Life — April 17, 1884 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "How About Thee?" - Life Magazine Cartoon Analysis This page contains two vertically-oriented satirical illustrations about dining etiquette. The caption poses the question "How about thee?" and references arrangements for a dinner party, mentioning that "they have gone to dinners" and noting concerns about "who is a hard worker." The cartoons appear to satirize social anxieties around proper dinner conduct and seating arrangements among the upper-middle class. The figures are depicted in formal attire in domestic dining settings, suggesting social pretension or awkwardness around hospitality protocols. However, without clearer identification of specific individuals or dated historical context, the exact political or social references remain unclear. The humor seems to rely on contemporary readers' familiarity with specific social situations or personalities referenced here.