Life, 1915-11-04 · page 49 of 56
Life — November 4, 1915 — page 49: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks American stereotypes and misconceptions about Mexico circa 1910s. The text presents deliberately absurd, contradictory "facts"—claiming Mexico was populated by Incas from "Egypt or Siberia," that Mexican presidents spend time "killing one another's relatives," and confusing a "peon" (laborer) with a fruit. The piece ridicules American ignorance and arrogance, particularly regarding President Wilson's Mexican policy. It sardonically notes that with 50,000 troops America could "easily conquer Mexico in six weeks" but Wilson mysteriously hasn't done so—likely referencing contemporary U.S. military interventions in Mexico (1914-1917). The satire targets both American imperial attitudes and lazy stereotyping of Mexicans as idle bandits ("greasers") and lazy peasants. The accompanying cartoon (showing exaggerated caricatured figures) reinforces how Life magazine presented these prejudiced "popular conceptions" to critique them. The page is primarily advertisements, with the satirical Mexico article as the main editorial content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mexico (A Popular Conception) MEXICO is a large tand tying to- ward the south, covered with mountains and cacti; also by roving bands of idle bandits called greasers, who spend their time in cutting one another’s throats and running away from the enemy. Mexico was at one time peopled by a race of highbrow Indians called In- cas, who came from either Egypt or Siberia, and who were subdued by a man named Prescott, who afterward wrote them up in a delightful history which we have never had time to read. Afterward Prescott had the Spaniards over, and they now control the mines and railroads, except those that have been bought out by the United States and England. Mexico has several presidents who . spend their time in killing one another's relatives and succeeding one another. One of them is a man named Huerta (pronounced Werta), and he had to leave the country because Presi- dent Wilson didn’t like him. If we had an army of 50,000 men, we could easily conquer Mexico in six weeks, but for some strange reason President Wilson hasn't done this. The inhabitants of Mexico who are You Can't Lose Your Keys DANDA LEATHER KEY CASE With Your Name Stamped inGold Leat Ma Pocket 25c Picpaid | 40c torreaknite ent. clot Trained Oysters Make Pearls imeem, pee (Genuine-Guaranteed) etc Pathan Repose tormary Ucbiad the exter, New man bas harsened i and ered 4 The sama wih the eterpchn What Jou er ing thane pear ta rings, seat pine, Cartage een food tony 7 = Beary af the Pear” extaoges tad roe “arb elng, the eqatvadent th ene at B12. 45 Jolin Street, N.Y. den, House of Spec-Torske, ae ost ata. COPPER STEIN SETS pat Se Fruit and Ne or Pin! i ete, Send for Gee sonnel Se Fepousse. Glewell Stalios, L St, Canton, Obie cs = he Phie 1s t Price $0c. and $1.00 Supply your barber with a bottle for your personal use-and avoid substitutes. HAIR TONIC Keeps the hair healthy, strong and abun- dant. Refreshes — cleanses — invigor- ates the scalp. Promotes hair growth. Sold and Guaranteed by The Rexall store in every town and city. UNITED DRUG CO. Boston CHicaco Gr. Louis SAN FRAnNcisco TORONTO LIVERPOOL Pi not stabbing one another lie on the grass all day and look up at the sky and do nothing. Every Mexican wears a hat with a leather band. A Mexi- can dollar is worth anything you can get for it. There is also something in Mexico called a peon. It is a fruit of some sort and is very plentiful. Tarey London Cigarettes “ Hetxo, Bill! Glad to see you. got back from my vacation.” “Sorry, old man, I can't lend you a cent, I'm just going on mine.” —St. Louit Post-Dispatch. I just comicbooks.com