Life, 1906-05-03 · page 29 of 44
Life — May 3, 1906 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a short story illustration, not political satire. The narrative depicts a gothic melodrama: a tall, gaunt stranger peers through a shutter at a small man preparing an elaborate dinner inside a house during a storm. The outsider observes the host's careful grooming and food preparations with apparent satisfaction, then knocks loudly on the door. When the door opens, the shrunken host appears pale and frightened, asking "Got back, Manda?" The final illustration shows a woman in a buggy using her whip urgently in the moonlight. The setup suggests a suspenseful tale involving possibly sinister intentions (the stranger's predatory observation) or rescue/danger (the woman's urgent departure). The title "Life-Saving Service" implies someone—likely the woman—will intervene to save the vulnerable host from the mysterious visitor. The story continues on a later advertising page.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: A Life-Saving Service By Vircinia Woopwarp CLoup HE Summalt house rocked and cteaked in the arms of an ap- approaching storm, and_ giant clouds fled across the moon of the early autumn night. With the first drops of chill rain, a man, tall and ungainly, grew out of the shadow close to the wall of the house, and went to a broken chink in a closed shutter and deliberately peered in. He drew his cloak closer and stared at the preparations inside, which appeared to be of a festal nature, Great logs blazed on the hearth, two lamps were lighted, the table was laid for one only, anda small man hurried in and out ofa rear kitchen, with pent excitement in every movement. His trousers were drawn up- ward to an unnatural altitude by his suspenders, and his gray brushed stiMy back, accentuating the startled ex- ce. He had donned a clean collar, and his heavy boots had been carefully brushed—this the looker- on observed at once, his gaze following the other with interest as he placed upon the table a dish of steaming sausages ‘The man outside uttered an exclamation which seemed that of satisfaction, although the odor of supper could not prevail against the wind and walls, and peered closer while the onc inside went to a closet in the chimney comer and brought out a tea-caddy and disappeared in the kitchen to return with a pitcher, which he put carefully on the table. “Cider—by the great horn!” muttered the outsider. He pressed to the door and gave a loud rap. ‘There was silence for a moment. “Dropped dead, I reckon,” he added to himself. But the door opened, letting in a rush of cold wind and rain, and reveal- ing the shrinking form of the host, whose face showed pale now in the lamplight, as he said, feebly: “Got back, Manda?” A buggy came along... In the moonlight a woman . . using the whip valiantly. (This story is continued on sth advertising page jellowing.) comicbooks.com