Life, 1912-04-04 · page 27 of 80
Life — April 4, 1912 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical dictionary definitions mocking contemporary American institutions and the "First of April" humor section. The **"Addenda for the Up-to-Date Britannica"** offers mock definitions attacking: - **Theatre**: A temple for the "Lost Tribes of Israel" (likely referencing poor Jewish theater attendance or stereotypes) - **Vivisection/Vaccination**: Anti-scientific mockery, linking medical advancement to "aboriginal torture" - **Police Force**: An ethnic jab at Irish officers ("Ancient Order of Hibernians"), with "Theodore" likely referencing Theodore Roosevelt - **Magazine**: Self-deprecating joke about ads overwhelming content - **Church**: Satirizing Easter hat fashion over spiritual purpose The **"What Chance Had He?"** cartoon shows a man confronting his mirror reflection—a visual pun about self-recognition or vanity. The accompanying dialogue involves Perry, a water-bottling agent sent to Kentucky, implying he received an unfair, undesirable assignment. The **"First of April"** cartoon depicts April Fools' pranks (a brick wall surprise). Overall, the page ridicules religious hypocrisy, xenophobia, anti-scientific attitudes, and commercialism—typical early 1900s *Life* magazine satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Addenda For the Up-to-Date “ Britannica” "HEATRE (city version): 1. A Temple erected to per- petuate the memory of the Lost Tribes of Israel. 2. me for the victims of a most obnoxious disease, the * look Worm hence the expression common thereto, et the Hook.” Vivisection. 1. Jurisprudence term for Murder in the ond Degree. 2. Constitution of a Secret Society (Med- “The Sons of Herod.” Motto: “ For the Slaughter the Innocent.” Vaccination. 1. A Totem—worshiped with supersti- us awe by the descendants of American Savages. 2. An , istent form of aboriginal torture forced upon those owed” into submission through ignorance. Potice Force. 1. Slang for Ancient Order of Hiber- ns. PaTRon Saint—TheodoRe—wielder of the big tick.” 2. Term used to denote the most respectable . Club” men about town. Macazixe. 1. A popular puzzle—wherein a few sheets i closely printed reading matter are cleverly concealed letween masses of advertisements. Object: To discover the former. TION (accent on the antepenult). Latin—con, ntus, wind—hence, convention. 1. A. benevo- _. lent association for the support of needy hotel-keepers. | fag » A Shell or Three Pea game, P meaning President. ( Note—You are allowed three guesses and then you lose.) Cnurcn. 1. Slang expression for “Working to beat Mell.” 2, A Salon—for display of gowns, hats, etc. Head What Chance Had He? arters in America for Easter millinery. ER HATS CONTINUE TO Grow J.P.M. ILL : So you consider that your last employers treated you, unfairly? Perry: Worse than that! I was an agent for their bottled water and they gave me Kentucky for my dis- THE FIRST OF APRIL AKER: Manning’s operation has been postponed in- definitely. Barker: Why's that? Baker: His surgeon's wife has inherited a large for- tune. UNE GRANDE PASSION comicbooks.com