Life — April 28, 1904 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 404 The main illustration depicts a tall bearded man in a top hat and long coat leading a group of children in various ethnic costumes—appearing to reference different nationalities and cultures. The caption identifies this as "Mormon Elder-Berry—Out with his Sixteen-Olds, Who Take After Their Mothers." This is satirical commentary on Mormon polygamy and the practice of multiple wives producing many children. The "Elder-Berry" pun mocks both the LDS church hierarchy ("Elder") and suggests proliferation ("berry"). The children's diverse appearances satirize concerns about mixed-race offspring from polygamous unions, a common prejudicial trope of the era used to criticize the Mormon faith. The page also contains society gossip columns unrelated to the cartoon.