Life, 1909-11-11 · page 21 of 36
Life — November 11, 1909 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a whimsical carnival illustration with commentary on anti-tobacco campaigns. **The Cartoon:** Shows a "Grand Hall of Wonders" carnival midway with exaggerated characters—a large-headed figure, skeletal performer, and various attractions. The dialogue between "Benjamin Buzzy" and "Mr. Humbug" jokes that running such a show is troublesome because the "skeleton dude" keeps demanding long pants (suggesting the skeleton performer's physical deterioration or scandalous appearance). **The Article:** Discusses an upcoming anti-tobacco reform movement. It argues tobacco is "doomed" because Americans are obsessed with Marathon races (likely referring to the athletic craze of the era), and tobacco allegedly harms athletic performance. The piece humorously recounts how 19th-century bishops allegedly smoked in secret, while modern women now smoke cigarettes openly—implying this represents progress for women's suffrage. The satire mocks both anti-tobacco crusaders and changing social norms around smoking and gender, presenting tobacco reform as inevitable yet somewhat absurd.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: Yan nrorn (adh Benjamin Buzzy: 1 SUPVOSE. 11'S A MEAP OF TROURLE TO RUN A BIG SHOW LIKE T Mr, Humbug: wei! 1 SHOULD GUESS YES, WHEN THE SKELETON DUDE, FOR INSTANCE, KEEPS KICKING FOR LONG PANTS. Tabaces ing that cach bishop immediately upon retiring to his room at night promptly began to smoke up his chimney. Bishops HE Mpaign st tobacco will soon be on. Signs are are not so pa jar now They smoke in full view of their not lacking that this is to be the next reform move parishes. In smoking cigarettes, ladies have recently become ment. nent. T! cems to be a corollary to the woman suf For one thing, tobacco is not good for Marathon races: and as everybody in this country is either running a Mara- Cigars are usually divided into three classes, namely: Those thon race, or soon will be, tobacco is doomed. you buy when you are feeling rich, those you buy when yo Smoking was first practiced by the Indians, and then spre are feeling poor, and the ones given to you by friends. The to England and Scotland. Sir Walter Scott tells of a num best friend is always the one who permits you to smoke your ber of bishops mecting in a country house, and of discover: own cigars if you want to comicbooks.com