Life, 1913-08-28 · page 29 of 40
Life — August 28, 1913 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Bulgaria's apparent regression from European civilization. The text argues that despite twenty-five years of modernization—including schools, literature, and a "humane king"—Bulgaria recently "reverted to type," proving that superficial civilizing efforts cannot change a nation's inherent character. The top cartoon depicts working-class dock workers in casual, crude interaction ("Yer mudder wants yer"), suggesting ordinary people remain uncivilized regardless of societal improvements. The bottom image, captioned "Before the Bow and Arrow Age," likely references Bulgaria's recent violent actions (possibly Balkan Wars atrocities, circa 1912-1913), implying the country has abandoned modern civilization and returned to primitive brutality. The satire's point: European attempts to "civilize" non-Western nations through education and institutions are futile—suggesting deeply racist assumptions about inherent national character and capability for civilization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Hey! capt’N Kipp!" “AYE, AYE, MY Lap!” “YER MUDDER WANTS YER.” Bulgaria How long does it take a country to become civilized? A possible gauge lies in Bulgaria. It is admitted by everyone that twenty-five years ago Bulgaria was uncivilized. Up to three months ago it was supposed that the process of civilization in that country had been a success. A free school had been established, a national literature had grown up, a humane king had been brought to rule over it, and, in fact, the powers of Europe had handed over to Bulgaria a certified diploma as to its standing among civilized nations. Suddenly, however, Bul- garia, like a wicked boy who has been falsely dressed up in store clothes and appears to be good, has broken loose and experienced that distressing conversion known as “a reversion to type”. In short, twenty-five years of going to school has not done Bulgaria any good. Bul- garia is just as cruel, just as merciless, just as wicked A as ever, BEFORE THE BOW AND AKROW AGE comicbooks.com’