Life, 1903-01-29 · page 3 of 20
Life — January 29, 1903 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes New York City subway conditions and urban life circa early 1900s. **Top Image:** "Civilization and Progress as Perfected by the Metropolitan Railway Co." depicts crowded, formally-dressed commuters packed tightly on a subway car—a stark visual irony contrasting the headline's claim of "progress" with the undignified reality of mass transit. **Poems & Text:** "Chant of a Grateful New Yorker" sarcastically celebrates subway suffering—the speaker endures "deadly strife," bruising, and cramped conditions while ironically praising his commute. The theatrical syndicate quote mocks entertainment industry gatekeeping. **Illustration:** "A Chicken Sandwich" depicts chickens, apparently mocking food quality or the absurdity of finding real substance in urban life. Overall, the page critiques modern urban infrastructure as failing to deliver promised civilization while crowding citizens like livestock.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
an be other dy or ity of otice- olling p.1404 Me Chart, 6} AS PERFECTED BY THE METROPOLITAN STREET RAILWAY CO. Chant of a Grateful New Yorker. J 7 IND FATE, attend to my strident tale, And note my lot in life, Of which I speak With pride in my cheek, Though it's one of deadly strife Others there be who suffer with me— There's a million or more on tap— But Tam th who's next to the man whe ng on to a stra On the surface cars, as T fight my way, Or on the third rail ride ; Though I'm black and blue, And breathless too, As my ribs sink into my side, Yet with joy I ery As my way I pry And my clothes in ribbons flap, CIVILIZATION AND PROGRESS. For Tam the man who's next to the man who's hanging on to a strap. O kind Manhattan | T owe thee much! How may I quite repay This place reserved As I'm jerked and swerved On my miliic y And thy fostering eare I bless, nor swear, As 1 fill this favored gap, Yor I am the man who's next to the man who's hanging on toa strap. m Masson. ‘g E what isa theatrical syndicate?” “My son, it's a concern that stands between the public and what the public really wants.” A CHICKEN SANDWICH. comicbooks.com