Life, 1909-02-25 · page 5 of 28
Life — February 25, 1909 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration labeled "LENT" depicts a theatrical scene: a devilish figure (representing temptation or sin) dances on the left while seated women resist his advances. The dialogue—"Fly away home, naughty person / Something tells me that they more than half want me to stay"—satirizes the tension between religious observance during Lent and secular temptation. Below is a "Guide to New York" featuring a country visitor receiving advice on urban etiquette. The cartoons mock both rural naiveté and New York sophistication—instructing visitors to act busy, adopt fashionable dress, and avoid appearing frightened. The dialogue between "Sissy" and "Bertie" jokes about urban affectations, suggesting New Yorkers adopt false personas. The satire targets class pretension and performative urbanity in turn-of-century New York society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LENT Chorus: FLY AWAY HOME, NAUGHTY PERSON. He: SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT THEY MORE THAN HALF WANT ME TO STAY 5 know what to do with yourself, rush up and down on the sub- Guide to New York way, which will give you an appearance of being busy. Ap- VISITORS from the country to the _pearances are everything in New York. great metropolis of New York If you want to be taken for a New Yorker, act as if you a City will find the following a handy owned everything in sight. If you want to act natural, how- substitute for Baedecker: ever, it will be all right. Everything goes in New York Do not be afraid of a hotel. Just If you have clothes, put them on and wear them. If not, fill both hands full of small change and buy some. Buying clothes is all the rage in New York, as then follow the bell-boys and waiters meck- they are worn by nearly everyone except a few actresses ly about, If a bell-boy takes your coat, give Style is no object. The worse you are dressed the better. him your hat and your umbrella and your Step lively, both getting off and getting on. Ellis O. Jones. rubbers also. _ Don't worry about the other people. ISSY: Boys don’t have switches on their heads, do they, They are also from the country and are as Bertie? much frightened as you are. If you don’t Bertiz: Nop, not on their heads comicbooks.com