Life, 1887-10-20 · page 7 of 16
Life — October 20, 1887 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 217 **Main Cartoon ("Our Society"):** This sketch satirizes class pretension. It depicts a wealthy person (labeled "Sir") snubbing working-class "Bartletts," claiming superiority justifies social rudeness. The note explains "Bartlett" is a married poor clerk earning $1,500 yearly—barely middle-class. The satire mocks how the wealthy use minor financial advantages to justify condescension toward those only slightly less affluent, suggesting arbitrary and absurd class hierarchies. **"Some Spirited Repartee":** A humorous dialogue personifying wine containers (Champagne Bottle, Cask, Demijohn, etc.) reuniting and exchanging witty banter. The jokes rely on wine-related puns and personality stereotypes assigned to different bottle types—light, playful satirical humor typical of Life's period style. The overall page ridicules both class pretension and consumer culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OUR SOCIETY. She (whose grandfather made it in tron): WHY DID YOU HOW TO THOSE BARTLETTS ? He (an old chum of Bartlet: \WWAT'S THE USE OF SNUBBING PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU'RE A LITTLE BETTER THAN THEY ARE? (N.B.—Bartlett “ married poor,” and is a clerk on $1,500 a year.) SOME SPIRITED REPARTEE. “ H, ma sherry, it does my heart good to see you,’ said the empty Demijohn to the Cask of Amontil- lado, as the latter rolled into the wine cellar. “ Well, I de claret does me good, too,” quoth the Decan- ter, gallantly raising the stopper from its head. “Tt makes my ice-water with joy,” added the Water-cooler in the corner. “Yes, indeed, Mumm,” put in the Champagne Bottle, “ I've missed you so that I'd. made up my mind that Heidsieck another place if you didn’t turn up pretty soon.” “I've grown positively thin,” said the Burgundy. “T noticed you were rather Beauney. Hadn't you better see Medocter ?" replied the Cask. “Try my fizz-ician,” said the Vichy Bottle. “Oh, cork up, fellers,” shrieked the Apple Barrel; “ You give me a pain in cider me.” “Well. boys, I'm glad you're glad to see me back,” said the Cask. “IT haven't seen your back,” said the Champagne Bottle; “you're all front.” “Well, I'm glad that my absinthe has made your hearts grow fonder.” “Fine nutty flavor you have,” ejaculated the Water-cooler. utty ?"” queried the Cask. “Yes, chestnutty,” cried all in unison. And the proprietor was so disturbed by the noise that he called down and threatened to send them all to a saloonatic asylum if they didn’t wined up their persiflage. * You're all full,” he added. “That's a lie,” said the empty Whisky Bottle, under his breath, at which the Refrigerator laughed so immoderately that the ice broke and they all fell in. SKILLET that used to belong to General Grant has been nominated for prosecuting ‘attorney in an Indi- ana town. comicbooks.com