Life, 1910-11-17 · page 18 of 44
Life — November 17, 1910 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents two satirical pieces about Satan. The upper text humorously catalogs Satan's diminished status in the modern era—once commanding respect, he now receives "incense only from a few automobiles" and has been outmaneuvered by industrial captains in making deals. The lower cartoon, titled "A H—L of a Family," uses Satan as a vehicle to mock contemporary political ideologies. Each family member is labeled with an "-ist" or "-ite" designation: Papa is a "Standpatter" (conservative), Mamma a "Prohibitionist," Mama a "Suffragette," and various siblings identified as Democrat, Socialist, Insurgent, etc. The cartoon satirizes how diverse, conflicting political movements all exist under one roof—suggesting they're all equally damnable or equally ridiculous depending on one's viewpoint. The implication: all these competing political factions are Satan's brood, united in chaos. This reflects early 20th-century American anxiety about proliferating ideologies and social movements.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
862 Satan NDER the titles of Prince of Darkness, Prince of the Powers of the Air, Lucifer, Beclzebub, The Devil, this personage hus played a prominent part in the affairs of hu- manity inrough all the ages since the Garden of Eden, yet very litte is known of him definitely to this day. When fallen from his first estate of an angel of light he was still of such importance that even archangels “ durst not bring against him a railing accusation.’’ All nations have re- garded him with the greatest respect and reverence and he has been worshipped by many. In this prosaic twentieth cen- tury, however, he has fallen’ so low that he receives the ven- eration only of a few savage tribes; some deny his very exist- ence; and his only incense comes from a few automobiles. We may do away with him altogether. Very persevering (as the kindly old woman said), a model of industry, he works all winter and all summer as well, taking a0 vacation when churches are closed and preachers away. The driver of sharp bargains, he has often been outdone by acute humans, his superiors in shrewdness, like Dr. Faustus, and the man whose shadow only he got. Our Captains of In- dustry would not take such risks and could give him points generally on deals. Some of them are said to beat the devil Under the title of “ Tempter,"? he occupies the position of scapegoat and apologist for humanity, relieving them from all personal responsibility. The close personal friend, familiar and guide of many prominent people in all ages, he was sufficiently well acquainted with Dante, Milton and—in this age of anti-climax—Marie Corelli, for them to write full biographies of him. The originator of many curious and wicked fashions, as Nero’s living torches, auto-da-fes and other gentle methods for the conversion of heretics in all ages, the Salem Witch- craft, Paris Commune, he is also interested in up-to-date mat- ters like Russian pogroms and viviscction. An inventor of instruments of torture in all ages, his latest cuecesses are the phonoeraph and telephone. BAOTHER- MAMMA JOIN. “ AN PROWBITINISY, INSURCENT, Yt. 7 B® i QR: wae’ ees; fara . STANDPATTERL ) fix, FOR AERONAUTS. EXCLUSIVELY TO FEEL THEMSELVES AS OTITERS FEEL THEM BROTHER BROTHER JIM. fi A DEMOCRAT. a A SocrauisT,| L OF A FAMILY comicbooks.com