Life — November 22, 1906 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 599 This page contains several short satirical pieces rather than a single cartoon. The main illustration shows an anchor labeled "THE PURITANS WERE A BIT NARROW MINDED," satirizing rigid moral attitudes. "The Fable of the Two Fleas" mocks Puritanical social constraints through an allegory where fleas debate whether to improve their circumstances. The satire critiques overly cautious, restrictive attitudes toward progress and social mobility. Below, "Philological" presents a comedic dialogue where Jones and Smith debate automobile terminology ("auto," "motor car," "automobile"), poking fun at Americans' obsession with new motorcar technology and its various nomenclatures—a contemporary status symbol and conversational preoccupation. The page reflects early 20th-century American anxieties about Puritanism, progress, and consumer culture.