Life, 1887-05-05 · page 5 of 16
Life — May 5, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 247 The main cartoon, titled "A Frugal Mind," depicts a woman in a large hat seated outdoors while a man stands nearby. The accompanying caption references Miss Colombia, John Chinaman, John Bull, and Miss Mexico, suggesting this is political satire about international relations or colonial attitudes of the era. The smaller cartoon below shows a figure (labeled "Nero") apparently departing, with another figure warning him not to bark when he returns home—likely satirizing someone's cowardly behavior or hypocrisy. The "scraps" section contains brief social commentary about topics like Mark Twain, anarchism, and New York society—typical of Life magazine's lighthearted cultural criticism. Without clearer historical context or dates, the specific political figures or events remain uncertain.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SCRAPS. | HE PRINCE OF WALES ever | smokes Reign-a Victoria cigars. | . . * | RS. SPRIGGINS remarks that she | would rather fool with a bee than | be with a fool. | . . . “ Go? CHARACTER,” says a phi- losopher, “is property.” The Anarchists are quite consistent in opposing property. * . . NOVEL suicide is reported from Chi- cago. A young gentleman of leisure, becoming despondent, smoked a Flora Bern- hardt cigar so strong that it drew his brains | out. . . . “ NE half of the world doesn’t know how the other half. lives,” is a say- ing as old as Dr. Mary Walker. It is believed to apply with much force to the Editorial and Business halves of the New York World, N exchange says that Mark Twain and + Mr, Howells walk around New York with their arms lovingly locked. This is probably done to keep them from writing in the streets. A FRUGAL MIND. Miss Columbia: GROVER, 1F JOHN CHINAMAN CALLS WITH THAT LITTLE BILL, ASK HIM TO WAIT ANOTHER FIFTY YEARS. IF JOHN BULL Comes AROUT CANADA, TELL HIM I AM SICK AND CAN'T FIGHT, AFTER THE WAY Miss MEXICO TREATED Me, | DON'T WISH TO SEE HER ANY MORE, IN FACT, I AM IN NO CONDITION TO MEET ANY Now, HAVING NO VISITORS, I CAN READ THE LAST ROMANCE ON “How To Repuce THE SURPL THE BLUE-BLOODED GOAT. N old goat settled in New York city, and being anxious to get into the best society, told his new acquaintances that his great-grandfather was a Bengal tiger. The animals were disposed to doubt the truth of this; whereupon the goat produced a cer- tificate of deposit showing that he had $3,000,000 in a down-town bank. This proof was accepted as conclusive, and in less than a month the goat was president of a swell club. MoraL: This fable teaches that the reductio ad pecuniam is a powerful method of proof in the sociological system. HICAGO, since Mr. Lowell’s insinuation that Bacon wrote “ Richard the Third,” is much impressed by the lines, Off with his head; so much for Bucking Ham. The populace don’t think much of a man who talks about a bucking ham. Say, NERO, I'M GOING TO BE OUT LATE, AN” 1 DON'T WANT YOU TO BARK WHEN I GET HOME | NY R. ROCKAFELLER ought to cross the Atlantic in a dory. He would be safe enough if the ancient saw about “oil on troubled AN’ WAKE THE FOLKS UP. waters " contains the germ of truth. comicbooks.com