Life, 1914-01-29 · page 4 of 40
Life — January 29, 1914 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon:** "What Has Papa Done?" depicts a child spanking an adult man in a chair—a role reversal suggesting the man has misbehaved. The cartoon accompanies text titled "We Hate to Tell You," which defends a misbehaving boy by criticizing his father ("Papa"), suggesting the father bears responsibility for the child's poor behavior. **Context:** This appears to be satirical social commentary on parental responsibility and discipline, popular themes in early 20th-century American humor. The joke inverts expectations: rather than children being punished, the parent is portrayed as deserving punishment. **Additional Content:** The page includes "The Proper Number," announcing Life's Proper Number issue (March 5) with 20,000 copies and subscription information. The satire targets parental accountability rather than specific political figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Proper Number March 5 will mark a new era in American morals, this being the date set for Lire’s Proper Num- ber, of which there will be issued some 300,000 copies. To gather the material for this number is a monumental task. Not being able to supply it our- selves, we have had to call in strangers. The cover has the title “ Break Away!” The scene of the center- page cartoon is laid in the Garden of Eden. We know more about this num- ber. We could tell if we wanted to. March 5. Don't order from your newsdealer in advance. ‘ou don’t have to. He knows his business. What Has Papa Done? We Hate to Tell You. Some people are so mean there’s no use. You can’t reform them. This little boy is doing the best he can. Don’t blame him. His energies are misdirected, but at least there is something in good intentions. Poor Papa! Aren’t you sorry for him? Certainly not. Why should you be sorry for any man whose little boy asks him to send only one dollar for a three months’ subscription to LIFE and who was so lost to human sentiment; wit, humor, etc., that he re- fused. Papa is getting what’s coming to him. In obeying that impulse and filing out the coupon to right, be sure and give your address. Signing the order “Yours as ever, Jim” fills us with de- light on account of the friendly sentiment. But it has its drawbacks, so far as Jin is’ concerned. Enclosed find One Dol- Jar (Canadian 13, Foreign St. Send Live for three months to Open only to new subscribers; no j subscription renewed at this rate. LIFE, — West sist Street, New York One Year, $5.00. (Canadian $5.52. Foreign $6.04) comicbooks.com