Life — July 7, 1910 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Life" - The Game This satirical piece critiques high-society gambling and its moral consequences. The header illustration shows figures dancing around the word "LIFE," suggesting frivolous entertainment. The poem describes poker game participants with unflattering stereotypes—"the Dealer," "the Man Next to Him," "the Opener," "the Bluffer"—each representing recognizable social types engaged in card games. The illustration below shows a well-dressed man (likely a wealthy gambler) sitting while others around him appear distressed or involved in the aftermath of gambling losses. The caption reads "ANOTHER SETBACK TO THE CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE," indicating this satirizes not just gambling but the broader moral corruption of upper-class leisure. The piece mocks how respectable society members engaged in vice while publicly supporting temperance movements—highlighting perceived hypocrisy of the era.