Life, 1907-01-03 · page 13 of 44
Life — January 3, 1907 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical dialogues mocking period attitudes. **"Christmas Reading"** jokes about inconsistent pronouncements on foreign policy—likely referencing debates over Japanese exclusion or immigration policy. The exchange between a "First Government Official" and "Second Government Official" satirizes how politicians justify xenophobic positions by claiming Japanese people are "clean and intelligent" yet still belong "to the scum of Europe"—highlighting the logical contradictions in racist arguments. **"The Opera"** mocks class divisions among opera patrons, dividing the audience into "true lovers of music" (wealthy, refined) versus ordinary people who attend mainly for social status and distraction. The satire critiques pretentious musical culture and class snobbery. Both reflect early-20th-century American social commentary on nationalism, immigration attitudes, and class distinction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OW differently we all pronounce (I never thought we'd do so) — In olden times ’twas Robinson, While now it’s just Caruso. A Reason IRST GOVERNMENT OF CIAL: Why are we so anxious to exclude the Japanese? Seconp GOVERNMENT OFFICIA Well, you see, they are clean and intelli- gent, and they take up the room that naturally belongs to the scum of Europe. WELCOME THE COMING, SPEED THE PARTING YEAR The Opera 7 HE origin of the opera, like Z some of Wagner’s music, is S lost in obscurity. It is sup- posed to have begun with tom- toms, and ends in tiaras and talk. The opera season begins in December and lasts until Lent, a period in which people prefer to devote themselves exclu- sively to bridge. An opera-house is a place where half- naked people congregate at considerable expense to listen to music and hear about JANUARY AQUARIUS each other. The audience is divided into two classes—the true lover of music and the others. The true lover of music is a superior person who knows and feels more about music than you do, no matter who you are. While the long evening moves slowly along and you are restless and uneasy, and cursing the fate that made you spend your money to come, he sits enraptured and drinks in every sound. You are as thirsty as he is, only prefer something else beside sound. comicbooks.com