Life, 1885-06-11 · page 11 of 16
Life — June 11, 1885 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 333: Social Commentary and Satire This page from Life magazine (a 19th-century satirical publication) contains several short satirical pieces: **The Main Cartoon** depicts a woman and child with the caption about a "basque" (corset). The joke plays on vanity—the aunt insists the woman look proper despite discomfort, warning "somebody might see you," mocking social pretension over comfort. **The "Remnants" Section** collects brief satirical notes: - A joke about lawyer Rufus Choate being "on the other side—of Jordan" (dead), poking fun at his involvement in the Hoyt will case - Mrs. Spriggins mocking bank depositors for trusting the "Shaky Maxon Bank," satirizing poor judgment - References to political figures Blaine and Cleveland - A New Yorker giving up a pension, deemed unpatriotic **"The Smith Family"** is a humorous poem celebrating how common the surname Smith is globally, playing on the ubiquity of this "ancient" family name. The overall tone mocks human vanity, foolishness, and social pretension through brief, pointed jabs at contemporary figures and situations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
333 REMNANTS. N the New York correspond- ence of a’ Rochester con- temporary there appears the | following statement in regard | to the Hoyt will case: | On the other side, for the family, | Wébcand Rutus Choate st | Rufus Choate is indeed very much on the other side—of Jordan. . . ° ] RS. SPRIGGINS — had been reading about the Shackamaxon Bank failure, and shortly after volunteered, the announcement to Mr. S, that “she did n't have no sympathy with the depositates who lost their money in the Shaky Maxon Bank. They'd oughter know'd she was shaky afore they put their money in.” . . . T is denied authoritatively that Mr. Blaine contem- | plates having Miss Cleveland write the second volume of his book, owing to differences with Gail Hamilton. . . . NEW YORKER by the name of Snyder has given up a $1,000 pension be- cause he thinks the Government has done enough for him. WHAT'S THAT BASQUE FOR, ALICE? Such an act is unworthy of a FoR YOU TO PUT ON, snider, and we expect to hear BuT DON’T I LOOK WELL as I AM? that he has been put upon the YES, BUT SOMEBODY MIGHT SEE YOU, Treasury Fraud Roll. THE SMITH FAMILY. | We're found in every business, we study each profession ; 4 | In every art we take a part, on science make impression, BY ONE OF EM. | For boring in the tree of life, and getting out the pith, . a No mortal can excel the man who bears the name of Smith. F all the ancient families that dwell upon the earth “ . The most antique, if not unique, is that which gave us | The Jones's and the Browns, ‘tis true, a goodly showing make ; birth ; But you ‘ll agree our family from them can “ take the cake.” For on Egyptian obelisk and Grecian monolith | Yet, should you chance to doubt the fact and reckon ita myth, You ‘Il find enrolled, in letters bold, the honored name of Smith. | Just look in the directory and find the name of Smith. | T. G. E. We ‘re scattered all around the globe, by dozens and by scores, | In every clime, since dawn of time, have dwelt our ancestors, | /nfra dig: The Arcade Railway Co. From Arctic seas to tropic lands, we ‘ve lots of kin and kith, No list te, is quite complete, without the name of Smith. | | PATIENCE grinds a crowbar into a needle. comicbooks.com