Life, 1887-10-06 · page 12 of 16
Life — October 6, 1887 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 194 This page combines satirical "want ads" with social commentary typical of late 19th-century Life magazine. The six cartoon panels above ("Tale of a Foot") appear to depict a sequential narrative, though the specific storyline is unclear from this image alone. The "Want Column" is satirical classifieds mocking contemporary corruption and incompetence: - References to **Contractor Baird** (likely a real NYC figure involved in graft) - Requests for "angels" as city commissioners, implying current officeholders are anything but angelic - A "cashier wanted" that specifically excludes moral men—mocking banker dishonesty - Mentions of "ruffians," "boodlers" (corrupt politicians), and anarchists, reflecting genuine anxieties of the 1890s The **fashion satire** at bottom ridicules sensationalist newspaper coverage—mocking the *World* newspaper for treating funeral flowers as newsworthy "fashion items." Overall, this page attacks municipal corruption, newspaper excess, and urban crime through comedic exaggeration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TALE OF A FOOT. “LIFE’S” WANT COLUMN, ECOGNIZING that many laborers in many fields are oppressed by many wants which they have no means of laying before the public, we have opened this column for their use. Advertisements will be inserted at the uniform rate of $1,000 per nonpareil line, and no questions asked. “D Ate WasTED: A rest from the Anarchists. VING young Economist ould like the Earth. Address, ge, Anti-Poverty Club, N. Y. Public, U. S. ONTRACTOR BAIRD. WASTED: A pavement. ONTRACTOR BAIRD. call at once and interview Fifth Avenue. Please RESPECTABLE old man would like a complete letter writer. Please address, Hewitt, City Hall. ANTED an L. for Park Commissioner, Wis an NGEL for Police Commissioner. ANTED an NGEL for Street Commissioner. Apply to Mayor, New York City EWS wanted by a Philadelphia newspaper. N Inquire at Lire Office. WANTED: At Sing Sing, a few experienced bribers as com- panions. Address, Jaehne, Boodlers' Row, HIO. A latge number of Ohio gentlemen will be glad to receive sealed proposals for mesmerizing Mr. Foraker. Estimates may be sent toG. ALR. WANTED: Anexperienced repairer of damaged Rooms. Address, D. B. H., Executive Mansion, Albany. NVESTMENTS, Wanted, by a poor widow, an investment for the hard-earned savings of filly years. Please address, Victoria, Balmoral. CASHIER wanted by a rich banking institution. No teetotalers, Sunday-school teachers, highly moral or religious men need apply. Heathens preferred. ' Call or write, Wall St. ELP! A gentleman who lives in the heart of the city, and who is in the power of ruffians, would like a respectable policeman as companion for a few moments, - Call at once, Five Points, Citicaco. Seven Anarchists want hanging. Justice, IM. A FASHION ITEM. ERE is a fashion note from Sunday's World: Mr. Blank’s funeral to-day will show many autumn fashions in flowers. The violet garlands will be wound about the casket, deep purple Russian violets comprising the flowers of the upper part and shading into pale ones below. This garland is so formed that it fringes the side of the coffin. besides being wound around it. It is items such as this that indicates true enterprise. We hope the World will enlighten its readers as to whether coffins are to be decolleté this winter. comicbooks.com