Life, 1886-12-09 · page 15 of 36
Life — December 9, 1886 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several short satirical pieces typical of *Life* magazine's humor: **Top cartoon**: "Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining" mocks a woman's relief that her husband's drinking problem isn't inherited, since he's "not a blood-relation"—suggesting she married into the trait rather than being genetically burdened. **"A Waste of Time"**: Contrasts German beer-drinking culture (slow sipping) with American impatience, satirizing American rush and materialism. **"Standing Joke"**: Observes that gentlemen gain female approval simply by offering subway seats—gentle social satire about courtship and gender dynamics. **Other items**: Include light wordplay and puns ("Gaisleless Boy," "she-ol"), editorial self-mockery (editors boasting circulation while managers worry), and philosophical quips about wooden-headed men. The overall tone is gentle, domestic satire aimed at middle-class American readers, focusing on social etiquette, drinking habits, and minor absurdities rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING. Mr, J. Is “TIRED” AGAIN, Mrs. J. (proud of her descent and the sobriety of her family): THANK GOD, HE'S NOT A BLOOD-RELATION ! A WASTE OF TIME. Ga Why don’t you Americans drink beer as we do? Younc AMERICA: How’s that? GERMAN: Sip it slowly, and take half or three quarters of an hour toa glass. YOUNG AMERICA (with disgust): It would take all night to get full. STANDING JOKE. O stand well in the eyes of the ladies, it is only neces- sary to give them your seat in a street car. HILE the editor is up-stairs writing an article in which he “points with pride” to the paper’s circulation, the business manager is down-stairs “ viewing it with alarm.” THE GAISLELESS BOY. HILE walking, at church, up the aisle, The deacon, one day, caused a smaisle, For some bad, naughty boy (Whom the Lord will destroy), Chalked ‘‘ Lorillard’s plug” on his taisle ! Ww* is it the lowest scandals seem to obtain among people who live in the highest circles ? AS the word he-lIl changed to she-ol with a view toward obtaining the correct gender? “ LL flesh is grass,” they say, but how about a wooden- headed man with a marble brow, an iron will, and a stony heart. Go to, and if you can’t go two, go one. comicbooks.com