Life — September 22, 1904 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Prodigal Up to Date" This cartoon illustrates a contemporary take on the Biblical parable of the Prodigal Son. The image shows a woman (the mother) embracing a returning figure, while another woman stands apart—likely representing a wife or romantic interest. The accompanying text "The New Excuse" humorously depicts James Henry Phudd returning home unexpectedly at 3 AM, offering an alibi about visiting Deacon Brewster's new sh*loon on Main Street. His wife questions his disheveled state and late hour. The satire mocks modern domesticity: instead of religious redemption, the "prodigal" seeks forgiveness for dissolute behavior—staying out late at saloons. The joke relies on readers recognizing the absurdity of comparing drinking and carousing to the serious moral failings in scripture, updating ancient morality tales for contemporary urban vices.