Life, 1909-04-15 · page 32 of 36
Life — April 15, 1909 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical poetry, advertisements, and comic illustrations typical of early 20th-century Life magazine. **"Mary's Animal Show"** (Lippincott's poem): Satirizes wealthy women's extravagant fashion, specifically the widespread practice of wearing furs and exotic animal parts as status symbols. The poem mocks a woman ("Mary") who wears Persian lamb, mink, ermine, bird-of-paradise feathers, and other animal products so extensively she has "all Nature 'skinned.'" The satire criticizes both the conspicuous consumption and the animal cruelty involved in haute couture. **Comic illustrations** feature "Uncle Bonus," an African American character in dialect-heavy captions asking for money for a bicycle—appearing to satirize both racial stereotypes and class differences. **Advertisements** promote income insurance, Baltimore Rye whiskey, and Corliss-Coon collars, typical period commercial content. The page reflects early 1900s attitudes: mocking wealthy fashion excess while simultaneously depicting African Americans through offensive stereotypes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mary's Aniinal Show Mary had a little Jamb— ’Twas Persian—on her coat; She also had a mink or two About her dainty throat ; A bird-of-paradise, a tern, ‘And ermine made the hat That perched at jaunty angle On her coiffure, larg * Her tiny boots were sable topped, Her gloves were muskrat, too, Her muff had heads and tails of half The “critters” in the Zoo, And when she walked abroad, I ween She feared no wintry wind; At ‘beepicig warm, ‘twas plain to sce, She had all Nature “ skinned.”” —Lippincott's The Equivalent of the “Pay Envelope” When a man is incapacitated by illness or accident, is the Income Insurance represented by our Popular Prem- ium Policy, a broad, economical kind of insurance which has no equal as a “worry saver.” Assures payment of doctor's bills, expenses, “and a little besides.” No physi- cal examination required. Pay- ments sure and prompt. Isa fire insurance in case of death by accident. Agents Wanted Everywhere Fill out and return coupon below for farther particulars, Empire State Surety Company 84 William Street, New York Offices in all important Cities, Address .... “HUNTER BALTIMORE RYE TESTED BY TIME AND STILL THE FAVORITE, THE PUREST TYPE OF THE American Gentleman's Whiskey Sokl at all Grst-ctas WM. LANAHAN AMAR cle Bonus DE PRIV'LEGE 0” PENCE—va-Ha! Uncle Bonus (later) puttin’ tay’ DAT STARIN’ OVER DE FENCE AT ME! 1 MAIN’T DONE NUFFIN’ $36 MAN GIMME TWO DOLLAMS FO" DAT BICYCLE ON MUM CAANAN | WHtA’S. G’LONG orr— A la Tennyson he bachelor hath a Twere better t shackled to a To be forever loves and lost zing wife, and bossed Ci d News Frances, aged four, is not always as good is frequent held up as a model by France's n Always in her prayers Frances as “dear God” to help her to be a good girl ead morrow, but one night, after having beca tried by hearing a recital of Dorothy’ she s: nd, dear God, please m: a naughty little girl! * Field Club” Quarter sizes. FIELD CLUB—The newest type of a perfect fitting close front collar that—IS RIGHT. Corliss-Coon Hand Made Collars 2 for 25¢ ‘The hand made collars talked about. They do ther own demonstrating for style, fit and lasting qualites That is why so many men who care prefr— Corliss-Coon Collars. [At most all the best shops everywhere. Send ior new style book, showing sii the latest shapes Si will help you ‘in your collar’ sel Corliss, Coon & Co., Dept. J, Troy. N.Y. had dran in vo bases Th kings matic of Li We week much that imag who tracti comicbooks.com