Life, 1887-02-24 · page 11 of 16
Life — February 24, 1887 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 111 This page contains multiple satirical pieces from Life's humorous section: **"Operatic"**: A joke about opera singers being so loud that patrons can't converse—the irony being that attending opera defeats its social purpose. **"Small Wonder"**: Stock Exchange satire. A countryman is shocked that seats cost $30,000, prompting the joke that traders prefer standing—implying the financial district is so crowded/chaotic that even expensive seating won't help. **France/Boulanger reference**: Political commentary on France choosing between General Boulanger and Bismarck as leaders, sarcastically suggesting France's indecision rivals the Panama Canal as a costly enterprise. (Boulanger was a controversial French general; Lesseps built the Canal.) **"Her Invitation"**: A sentimental poem about a woman reluctant to see her visitor leave, asking him to stay for breakfast. **Flora McFlimsy**: A humorous jab at high society—referencing the famous satirical character known for having "nothing to wear," the piece jokes that she's become fashionable by wearing literally nothing to the opera.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OPERATIC, Mrs. K.: Hark, MR. LouD! WHAT %s THAT NOISE? ONE CAN HARDLY HEAR ONE'S SELF TALK. Mr. L.: Wt 18 NOTHING, I ASSURE YOU, BUT THE SINGERS. SMALL WONDER. | OUNTRYMAN (én the gallery of the Stock Exchange): | How much does it cost, mister, to do business down there ? MISTER: The seats, I think, are worth about thirty thous- and dollars. COUNTRYMAN (fetching his breath): Gosh, I don’t won- der most of ’em stand up. RANCE has got a new enterprise on hand which may | cost her more than the Panama Canal. It is to find out whether Boulanger or Bismarck is the best man. Con- sidering that Bismarck is a ¢ertainty and that Boulanger is only a possibility, Lesseps’ ditch seems the better investment. HER INVITATION. N the parlor they were sitting— Sitting by the firelight’s glow, Quickly were the minutes flitting, Till at last he rose to go. With his overcoat she puttered, From her eye escaped a tear — “* Must you go so soon?” she muttered, “‘ Won't you stay to breakfast, dear?” Tom Masson. ISS FLORA MCFLIMSY, whose wardrobe is always supplied with “nothing to wear,” wears it at the opera. And, hang it all, brothers, it’s becoming to her. comicbooks.com