Life — March 2, 1916 — page 26: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains six separate satirical cartoons commenting on contemporary social issues: 1. **"Western Convicts to Have Music at Meals"** - Mocks prison reform. 2. **"Mr. Common People Gets a Raw Deal"** - Shows ordinary citizens excluded from dining/privileges. 3. **"Fat Men Barred from Civil Service Examinations"** - Satirizes government employment discrimination based on physical appearance. 4. **"The Passing of Longfellow's Birthplace"** - Appears to critique demolition of historical sites. 5. **"John Bull Sings a Serenade"** - References Britain (John Bull as national symbol), likely political commentary. 6. **"Hughes Gets a Leap-Year Proposal"** and **"No Wagner Music for Prose"** - Unclear without fuller context, but involve courtship and cultural references. The cartoons use exaggeration and caricature to criticize government policies, class divisions, and social absurdities of the era.