Life, 1886-03-25 · page 12 of 16
Life — March 25, 1886 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis This page satirizes *Life* magazine itself through a mock poem attributed to a fictional Russian poet. The text parodies *Life's* editorial philosophy: prioritizing entertainment and humor over substance, recycling ancient jokes, and avoiding serious content ("the grave is never shown"). The elaborate left-side illustration depicts "A View of Life"—a chaotic tower of figures representing the magazine's comedic approach: circus performers, revelers, and entertainers stacked together, with ascending angels above. This visualizes the satirical claim that *Life* offers only frivolous amusement. The reference to "P—é" (likely *Puck*, a competing humor magazine) and the dismissive mention of "esteemed and colored brother" suggests *Life's* competitive relationship with other satirical publications and touches on racial attitudes of the era. The poem mocks the magazine's philosophy of endless entertainment without moral gravity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A PSALM OF “LIFE.” [This Little Thing is by XBSTLIVSLTKOVSKY, the Russian Poet, and was sung by the Czar ata recent reception given to the American Minister at the Winter Palace.] ELL me not in weekly numbers Lire is empty and forlorn ; Not a joke is dead or slumbers, And the best one 's yet unborn. LiFe is gay and full of glee, And the grave is never shown ; Jokes from 41 B. C. Can be found in P—é alone. All enjoyment and no sorrow Is our readers’ end and way, And so laugh that each to-morrow Find them fatter than to-day. Jokes of circus-clowns remind us How the public’s want is fed ; But we always leave behind us Chestnuts old and minstrel-bred— Chestnuts that perhaps another, Striking in their funny vein, Our “esteemed and colored brother,” Seeing, may take hope again. comicbooks.com