Life, 1886-02-11 · page 11 of 16
Life — February 11, 1886 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "At the Restaurant" - Life Magazine Satire This two-part page satirizes indecision and social convention. The upper section catalogs watercolor exhibition works, appearing straightforward. The main satire—"At the Restaurant" dialogue by Roland King—mocks the paralysis of politeness. Two diners cannot decide on anything: food, preparation, side dishes, or wine. Each defers endlessly ("anything you say," "doesn't make any difference to me"), trapped in mutual accommodation. Neither wants to assert a preference, so they circle ineffectually through the menu. The joke's punchline: after their agonizing deliberation over tenderloin, the waiter announces it's gone—making their exhausting indecision completely moot. They abandon the meal entirely, claiming work obligations. This satirizes genteel masculine etiquette of the era, where appearing agreeable and non-assertive was socially valued, even when it produced absurd paralysis. The humor lies in how civility defeats its own purpose.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AT THE WATER COLOR EXHIBITION. (1.) Tuk OLp Sonc.—E. A. Appey. A SkIED TERRIER. Murpuy. “ TWILIGHTS.” N. B,—THE REST, CHIEFLY JAPANESE PICTURES, ARE UNFORTUNATELY CROWDED OUT. (5.) ON THE Way TO THE ARK.— (7 AND 8.) Stuby oF Harp Botep Ecos ( (2.) BRIDGET On THE War Patu.—W. M. Cnase. (3.) A NiGHTMARE.—P. Mora CHURCH. STRONG).—J. ALDEN WEIR. (6.) ExPLosion OF aN OIL WELL IN PENNSYLVANIA.: (4) F, (g.) SAMPLES OF INCENSE. (10.) ASSORTED AT THE RESTAURANT. 666 A LA CARTE; b'm. Well, what shall we have 2” “O, anything.” “ Nothing in particular that you care for?" | ‘Is n't there anything you care for?” “No, anything you say.” “ Anything you say.” “Well, I do n't care.” “ Neither do I, I'm agreeable to anything.” “So'm L” “* Well, what shall we have ?” ‘* Let 's have a suggestion.” “Well, er — let 's see what they ’ve got; here, you look over the bill.” “Well, let 's see what's ready. H'm, er— well, what do you say to beefsteak 2” “All right, unless you rather have chops.” “Allright, chops if you say so?” “Oh, no! I don't care; don’t make any difference to me, Let 's stick to steak.” ‘“ Well, steak it is then. Now what shall we have with it ?” “Well, what do you say 2” ‘It don’t make any difference to me ; any- thing you'd like.” “T don't care, anything you say.” “ Anything you say.” ** Well—or—well, what do you say to fried potatoes ?”” “Well, you take fried potatoes and I'Iltake er—let's see the menu. H'm, well, I don’t know ; well, guess I'll have potatoes too,” “ Allright. Drink anything ?” “You drinking now ?” “Yes, if you are ?” “Well, what shall it be, Claret or Burgundy or—” + “Anything you say.” “Well, what do you say to—to—beer ?” “All right, beer it is then. Guess that ‘ll be enough. “ Here, wai— gone to?” “ Waiter 1” “Waiter 1!" “ Wa-a-a-iter 111" Where's that dashed waiter “Yes sir, comin’ sir ; take your order, sir?” “Yes. Steak an—” “Sirloin or tenderloin, sir?” “Well, er— You care?” “ Don’t make any difference to me.” “Nor me either.” “ Well, then, tenderloin ?” “Allright. Tenderloin, fried ‘taters and beer.” “Wot kind of beer, sir?” “Well, what ’s your favorite ?” “Ido n't care.” “T don't, either; do n't make any differeace to me.” “* Nor me.” “Well, what do you say to Milwaukee ?” “All right, Milwaukee.” . . * * Waiter (after ten minutes’ absence): ‘‘ Sorry, sir, but tenderloin 's all gone, sir; can get you anice—” : “Gad, it's time to be back at the office; we ‘ll come in again—some Sunday.” Roland King. comicbooks.com