Life, 1886-03-11 · page 12 of 16
Life — March 11, 1886 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire Analysis This page satirizes *Life* magazine's own pretensions and those of New York's cultural establishment. The two cartoons labeled "Plate V" mock the magazine's self-importance: the "Business Manager" (left) is depicted as an absurdly pompous figure, while "Our Spring Poet" (right) is caricatured as equally ridiculous. The accompanying text jokingly claims *Life* has built a luxurious vessel for editorial trips to Europe and that the U.S. Government laid a special road from the pier to their office—obvious exaggerations mocking institutional self-aggrandizement. "Plate VI" shows a brazen sculpture titled "Three Metropolitan Trustees Wrestling with Truth," satirizing New York's wealthy cultural trustees as actually struggling against (rather than pursuing) truth—a jab at their pretense and corruption. The page is self-aware satire: *Life* humorously exposes its own grandiosity while simultaneously exposing that of New York's elite cultural institutions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
152 familiar with-the lineaments: of our business manager, we venture to reproduce the two following accurate photographs : BUSINESS MANAGER. OUR SPRING POET. It frequently happens to the editorial constitution that a trip to Europe is necessary. Of course such necessity must be considered, and we are pleased to announce that we have recently built a magnificently appointed vessel for this pur- pose. Time in editorial work being an inseparable adjunct to success, it is impossible for the editor to do as ordinary mortals do and walk to the steamer with his wardrobe in his pocket. Appreciating this fact, a special engineer, at the request of the United States Gov- ernment, has laid a surface road from the pier to our main entrance, from which the editor embarks. The only transatlan- tic lines now passing our door are the Cunard and = White Star. There is, however, a sharp compe- tition among other lines for this busi- ness. The vessel is frequently handy, too, in crossing Broadway when our Street Commis- Piate VI. sioners are transacting private business. Lack of space alone prevents our saying more in this regard. Enough has been said, however, to convince the public that we are at least even with the age, if not one or two cycles ahead. We cannot help mentioning here our *LIFE- unparalleled collection of art treasures, among which will be found a brazen group representing THREE METROPOLITAN TRUSTEES WRESTLING WITH TRUTH. In conclusion, we have only to say that in spite of all this magnificence and enterprise, sample copies may still be had at the old stand. Price, ten cents. Carlyle Smith, ‘* Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.” —Virgil. HE gave me in April a copy of Gibbon; In August, a trifle of gay-colored ribbon Slipped out from her hair, with a sweet-scented flower That bloomed at her bosom, the toy of an hour. And even so late as the fifth of September A blush and a kiss, if I rightly remember, But O the finale / when hopelessly smitten, 1 asked her to marry, she gave me the mitten! M. EL W. AWFULLY BoRED—Artesian wells. ANSWER TO A CORRESPONDENT. “ OW can I most easily obtain the highest degree of temperature in my house ?” “ Allow the children to play with the matches.” FTER all, Jack, she warbled, it is better to be “two hearts with but a single thought ” than two ditto with- out a single thought. comicbooks.com