Life, 1887-07-28 · page 5 of 16
Life — July 28, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 47 of Life Magazine - Content Analysis This page contains several short humorous anecdotes and one illustrated cartoon rather than political commentary. **"A Romantic Chapter"** features a sketch of a young man (labeled "Boy") declaring he'd rather die than endure torture—establishing romantic melodrama for satire. **"The Long and Short of It"** presents a teacher's joke about which is the shortest day (December 21st) versus longest day (Sunday). **The main cartoon** depicts a crowded scene under a pavilion or shelter, labeled "Been There Before." It appears to satirize overcrowding at some public venue or event, with an Empire umpire making a joke about the Palace and Captain's familiarity with the location. Other brief items mock Howells vs. Dickens, discuss a Lambs' Club, and include puns about fishing and exercise. This is primarily **light entertainment humor**, not political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: “A ROMANTIC CHAPTER. Boy (who has found letter, reading): “Life without Araminta is unbearable, and I have buried myself rather than endure tortures unspeakable; of the chance traveler who may happen to peruse this I would simply make the request that, should he find the bottle empty, he shall fill it and pass pityingly on. >” 47 MR. HOWELLS ENLIGHTENS. E infer from some published utterances of Mr. How- ells’ that Tolstoi is a trifle too great for this planet, and that Dickens’ inferiority was less his own fault than that of the period in which he wrote. This will be a relief to the admirers of Mr. Dickens. We have all experienced a feeling of despair in turning from the passion of Mr. Howells to the drivel of Mr. Dickens, and it is certainly generous of the former to explain the shortcomings of the latter. Mr. How- ells’ admiration for Tolstoi is easy to understand. When an author, who makes a profession of describing finger-nails and buttons, encounters another genius of the same order, who works in more buttons and more finger-nails, his enthu- siasm naturally gets the better of him, Whatever Mr. Howells is, the inference would be that Mr. Tolstoi is more so. _ _ HE Lambs’ Club of New York is composed of pro- fessional Thespians. There is a great difference be- tween these real big Lambs and the little lambateurs outside. THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT. ILLIE WAFFLERS,” said the teacher, “ which is the shortest day in the year?" “ Twenty-fust of December,” replied Willie, who was correct so far as the writer knows. “ And Tommy Tuff may tell us which is the longest day,” said the teacher indulgently. “ Sunday!” shouted Tommy. oe 1,500,000 BASKETS have been ordered preparatory to the failure of the Delaware peach crop. OVERTAKEN BY MISFORTUNE, ISITOR (40 tramp, who ts enjoying a comfortable meal at Blackwell's [sl- and): You have been unfortunate, my friend. Tramp (6itferly): I should say so! The Judge only gave me thirty days when I fully expected six months, THE FISHERMAN BITTEN. GuMer GUEST (su/kily): Look here! I've waited all day long and never got a bite, and yet this was advertised as a “ Pleasant Place to Fish.” \ COUNTRYMAN: So it is a pleasant place ; but nothing was said about what you'd, catch. THE BENEFIT OF PROPER EXER- CISE. AY GOULD recovered his health by in- dulging in Field sport. BEEN THERE BEFORE. Umpire: Out. Populace and Captain oy Home Team: WHAT? Umpire: Sare. comicbooks.com