Life, 1905-01-05 · page 15 of 36
Life — January 5, 1905 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story-cartoon depicts a domestic comedy about modern parenting anxieties. A man named Dimpleton hired a nurse ("Angel Cake") who successfully improved his sickly baby through practical measures: fresh air, proper feeding, and breaking old restrictive rules about keeping infants confined to cribs. The joke hinges on masculine incompetence and marital dynamics: Dimpleton foolishly boasts to his wife about the nurse's success, crediting her methods. His wife responds by claiming she was *actually* responsible and is returning home to reinstate her original (harmful) practices. His friend Castleton advises patience, suggesting the baby's obvious improvement will vindicate the nurse's approach when the wife witnesses it. The satire mocks both paternal obliviousness and the period's conflicting medical theories about infant care—contrasting modern progressive methods (fresh air, nutrition) against older, stricter approaches. The title "Angel Cake" uses a culinary pun for the nurturing female figure. The page also includes unrelated book advertisements.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sig 3 Copyright, 10, by Life Publishing Co ANGEL CAKE. the rules, of course. No baby nowadays is supposed to leave his crib if he can be kept there by main force. And she did other things—gave him some fresh air for a “Well, didn't he get better ?"" “f should say he did! She said he I been starved, and I guess she was right. He began to gain right off, and in three days’ time he was a different youngster.” Castleton looked puzzled “Tf that’s really the case,"” he said, what's the matter? What's troubling you? Why so solemn? Pert just got the doctor's bill, What is it, old man Dimpleton, pacing the office floor, faced his friend “It's this,” he replied.‘ [was so delighted with the I wrote my wife and told her the whole on me that I’m all wrong—that his improvement is duc to other causes horrified at what I've done and she's coming back at once to rein- state the old crowd.” ps you've change, th: thing, and she’s just writ He looked anxiously at his friend “Tell me," he said, “ what chance is there against such acombination? I want to save that baby, You advised me before. What shall I do now ?" Castleton wrung him silently by the hand. “Don't worry, old man,” he said.“ Just wait until your wife gets back and is confronted by the facts in the case.”* Addison Fox, Jr. The Latest Books. Simple in style, Striking char- Plot constantly chang- ‘omedy and melodrama are here int woven by the most finished gen Nothing better than this superb work has ever been seen. Bell's Telephone Book : C making work. The characters seem to liv Encyclopedia Britannica: je range. Thrillin, Smith's Medical Directory Vital with human interest. Reads like a fairy story e range of subjects, An epoch- nit. Charged with interest all of quaint conceits and dramatic action. Covers aw Absorbing AN EVOLUTION IN WALL STREET. comicbooks.com