Life, 1904-01-21 · page 8 of 20
Life — January 21, 1904 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two separate satirical pieces. The main illustration depicts American frontier settlers on horseback encountering what appears to be Native Americans, with a caption about three sons in Congress, journalism, and jail—suggesting political corruption and family disgrace. Below are two regional satire pieces: "Cussedness" describes Kansas and South Carolina as places where pure cussedness is endemic and hereditary, mocking these states' rough character. "Rooshy" (likely "Rooshy" or a regional variant) satirizes a frontier territory, describing its harsh conditions, Czarist governance, and population of "Pan Slavs and Jews," suggesting ethnic stereotyping common to the era. The overall tone mocks American frontier life, regional character types, and ethnic groups through exaggerated description.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fil si Crit iba ity a i ly) oe ma x Mo ee Nae S ies yes am “1nave TaRE “OM, WELL, DON'T Cussedness. USSEDNESS in general may be divided into two grand divisions—pure and plain. Pure cussedness applies itself to spoiled children, mules and women. Plain cussedness is more widespread. Plain cussedness is common to Kansas, South Caro- lina and parts of Boston. But itis likely to break out anywhere. It is chronic with some wives, and young girls develop it sometimes under pressure. It can be cured often- times by steady treatment, gold dollars being most effective. For pure cussedness there is no known remedy. When approached by a person afflicted with pure cussedness, always run away. It is the safest plan. Pure cussedness is not always hereditary. Some are born with it, some achieve it, and some have it thrust upon them. ‘ Wy" ii oy Ma d ie as pees 1 : RNALIST, AND ONE 18 IN ath.” Rooshy. Roosey is bounded on the north by ice, on the west by the concert of Europe, and on the south by Mr. Kipling. Thus the slogan of Rooshy is: ‘ Eastward, or bust!" Rooshy gets her name from having been thought by the ancients to be the original home of the ruse, Rooshy is deliberate, showing that time is about as easy to take as anything, once one gets into the taking way. ‘The Czar of Rooshy is the only monarch who is thorough- ly in Mr. Stead’s confidence. He is called the Great White Czar, bat some say he is not as white as he is painted. Rooshy is populated by Pan Slavs and Jews. The Jews come handy when the Pan Slavs get to taking themselves too seriously. Rooshy makes a very durable article of history.