Life, 1925-10-22 · page 16 of 74
Life — October 22, 1925 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon depicts a torch-light political procession from the 1890s era. The caption explains the historical context: in that period, a man's political allegiance was strictly hereditary—changing parties was socially scandalous, potentially placing one "beyond the pale of society along with murderers and highwaymen." The crowd carries protest signs advocating for tariff policies, a major political debate of that era. The satire targets the rigidity of party loyalty, suggesting that switching political sides was considered worse than serious crime. The "Gay Nineties" title ironically references this supposedly carefree decade while highlighting its social intolerance regarding political independence. The detailed crowd scene captures the public pressure and social conformity that enforced partisan loyalty during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A TORCI-LIGHT PROCESSION IN THE DAYS WHEN A MAN'S POLITICS WAS IRREVOCABLY DECIDED BY HEREDITY. \ DEMOCRAT— THE PALE OF SOCIETY A DEMCCKAT, ALWAYS “ HATTAWANNA know ammigettin fattoramml ?” “Wella liketa say Tessie frennayours Smac wooden “Mehipsis somethin tearabil ainney? Idunno shoudda towa dyet.” dowexacisis awtake- “Chadowem bothan gettitovawit?” “Welliffadone cisis — Iwoodbesa hungry Iwoodensticktowa dyct annifl wennonnadyet Iwood besaweak Icood- endome exacisis. Idunno whattado an mehipsis somethin tearabil. — Iminna delimma.” ’ “Wellya wooden notisit swell. Chacat onnis dyet ric itlooks BARDS 657 vag PAfrKe TARIE THE GAY NINETIES OoNcE AND JOINING THE OPPOSITION OR SPLITTING YOUR TICKET PUT YOU BEYOND . ‘ Lessons in New Yorkese Avoirdupois “Awrinch joosanna lamchoppan as- pyrene tablits.” Fgossakes thawood givva id thawood.” “Welll gotta star traducin Tessie me- hipsis somethin tearabil. Feelim!” atry rollin dee “Whawood crapshootin dofamakinme thinna yadodo?” “Notrollinna bones Smac fat. Gedownonna flawr.” “Gojumpinna lake! — Atrollinstuffsa bunk yaonny gefatta offt. Mefra dyet. “Wellifya astme Ishasay yawas juss- pleasinlyplump butcha gotta idee ya too fattan nubuddys gonnatellya diffrint.” jeebies towa canayry rollinna ALONG WITH) MURDERERS AND HIGHWAYMEN “Anatsat. Imgowin onna dyet. Me- hipsis somethin tearabil. Feelim!” “Awyawurry toomuch ! “WemmaybeyIdo. Anwithallis gab- bin metroatsas drysa herons, Chasay wegettus acoupla frawstid chawklits?” “Wattaboutchadyet “Owatsrite! ducin rinow, Mehipsis somethin tear- abil. Yougechewa frawstid chawklit annlll jusstakea chawklit soda.” Henry William Hanemann Fable NCE upon a time there was a fish ing anecdote that was not a fable. fgossakes?” Imijussaswell startra- comicbooks.com