Life, 1910-03-31 · page 7 of 46
Life — March 31, 1910 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page critiques early 20th-century American morality and social conditions through two pieces: **"Mamma's New Marching Costume"** (top illustration) depicts a woman in military/suffrage-style dress, likely commenting on women's rights activism or changing social roles, though the specific reference is unclear without more context. **"Bad Air—A Product"** (right column) is a scathing essay attacking pollution and poor air quality as endemic American problems affecting all social classes—from wealthy to poor, children to the elderly. The text sarcastically treats bad air as a natural resource or commodity, "manufactured in this country in larger quantities" than elsewhere. It's a sharp indictment of industrial pollution and its societal tolerance. The small locomotive cartoon ("Truth Crushed to Earth") appears to satirize how truth is suppressed or ignored by powerful interests.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mamma's New Marching Costume. Libellous A moral man will go to heaven, + but no one will ever name a brand of cigars after him.—The Baltimore Sun. HAT is the first reflection we have ever scen in print on the moral character of the late George W. Childs. We hope the Philadelphia Ledger, for old time's sake, will de- nounce the Baltimore Sun. “TRUTH CRUSTED TO PARTIE” Bad Air—A Product HILE not exclusively a product of the United States, bad air is manufactured in this country in larger quan- tities than anywhere else Yet the supply rarely exceeds the demand, and everybody is building more places where it can be confined and kept within the reach of all Everybody is making bad air, working day and night to produce it The uses of bad air are innumerable. It is employed to bring up children in and old people cannot get along without it. Mine owners cry for it, and in the midst of it school children receive their educations. Bad air is not confined to any class. It is cultivated by the rich as well as the poor It is alike used by babies and octo: ans. Banks supply it and printing offices are never without it Bad air is one of our chief assets Storxs rush in where dollars fear to tread. comicbooks.com