Life, 1903-12-03 · page 9 of 22
Life — December 3, 1903 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration, captioned "Life's Fashions," depicts a winged figure in formal dress holding a book labeled "Marconi Wireless Telegraph." The figure appears to represent a cherub or cupid-like personification of modern innovation. The text below notes this is "Accepted Design for Messenger's Uniform—Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company," satirizing the company's prominence and suggesting wireless technology is becoming as omnipresent as classical messengers. The right column contains humorous Q&A exchanges mocking American civics knowledge and workplace dynamics. The final joke about "Giggton" making romantic advances to married women suggests workplace indiscretions were considered fair satirical material in this era. The overall tone suggests early-1900s satire of both new technology enthusiasm and contemporary social pretensions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
525 the business interests all the time, and set an example to every young man. How often is the President elected, and why ? Every four years, to keep the country from getting too prosperous. Where is the seat of tho United States Gov- ernment? In Oyster Bay, Wall Street and Washington. In the discharge of his onerous duties, has the President anyone to help him? Oh, yes. Several good guides and the Cabinet. What is the Cabinet? A picked body of the best poker players in the land. What are the duties of a Cabinet? Never to resign from their posts except when they are really needed. Inreality, is the United States a monarchy or Republic? Both. It’s a Republic on Sundays,and a mon- archy on every other day in the week. Why is it called the land of the free and the home of the brave? Because it always has akeen appreciation of a good joke. Yom Masson. Indubitable. FIRST WORKMAN : Do you belong to the Union? Seconp WorkMAN : Sure! Ain’t I out of work? ‘* CLIGGTON isalways making love to some married woman.’” “Yes. He believes that where there is a steady demand for a good arti- LIFE'S FASHIONS. cle, it ought to be sup- ACCEPTED DESIGN FOI MESSENGEN'S UNIFORM —MARCONE WIRELESS TELEGRAPH coMPANyY Plied. comicbooks.com