Life, 1887-01-13 · page 1 of 16
Life — January 13, 1887 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page, January 13, 1887 This page contains two satirical pieces: **Top illustration:** An elaborate decorative header reading "LIFE" with allegorical figures—angels and demons—surrounding it, typical of the magazine's ornate Victorian style. **Bottom illustration titled "IN-CHOIR-Y":** Shows two figures in a church choir loft. The caption presents a dialogue: an organist (doubtful about combining stops) asks a Blinkle what to pair with the Blinkle, who responds that "Apollinaris would be very good." This appears to be advertising satire, likely promoting Apollinaris mineral water by creating a humorous pun—"in-choir-y" (inquiry) set in a church choir. The joke plays on product placement through absurdist dialogue, common in 1880s advertising humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“NEW YORK, JANUARY 13, 1887, "NUMBER air Entered at New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Copyright, 1886, by Mrrcuzt & Murer. BRU CANS SVM. IN-CHOIR-Y. Organist (doubtful about the effect of combining stops): WHAT WOULD YOU PUT WITH THE Bourson, MR. BLINKIE? \ { Blinkie (who was up late last night, ; AM;-EH—WELL, APOLLINARIS WOULD BE VERY GOOD.