisection. He thinks it should be en- couraged and that Senator Gallinger should refrain from his endeavor to have it restricted. He proves to his own satisfaction that he saved a man's life once because the cutting up of live critters had taught him something. He does not like the idea of having men like Senator Gallingercome between him and his fun. He says : In view, therefore, of the evident und positive benefit of such experiments, I trust that you Will be willing to desist from further egorts at such re- pressive, and, as I regard tt, most inhuman and cruel legis- lation, Daa “Inhuman and cruel legislation ” ! Well, these vivisectionists are certainly humorous when they give their minds to it. In the meantime bring on your pet animals and let the fun goon with the merry knife and tweezers. Late. TT HE provinces are being railed at for their neglect of Kocian. But, after all, is Kocian’s misfortune their fault? As a matter of fact, the provinces know even less about art than New York, and they are quite as devoted to the art which remains esoteric. While yet the incursion of for- cign musical celebrities was new, it was the garment of a very ordinary celebrity which did not have at least two hems kissed off it during a tour of the provinces. But when art presently discloses its commercial motive, the provinces shift their point of view. The provinces know a thing or two about business propositions. ‘The trouble with Kocian is that he is late getting into the game. “sae RELoNos To THe 400, poEsN'r set" WELL, SHE OUGHT TO BY THIS TIME. SHE MAS MARRIED THREE OF THEM.” The Drama. HE manager listened coldly. “It takes something besides epigrams to make a play,” he said, when the author was done reading. mS, “Yes, but cannot the actors be depended on => to inject the necessary indecency?" asked the The manager laughed a short, brutal laugh. “T can’t afford to hire very great actors for an untried play,” he replied. ‘W HEN we seo something nice we want it. That is why A MILL RACE. laws are made, comicbooks.com