Life, 1912-12-19 · page 25 of 40
Life — December 19, 1912 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts a father and child viewing art in a gallery, with the caption "They will get a square meal if daddy's picture is sold"—mocking both art dealers' commercialism and struggling artists' desperation. The text contains several satirical "courts" that use legal terminology for romantic/social situations (e.g., "Court of Last Resort" = wooing an old maid), poking fun at both the legal system and courtship customs. Most pointedly, "An Imperative Need" uses football metaphors to mock the Democratic Party's recent assumption of power (likely following an election), comparing political jockeying for office positions to a violent rugby match. It suggests Democrats are so chaotic they need football experts to establish rules preventing injuries—satirizing the party as disorganized and cutthroat. The "Up-to-Date Methods" section makes dark jokes about cremation, suggesting Americans are dying in accidents (the New Haven train wreck reference) without waiting for natural death.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THEY WILL GET A SQUARE MEAL IF DADDY'S PICTURE IS SOLD The Courts OURT of Last Resort—Wooing an old maid. Criminal Court—Where not Cupid, presides. Circuit Court—Flirtations of a trav- eling man. Superior Court—The first one. Inferior Court—The last one, Probate Court—Wooing a widow with a will. Intermediate Court—Summer resort affairs. Up-to-Date Methods PARAGRAPH in the Sun from Berlin states that cremation is making progress in Germany, there having been a considerable increase during the last twelve months. The Cupidity, same thing is true of England, Italy and Japan We ourselves are not so far be- hind. The other day seven passengers were cremated on the New Haven Road. We are ahead of the rest of the world in the fact that we do not always wait for people to die. An Imperative Need OW that the season of formal football is over, it is to be hoped that our football experts will find time to draw up suitable rules to cover the present scramble for office. The sud- den accession of the Democrats to power has brought on a scrimmage which is sure to result in great loss of life and limb, unless such things as hitting below the belt, flying wedges, intricate mass plays, et cetera, are strictly debarred. Only the football experts are equal to the task. Let them tackle it without delay. | | te BASEBALL TALK “Ie was thrown out at home, after making a dazzling hit” comicbooks.com