Life — June 23, 1887 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Wife's Explanation" This page from Life magazine (June 23, 1887) features a domestic humor cartoon. The illustration shows a woman speaking to a child while a man sits in shadow. The caption reads: **Violet:** "Ma, how do people know that it's a man in the moon?" **Mother (sadly):** "Because it's always out nights." The joke is a criticism of husbands who stay out late—a common Victorian-era domestic complaint. The "man in the moon" becomes a metaphor for absent husbands. The mother's weary response suggests marital frustration with a spouse who regularly disappears at night, likely for drinking, socializing, or other entertainment. The humor relies on the audience recognizing this as a relatable domestic complaint rather than literal astronomy.