Life, 1914-09-17 · page 45 of 48
Life — September 17, 1914 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes a common domestic annoyance: a man lying prone while children on tricycles and scooters chase him. The title "Fatty's Always the Goat" uses "goat" in the period slang sense of "scapegoat" or victim—suggesting an overweight man is perpetually the target of mischief or ridicule. The humor relies on physical comedy and social observation typical of early 20th-century Life magazine. The corpulent man's vulnerable position and passive acceptance of the children's pursuit mocks both his size and his haplessness. The satire is gentle and character-based rather than political—poking fun at a recognizable social type: the out-of-shape, beleaguered figure who becomes an easy target. The surrounding advertisements (beauty products, shipping lines, delicacies) suggest this was aimed at an affluent, leisured readership amused by such observations of everyday foibles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Just th Delicate Tint that the woman of refinement desires, is given by Ingram’s Rouge. Superfine—perfumed —invisible—‘‘ makes dainty pink cheeks,’” Ingrants Rouge Price at Drag Stores or by Mail 50¢ Two Shades—Brunette and Flesh—in hand- some box with Powder Puff The woman who gives thought to her appear- ance finds some degree of added color advan- tageous. Ingram’s Rouge has gained vogue due to the unusual delicacy of effect obtained. It gives the -glow of life without obtruding the source. Send 2c postage to cover cost of mail- ing and receive free a sample of Ingram's Rouge, and four other Ingram toilet articles. for cash, it being grabbed up by a rerspiring person two places away— one of those impossible people, I imagine, who never make arrange- ments ahead, and always somehow manage to get a place somewhere. He hurried off for the train, and I, baggage in hand, proceeded calmly out of the station to go home—not without a sense of exaltation. For had I not sacrificed a materialistic journey for a principle and thus pre- served my peace of mind? As I was proceeding leisurely along a hand was placed on my shoulder from the rear. Turning I looked into the face of the man whose wife had my berth, “What's the matter he gasped. Excuse me—but aren't you going to Montreal?” “No, sir.” “Why not?” “Well, sir, if you must know, I Best in the world at a fair price—not cheapest regardless of quality. A nail which breaks under the head permit- and expense for ~tested and proved in actui than a quarter of a century: Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. Frequent Sailings, India, China, Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Winter Tours in India. | Round World Tours. For full information apply Cunard Line, 21-24 State St. New York. never sleep in upper berths. I couldn't flatly refuse to give up my berth to your wife without making some feel- ing, causing me probable annoyance and loss of sleep. And so I have just put off my journey until to-morrow night.” The man, paralyzed with astonish- ment, gazed at me for a moment Mankly, My logic, my superb calm- ress, were too much for him. Finally he thought he had discovered a plan. “T'm awfully sorry I've caused you any inconvenience,” he said. “It’s too had, but—if you'd only told me at the time, I should have been glad to pay for the whole section—to take it off your hands. That's just what we anted, anyway. I would gladly have paid you for that upper berth. Pos- sibly you sold it to some one else.” Here, evidently, was a genuinely mean man, a man who was so natur- ally mean that he didn’t even know it. First to have the nerve to ask me to give up my lower berth, and then to be sorry that I didn’t let him have the upper also. Being a philosopher, however, his meanness didn’t irritate me in the least. I rather enjoyed examining this specimen under such favorable circumstances. Besides, I saw an object hurrying through the station toward us that I thought I recognized. And the Montreal train was just pulling out. Well, you see, sir,” I explained, if I had done that you might not have understood—I should have had to explain, whereas—" At this moment his wife broke in upon us, bag in hand. Her thunder- ‘We'll please vou or refund your money DAVIS DELICACIES From Ocean, Farm and Orchard The best fish in the world are brought into Gloucester. We get the first selection and de- liver them to you fresh from the boats, in keepable packages, with the sea flavor retained. The best vegetables in the world are brought to our dock, after being packed, according to our standard, where they grow, in order to assure proper freshness. The best fruits in the world are unloaded at our wharf from Native Orchards, the South, the Pacific Coast and Across the Seas. No matter where you live, we guarantee to bring to your door Nature's choicest products trom Ocean, Farm and Orchard, packed as they grew and packed to keep. OUR SEA FOODS range from Mackerel (1 salted), Codfah Uresh ‘realty Salmons. Lobsters Crabs, Clams and Shrimp of our native waters. to the geeciaties of Italy, France, Portugal and the North ‘ort. OUR FARM PRODUCTS include all the good things that trow in oF near the ground, epecial cures of acon, meats, England poor veg ts, pork and beans and other New OUR ORCHARD SPECIALTIES are gathered from the selected crops of American and more Tropical Chimes. All are of a quality rarely found in even the best market te vend 4 fe are 0 send, upon - scriptive pricelist telling of the many ape- La “at, ies we handle and how best toenioy _# “eo nXine™ ‘i Our free Book of Receipts, owe cs isan authority. Fill out coupon A ee today and begin to get your ‘S ; thare of these unusual. 6 Os delicacies oe RO