Life, 1905-12-14 · page 11 of 24
Life — December 14, 1905 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon ("An Inference"):** A woman and man sit conversing in a parlor. The caption attributes a quote to "Henry Leigh" about insanity in the mother's family, with the husband responding dismissively: "Oh, JUST KIDDING, DEAR. PAPA." The satire targets domestic relations—specifically, a husband making a cruel "joke" about his wife's family mental health while she reacts with apparent hurt. This mocks casual cruelty masquerading as humor between spouses. **"To a New V" (Poem):** A satirical verse warning a newcomer ("V"—likely referring to a debutante or new society woman) about inevitable social ruin: she'll be "tainted," face crooked dealings, and end up "ostracized" and poor. It's cynical social commentary on how respectable society discards its members. **"Conscientiousness" (Dialogue):** Brief marital humor about a wife questioning an installment-plan furniture purchase—suggesting financial anxiety in middle-class households.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AN INFERENCE WHAT POT SUCH AN IDEA IN Your HEAD? Leigh WAS. Effie OM, JUST LOOKING AT YOU, Conscientious. OUNG WIF What's the trouble?) Why do you sit on the edge of the chair? Hustaxp: Well, dear, you know we are buying it on the-installment plan, and that's all I feel entitled to. NO. MY DRAR, ENEVHK HEARD THAT THIER WAS ANY INSANIFY IN YOUR MOTHHK’S HE Russian students seem to have the advantage of the American students, all things considered. A revo- lution 1s substantially as distracting and brutal as football, and there isn't so strong a taint of professionalism about it. 749 To a New V. LEAN, crisp, innocent V Fresh from the mint, Sent forth in this hard world To do your stint, It makes me rather sad To see you For soon your name will be “Tainted,” I know, You'll pass through divers ways And crooked d 7 And wicked avarice Willd Likely en Your wretched fate With graft-besmirched notes to Associate. ‘our heels, ch “twill be You may be held in some Trust pirate’s thrall Till there is left you no Honor at all Then you'll be ostracized By people good ; Condemned for othe Misunderstood. You could not even be Given away For service with the just ; ‘d have to stay ast cash, and all r days be spent Under a ban, despite Your good intent. James Ravenscroft. ND now Nois Glitter and Speed, these three. But the greatest of these is Speed. remain BIROVILLE NEWS ITEM, MR, JOUN D. ROCKYBIRD, THE WELL-KNOWN MACH NATE, IS BEING HELD AN INVESTIGATION OF MIS CORNER ON TAINTED FISHWORMS, comicbooks.com