Life, 1883-02-01 · page 12 of 16
Life — February 1, 1883 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Brotherly Love" - Life Magazine Satire The main cartoon depicts a young man (Richard) driving a horse-drawn sleigh at night with a young woman (Ella). The caption's humor lies in its innuendo: Richard ostensibly travels twelve miles in winter to obtain cough drops for his sick brother, but the final line reveals the satire—"one arm will be sufficient for that purpose" once the moon sets, implying romantic activity rather than errand-running. This mocks courtship customs of the era, where young couples used pretexts to be alone together. The "brotherly love" title ironically contrasts the stated innocent purpose with the actual romantic intent. The page also contains various satirical quips about Wall Street speculation, checkers, shopping, and literary titles with humorous "explanations"—typical of Life magazine's witty, brief social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BROTHERLY LOVE. Ser Ricuarp! FOR HIS LITTLE BROTHER, WHO IS SICK. HOLDING ON TO THE HORSES WITH BOTH ARMS. HE 1S GOING TO DRIVE TWELVE MILES THIS W ELLA 1S WITH HIM, ‘TER NIGHT TO SOME GUM DROPS ELLA IS NOT HIS SISTER. RICHARD IS NOW LITTLE LATER, WHEN THE MOON GETS BELOW THE HORIZON, ONE ARM WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR THAT PURPOSE, describes, he was allowed to give his testimony, which may be summarized as follows: ‘‘ Corners are sometimes demoraliz- ing, still, they havetheir uses. They kill off the small, -puny speculator, thus aiding the survival of the fittest. They keep things stirring, and benefit the public at large, but are unsatis- factory to those who make them, That's the reason people who make them keep on doing it ; they want to sce if it won't be more satisfactory next time. The cornerist sacrifices himself for the advantage of others, Your monopolists in America are an op- pressed class, They ought to receive government pensions, so that they could afford to keep setting up corners for the general good. We might then look for a great period of corneresque architecture, with cheap and happy homes for all.” The Senate committee cut him short, saying that they didn’t care to hear any more, and would negotiate with him for the rest of his discourse as a “ future "—provided that future were as re- mote as possible. S. Laturop. MISFORT He found a bottle in the street— But water is not good to eat. MORAL, Of all sad words we ever hear, The saddest are these, ‘‘ It is not beer !” ‘THE squarest game played.—Checkers. Buyotocy.—The Science of shopping. DovuBLe-LEADED matter.—A man twice shot. APOTHECARIES’ maxim.—The labor we delight in physics pain. Amonc the Society of Friends it is the Earth Quaker who usually takes the shake. Q. E. D—WuHeREIN does the course of true love re- semble that of a New Jersey railroad ? ‘Tue Turf Club has decided that a professional book- maker, after making his book, shall consider his engage- ments binding. PopuLaR SuPeRSTITION.—When the man with a little bill calls, if the servant tells him you are in, it is very unlucky. RECENT FICTION. WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES. “A ReverREND Idol.”—Off on his summer vacation. “Tue House of a Merchant Prince.”—The tomb or the Tombs. “Mr. Isaacs.”—Dot goat vids you lige dot baber on dot vall ! “Tue Portrait of a Lady."—Yours for health. comicbooks.com