Life, 1883-06-14 · page 6 of 16
Life — June 14, 1883 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "Sprinstide" Cartoon This satirical cartoon depicts working-class men debating summer vacation plans during what appears to be the late 19th or early 20th century. The humor centers on their limited options: they mention "no show up town" because "houses all shet up tight," suggesting wealthy residents flee the city in summer, leaving no employment opportunities. The men propose visiting various locations (Brandy, Newport, Saratoga, Cape May) in increasingly sarcastic tones, clearly unable to afford such fashionable resort destinations. The final punchline—"ain't no more'n fair / Fur our health and sperets, Bill, / Ter hev a change of air"—satirizes the working poor's inability to access the same leisure time and travel privileges as the wealthy, despite needing respite equally.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ry ene ‘sa leavin’ town , eS a Soy here 2—well, V guess not, . 4 éZ i 6. t ; Si RIN 5 (ib E Where shallvege this Summer, : s getty’ blarsted he rile ok i | ce 2. ; sted het, Nes . - % tL, jf i if te me f ! " yw, N © Show vp Town yer know Bite, 3 Houses all shet up Tight, , , Most the folks as | kelous wel Lets ry the Branch yan Newport, Hes puit, —cantgeta bite Take m Sarifegy ,— wy - Ley Cape Me 2 -well, le’me see :- Aint hel abit old fopy 2 Y So where ll ir be this eG ‘ on It aint no more'n fair 7 5 for ovr health and sperets,ByLL in Te hev a change of air. Sree Coy eRe “a & comicbooks.com