Life, 1910-11-17 · page 11 of 44
Life — November 17, 1910 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece critiques crime in early 20th-century New York, specifically Manhattan. The main cartoon shows a portly man being robbed by street criminals while onlookers watch. The accompanying poem mocks the casual acceptance of theft in the city—the narrator describes being robbed at a saloon called the "Wisteria," having his wallet cleaned out by thieves and his watch stolen. The satire targets urban lawlessness and the prevalence of street robbery in Manhattan, portraying it as so commonplace that respectable citizens expect to be victimized. The side comic strip about two men meeting in "Hell" extends the joke: crime is so rampant that criminals and their victims will inevitably encounter each other in the afterlife.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UE’LL NEVER LET Go Speakin’ of Robbers Hez my stickpin! You kin confiscate my Injun-fightin’ medals, Ere these Broadway gents an’ ladies lay me out— When Manhattan loots she does it with soft pedals,— But she puts it over Hell without a doubt! Sadie Bowman Metcalfe. YTAINT exactly thet I’m worried at your “con”? games— (Hope I've sense enough to let some varmints be)— ‘Tis your rules—thet bars a stranger startin’ gun games, Yit surrounds him thick with thieves, thet flusters me! Speak of robbers! When I stopped at this “ Wisteria,” An’ seen my bill for feed, you bet I swore— ‘Twas enough to give a strong man black hysteria, While they tacked another “extra '’—then some more! Thet ain't all! 'Twas on Broadway a gent pinned me, Seized my glad hand with a cheerful, friendly shour— “Hello, partner,’’ sez he softly, while he skinned me— ‘Tis God's truth, boys, he cleaned my wallet out! I've fit Injuns in the wilds of Arizona, Called down hoss-thieves and robbers runnin’ loose— (Hold! Thet ladylike-one in the pink kimona Boys, we'd shorely best vamoose!) “HELLO, OLD CHAP! WHERE IN HELL HAVE I MET YOU BE- ForE?"? “WHAT PART OF HELL ARE YOU FROM?’’ ~ ~ comicbooks.com