Life, 1886-01-28 · page 5 of 16
Life — January 28, 1886 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Applied Science" Cartoon Analysis This cartoon satirizes Victorian-era dating rules and social conventions. It depicts a young woman ("Miss Joy") refusing a carriage ride from "Mr. Foster" unless they are engaged to be married. Her chaperone emphasizes that "the rules of Vassar do not allow it, unless you are engaged." The satire targets the rigid, nonsensical nature of upper-class courtship protocols—where a woman cannot spend time alone with a man without formal engagement, yet engagement itself requires prior courtship. The title "Applied Science" mockingly suggests these arbitrary social rules operate with scientific logic. The cartoon critiques how restrictive Victorian society made it nearly impossible for unmarried couples to genuinely know each other before commitment, illustrating the absurdity of rules enforced at prestigious women's institutions like Vassar College.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
APPLIED SCIENCE. Miss Foy: MADAM, MR, FOSTER HAS COME TO TAKE ME FOR A DRIVE, MAY I GO, MADAM? Madam: TO MR, FOSTER You KNow, Miss JoY, THE RULES OF VASSAR DO NOT ALLOW IT, UNLESS YOU ARE ENOAGED—ARE YOU ENGAGED 2 Miss Foy (doubtfully): N— No, suT— 1F You WILL LET ME Go I SHALL BE BY THE TIME WE GET BACK. with his comforts, who can, when necessary, bring her phil- osophy down to the kitchen.” This probably means that true wedded happiness is only found in Transcendental buns and Paleozoic pies. If the author were not an Englishman, he might be suspected of “ booming” the Harvard Annex. of Boston novelists. . . . ARRIED people, we are also told, “Should learn to grow rich gracefully.” This advice is unique and superfluous. Most married people want to know how to make both ends meet. An entire chapter is devoted to showing “ how useful children are in educating their parents.” We always sus- pected that the average small boy was capable of giving the old gentleman points, but this is the first scientific demon- stration of the fact. The country is safe with Young Amer- ica wiser than his pa. Droch. ARE hair-brained people ever bald-headed ? LIFE is opposed to any | theory of matrimony which might lead to a new generation | LIVING AND LEARNING. “ ND now, my dears,” said the Sunday-school teacher, “TI have explained to you all the different forms of religion ; tell me which of them you like the best ?” There was a long pause, bat at last Master Johnny said : “Well, I'd rather be a Baptist in summer and a Mormon in winter.” “1'm afraid we should have to call you an Optimist, then,” replied the teacher. And so Master Johnny went home and said: “ Pa, what 's an Optimist ?” “An Optimist ? Well—er—hum ; an Optimist is a sort of—er—— Well, perhaps you had better look in the dic- tionary for a concise answer.” And so they hunted up the dictionary and at last found: OPTIMIST, a believer in Optimism. And Master Johnny thanked his papa and said he was so glad to know! RK. ITEMS OF INTEREST—Five per cent. bonds. Up TO EVERYTHING—The thermometer. comicbooks.com