Life, 1909-06-10 · page 12 of 32
Life — June 10, 1909 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes a woman teaching young people (depicted as monkeys/apes) to use firearms in a colonial setting. The title references Alexander Pope's phrase about education ("teaching the young idea how to shoot"), creating ironic wordplay—using "shoot" literally rather than metaphorically. The joke appears to target either: 1. Women's involvement in colonial or military activities (considered unconventional for the era) 2. The absurdity of teaching violence to the inexperienced or unqualified 3. Possibly satirizing imperialist military practices abroad The accompanying story "A Side Issue" discusses romantic entanglements and social expectations. The cartoon's anthropomorphic animals may suggest primitive or uncivilized behavior, though the exact satirical target remains somewhat unclear without additional historical context about the magazine's publication date.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“TEACHING THE YOUNG IDEA HOW TO SHOOT NE of the most precarious events of a house party is the girls one draws. Naturally one cannot al- ways hold the same hand The guests must be shuffled once a day, at least My first venture was a girl in excep- tionally short skirt and tanned features. We took a walk after luncheon. “I'm going a bit stale,’ she said, throwing herself on the grass. “What's that I said, startled by the abruptness of her remark, “I'm a bit stale,” she repeated. “ It's fierce to get out of condition,”’ she added. “IT need thirty-six holes a day at least nda canter before grub in the morn- ing I'm nothing if not accommodating and it was my business to be in sym- pathy. “Oh, T see.” I replied. “1 judge that you are fond of exercise."* “It's a necessity with me. I'm soggy s dough. Why, do you know,’’ she went on, “my wind is all to the bad. Sure thing. You couldn't help me out on a set of singles, could you?’ she asked. “T haven't played tennis for years,” I replied. “ Awfully sorry —" A Side Issue “Oh, that’s all right. Much rather you'd say that than to throw a bluff. I tried it yesterday with that young chap who took me in to dinner last night Oh me, oh my! He was a rag doll, all right. Say!” She looked at me half doubtfully, as if she was wondering whether it was safe to put any confidence in me. “What do you think of this gang, any way?” You mean,’ I began, and then looked around fearfully to sce that no one was listening, “ the—er—guests? "* Yep.” I realized that here was a chance to “make good,” as she herself might s so I whispered dramatically : “ Bounders."" She smiled delightedly and nodded her head expressively, I knew T had made a ten strike. I patted myself mentally on the back to think that my visit to London had not been in vain. “That's right,’ she exclaimed, “ pie faces! I pressed my advantage. “There isn't a man in the whole crowd," I said, “that could make a five- foot putt.”* “Did you sce em on the polo ponies yesterday?" “Did I! “Wasn't it—porous?'"’ This was a term I invented on the spur of the moment, for advanced slang. She opened her eyes, and I saw it told. “Well, I should say!"" she replied en- thusiastically. “I don’t believe there's a drop of sporting blood in any of ‘em. Oh, say! Wouldn’t I like to run around the track! You know we have a fine gym at college.”” She leaned toward me slightly “What's your specialty?'” she asked. “1 wouldn't dare tell you,’’ I said. I was sparring for time. I wondered what it was myself. Somehow I felt a sense of shame creep over me at the thought that I might disappoint her. “Oh, go on," she said. “I have an idea it is something sporty.’ Why she thought so I couldn’t surmise, for, in truth, I am a mild mannered, harmless looking person. But her confi- dence in me only stimulated me to meet her expectations. I caught hold of one sleeve of the white sweater she always carried with her. “Shall I tell you?” I whispered. “Yep.” I drew her face t> mine. f comicbooks.com