Life, 1887-06-09 · page 11 of 16
Life — June 9, 1887 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page contains multiple satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor: **"A Conspiracy"** (top cartoon): Three panels showing street vendors and a man with a barrel in what appears to be immigrant-dialect humor. The "conspiracy" depicts petty street hustlers—one distracting a mark while another rolls a barrel to trip him. The heavy dialect ("Chimmie," "w'ile") reflects period stereotyping of working-class immigrants. **Various short jokes**: These target specific social types—a vain lady (Agatha Cholmondley), nihilists concerned about the Russian Czar's health (likely referencing contemporary Russian political instability), a young man whose fashion sense outpaces his ambition, and impractical men. **"Pardonable Terror"** (bottom): Parents worry their daughter reads the *Police Horrors* section of the newspaper, but are relieved it's not the *Sun*—suggesting the *Sun* was considered more scandalous or sensational. This reflects period anxiety about newspaper content's influence on youth. The page exemplifies Life's mix of social satire, class humor, and topical references accessible to educated readers of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Hey, Chimmie, you holler yer papers an’ run inter him w'ile I roll de bar'l up.” ‘ETRE A CONSPIRACY. ““Yere’s yer evenin’ papers! Full - “Och, Gott in Himmel! I bet you I fall on account of der i sometings soft, aint it ?”” PECULIAR. LADY named Agatha Cholmondley, Received all her compliments glom- ondley, But smiled with delight When they called her a fright, And aimed to be called very holmondley. HE NIHILISTS are still profoundly i exercised about the Czar’s health, and insist that he needs a change of air. WHEN FAITHFUL FRIENDS FALL OUT. LIMKINS:: I notice that your friend | Brown seems to keep away lately. Had a row? SIMPKINS: No; he got me to endorse | his note a few days ago. A PROGRESSIVE YOUTH. RS. TWILLINGHAM (speaking of her son): Augustus doesn’t seem to be as progressive and go-ahead- itive as he ought, my dear. Mr. TWILLINGHAM (sarcastzcally) : 1 don’t know about that. He wears the largest trousers and carries the biggest | cane of any young man in Upper New | York. HERE is one thing about impractic- | able men that we honor. They never indulge in practical jokes. PARDONABLE TERROR. Careful Papa: WHAT PAPER 1S ETHEL READING, MY DEAR? Careful Mamma: \t's ONLY THE Police Horrors, THE COACHMAN LEFT [T IN “THE KITCHEN THIS MORNING. Careful Papa: OH, ALL RIGHT; I WaS AFRAID IT WAS THE Sun. comicbooks.com