Life, 1886-11-18 · page 5 of 16
Life — November 18, 1886 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 305 Analysis This page contains three separate humor pieces from *Life* magazine: 1. **"Miss McGarr"**: A verse mocking a woman named Birdie McGarr who plays Spanish guitar but smokes cigars—the humor trades on the incongruity of "refined" musical talent paired with "unladylike" cigar smoking. 2. **"Various"**: A collection of brief quips about contemporary topics (the Czar, money, carpenters, and children's logic). These are topical references now obscure without additional context. 3. **"A Cautious Mind"**: A sketch showing a mistress asking a servant (Bridget) whether a christened baby is a boy or girl. The humor lies in Bridget's confusion—she misidentifies the baby's gender, revealing her lack of understanding despite supposedly being experienced household help. These represent typical *Life* magazine humor: social satire targeting gender norms, class dynamics, and Irish servant stereotypes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MISS McGARR. LEVER girl, that Miss Birdie McGarr, She can play on the Spanish gctar, But while thus she doth play, (Now don’t give it away) She will will puff on a 5c. scgar. * * * AGGS: “see that ballet-dancers aren't going to wear skirts any longer.” Baccs: ‘Heavens! Is that so?” TacGs: Yes, they’re long enough already.” Baggs throws his chestnut bell into the gutter, takes Taggs | by the arm and leads him into a side door. VARIOUS. HE Czar of Russia having killed a man, his portrait is being published by the Ameri- can press. It is entirély proper that a man who commits mur- der, even a Czar, should be severely punished. * * * “ ONEY makes the mare go,” and it also makes cargo. * * * “ CARPENTER is known by his chips.” The gam- bler ditto. * * * OBBY’S argument on it: “Guess if I'd got my feet wet goin’ on an errand for you, | it would be healthy ’nough. But | ‘cause I got ’em so playin it ‘Il make me sick. Eh!” Sister subsides, * * * | OW to describe a girl’s luncheon in three words? Giggle, gabble, gobble. * * * “ AMA! said an innocent of five years old, | “When I grow to be a woman, will I get married and have a wedding ?”” “I hope so, my dear. Why do you ask ?” said mother. “ Because, mama, I shan’t ask you to my wedding.” A CAUTIOUS MIND. “No! Why not, Mamie?” “ Why Mama, you didn’t ask Mistress, who has been asking about the Christening: AND 1S \T A BOY OR A GIRL, BRIDGET? me to yours.” Bridget ; SHURE MUM, I DON’T KNOW, BUT THEY'RE A-CHRISTENED HIM Nora! comicbooks.com