Life, 1903-08-06 · page 9 of 32
Life — August 6, 1903 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces: **"Aesop Up to Date"** (main cartoon): A fox and stork fable retelling. The fox serves soup in a shallow dish the stork cannot eat from, then the stork serves soup in a tall, narrow vase the fox cannot access. The moral criticizes tit-for-tat revenge as ultimately pointless. **"Criticised"** (text piece): An American Eagle confronts a Russian Bear about mistreating Filipino children. The Eagle lectures on civilization while hypocritically defending its own colonial violence against "colored men." This appears to satirize American imperialism and moral hypocrisy regarding the Philippines conflict (likely early 1900s). Both pieces use animal characters to critique political behavior and colonial attitudes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE: 123 tative Cleverness, he served his Soup in a Tall and Narrow- necked Vase, into which he could Easily put his Bill, but which was of No Use to his Guest. But the Fox picked upa Long Straw which Lay near by, and by its Aid he drank all the Soup, leaving the Stork hungry. Mora.: Straws show which way the Wind Blows, Carolyn Wells, Criticised. ‘HE American Eagle edged over to- ~ ward the Russian Bear with real sorrow in his blood-red eyes. “Tfeel keenly the disgrace you have brought upon modern civilization,” he said, as he scratched the clothes off his Filipino children and shook out the change. “Tt’s a beastly shame, you know, to allow such outrages in your kingdom. Have you no sense of shame?" “None whatever,” said the Russian Bear curtly. ‘I am but fulfilling my destiny.” “ Well,’ said the Eagle, as he swooped down on two colored men and put them slowly out of their misery, ‘ you might at least be hypocritical about it and preserve appearances.” ym Masson. 7IRST KENTUCKIAN: Fine bee we had yesterday. Seconp Kentuck- TAN: Spelling or lynching ? ‘TwiXT THR ‘CUP’ AND THR ‘LIP. “Esop Up to Date. long Bill. But the Stork picked / Tue FSX AND HB STON, up a long Straw which lay near 1 A FOX one day invited a Stork to by, and by its Ald he Sucked up i dine with him, and, wishing to all the Soup, leaving the Fox be Amused at his Guest's expense, he hungry. Then the Stork Smiled, put the Soup, which he had for Dinner, bat the Fox's grin was Mostly in a large, flat Dish, so that while he | Chagrin. himself could lap it up Quite Well, the To get Even, the Stork invited & Bases -coxcention: Stork could only dip in the Tipof his the Fox to Dine, and with Imi- — sowe para ctaxt wosquito WILL comE ALONG AND— comicbooks.com