Life, 1914-07-23 · page 7 of 40
Life — July 23, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes two topics: **"The Up-to-date Version"** mocks a casual visitor who admits never reading the Bible but claims knowledge of it through "moving-picture stories." The joke targets modern audiences substituting cinema for actual reading—a relevant concern when film was still relatively new. **"The Remedy for Hunger"** presents a darker satirical commentary on child poverty in New York. The text sarcastically suggests hungry schoolchildren should simply "go on a hunger strike, to refuse to eat" to pressure authorities into feeding them—positioning starvation as a protest tactic. The accompanying image labeled "FATE" appears to show a domestic scene, likely illustrating the serious consequences of such deprivation. The piece critiques both child poverty and authorities' indifference to it.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Up-to-date Version GHOCKED VISITOR: Do you mean to say, Bobbie, that you have never read the Bible? Bosse (trying to keep up appearances): Well, I may not have read it, but I know what it is, all right. “Well, what is it?” “Why, it’s the book they get moving-picture stories from.” The Remedy for Hunger WE are told that many children in New York go to school hungry. If so, it is their own fault, The remedy lies in their own hands, or it would if our authori- ties are anything like the English authorities, and we have no doubt they would be found so if brought to the test. It is only necessary for the children to go on a hunger strike, to refuse to eat. That will entail upon the authori- ties the necessity of feeding them forcibly. PATE THE FIRST MAN ARRIVES AS SHE STARTS FOR HOME comicbooks.com