Life, 1913-04-24 · page 20 of 48
Life — April 24, 1913 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story uses allegory to critique American society's treatment of social problems. "The Underworld"—personified as a disreputable woman—represents crime, vice, and urban poverty. Miss Columbia (America itself) initially advises her to remain authentic, but the public becomes fascinated by her "as a sensation." The Underworld becomes a celebrity: newspapers cover her, society ladies attend her, clergy attempt reform. But her newfound fame goes to her head—she buys fine clothes, adopts airs, and snubs her old associates. Within months, public interest evaporates, and she's abandoned and forgotten, returning to obscurity. The satire targets American society's superficial interest in social reform. The public treats serious problems as entertainment rather than issues requiring genuine solutions. Once the novelty fades, they abandon their concern entirely. The cartoon's caption reference to "Hebrew Boys" suggests moral/spiritual judgment on this cycle of exploitation and discard.
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832 The Passing of the Underworld JHE Underworld had at last come to her own and was ail in a flutter. “To think,” she murmured, “that I should be taken up by so- ciety! It seems almost too good to be true. How shall I act?” “Be just as natural as possible,” re- plied Miss Columbia, who was on hand to assist. “But shall I not get some new clothes? Surely my appearance is against me.” “You don’t understand _ these things,” said Miss Columbia, who had had a long experience catering to the American people. “ They are not after your clothes. They want to see you just as you are.” “But I present a truly horrible ap- pearance. You see, I have been down- trodden and kept in obscurity for so long that I am really disgraceful.” “ My dear girl, that is precisely what they love. They are after a sensation, They want something new.” Thus it happened that the Under- world was placed upon public exhibi- tion. She rode about in automobiles; she attended festivals; she went to the theatre; she became one of the great pets of the press. In fact, they grew quite dependent upon her and n stopped admiring her and de- scribing her remarkable features. And what a pleasure the Underworld pro- vided for young girls! It helped them. so in their conversations! Several months later the Under- world met Miss Columbia again. “Ah!” exclaimed the latter. “I see you are all the rage. Even the clergy are trying to reform you. That never happens, my dear, unless one has been well advertised beforehand. But beware!" The Underworld shrugged her shoul- ders. To be candid, her head was being turned. To have bishops resting at her feet; to have society ladies fan- ning her; to be lectured about by women's clubs, and to be the feature of magazine articles—all this was ex- tremely disintegrating. “Pooh!” said the Underworld. “Nobody can touch me. I am the “LPPE: . lioness of the day. Isn't it grand to be jar? I am the chief protagonist theatre, in the home and in the church.” And then the Underworld went off and bought a lot of fine clothes. She began to dress in style. When shook hands she did it at an eleva- tion of forty-five degrees; and she be- gan dictating her autobiography for the most enterprising magazine editor. “Nothing can happen to me now,” smiled the Underworld, as she de- liberately snubbed a cotillion and two old church fairs who were passing. “Tam the main guy.” It was six months later. Miss Co- lumbia, on her way to attend the Eugenic Congress, passed a poor old bedraggled figure, shambling along one of the side streets. “Where are you going?” she called. The Underworld brushed away a tear. “Back where I belong,” she whis- pered, “They have turned upon me. It is all over. Nobody notices me any more. There is more of me than there ever was, and I am as bad as I ever was, but they do not seem to care. What have I done?” Miss Columbia smiled. She was used to this sort of thing, however, so she did not shed a tear. “My dear girl,” she replied. “In- WT Zc eo FROM LIFE'S COLLECTION OF OLD PRINTS THC HEBREW BOYS ENTER THE FIERY FURNACE ¥ comicbooks.com