Life, 1906-05-24 · page 7 of 26
Life — May 24, 1906 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon ("Rural Free Delivery"):** Shows a couple at a rural train station; the man appears to be a conductor or railway worker. The satire likely comments on rural mail delivery services—a contemporary American infrastructure issue. **"A Missionary to America" Section:** Features Ramakrishna, a Hindu spiritual figure, critiquing American Christian missionaries. The text quotes him saying Americans are "overburdened with Christian missionaries" and suggesting India has superior philosophy. The satire mocks American missionary zeal and religious presumption, while presenting non-Western perspectives as equally valid—a progressive stance for the era. **Additional Elements:** Small illustrations labeled "Love at First Sight" and "Humpty-Dumpty is Presented with a Loving Cup" appear to be separate satirical vignettes on social/domestic topics. The page targets American religious arrogance and social pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“RURAL rare DELIVERY.” A Missionary to America E IS a Brahmin and his name is Marayan Krishna. In filling a City pulpit he is reported as We're overstocked with Christian missionaries. Ninety per cent. of those we have are senseless. Fur- rc. we don't want your religion and your holy: We have more religion of or to di s that we'd like to own than we with, a surp export called missionaries ize us, send us some men that are q * philosophers that know their own script to Christian- alified to teach, Vatil then, the Vedas, our four books of philosophy. are good enough for us." But this was too straight for a good American congregation, for it is also reported that: “During these remarks some members of the ation left the assembly and later the Rev. les Ferguson apologized for Krishna's state ments.” And so, perchance, the congregations that cannot hear such truths without apology are the ones who ship the fullest cargoes of missionaries to the “‘heathen.”” Love AT FIRST ONELINESS is the greatest of bores, rwise there would be no accounting for society. Tail-Twisting Again GEARING ol the Eng ning Post y inheritance and ingrained habit they are a hypethral race Perhaps so, but at this time of brotherly feeli why rub it in? It would have been manlier but much less prudent for our New York neighbor to have said it of the Irish, who are as much so as the English, but are suffi- ciently in force hereabouts to command considerate speech. [1 WILL never be easy for the Government to take over the functions of commerce, where nerce has alread: over the government com: taken functions of HUMPTY-DUMPTY 18 PRESENTED WITH A LovING-cUP. comicbooks.com