Life, 1911-02-09 · page 27 of 44
Life — February 9, 1911 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page profiles cartoonist Ferdinand G. Long, featuring a biographical interview and two illustrations of his work. **Top cartoon:** Shows Long surrounded by anthropomorphized cats and dogs displaying human emotions and behaviors—the subject he's known for depicting. This illustrates his stated specialty: giving animals realistic human attributes that appeal to readers' sympathies. **Bottom cartoon:** Labeled "Suffragette: How Did You Manage It?" appears to be Long's actual cartoon work. It depicts a well-dressed woman (likely a suffragette activist) surrounded by admiring figures in a domestic scene, with the caption suggesting she's successfully "managed" something—possibly gaining social status or influencing others. This reflects early 20th-century American attitudes toward women's suffrage activists, treating the subject with gentle humor rather than hostility. The profile emphasizes Long's career trajectory from aspiring lawyer to successful illustrator across major publications, establishing him as an accomplished cartoonist of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ferdinand G. Long T would not be too much to say that Mr. Long leads a cat and dog life. Certainly no one else has succeeded so well in surrounding his creations with real human attributes. No matter what they are doing—these cats and dogs of Mr. Long’s—they invariably appeal to one’s sympathies. And Mr. Long’s career illustrates one—but let him talk for himself. “Yes,” he admitted feelingly, “1 was designed for the Presidency. Everybody—even my parents—admit- ted it.” “When did this happen?” “In Kansas City, where I was born -LIFE- Life’s Family Album Suffragette : HOW DID YOU MANAGE IT? August 24, 1870. I hated to be an artist—but I couldn’t help it.” “You began as——” “A lawyer. I studied law in Harv- ard, but even there I found myself con- tributing to the Lampoon. Then J _ went on to New York and studied three months in the Art Students’ League. From there I went on the Evening World, where for fourteen years I drew cartoons. Incidentally, I did work for the London Express. 1 centributed also to the Woman's Home Companion, Harper's and the Century. “Married, Mr. Long?” “ Married, two boys, and live in Flat- bush.” comicbooks.com