Life, 1887-12-29 · page 5 of 21
Life — December 29, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Comparative Statistics" Cartoon Analysis This page satirizes Edward Atkinson's statistical diagrams about American infrastructure and development. The cartoon uses comparative bar charts to humorously rank various locations by yard-width lead and flirtation capacity—absurd metrics that mock the era's obsession with quantifying and comparing cities and regions. The specific comparisons (various New York locations, Staten Island, Saratoga, Minneapolis, etc.) suggest Atkinson was producing earnest statistical analyses of American progress. Life's parody ridicules both the pretension of reducing complex social phenomena to simple charts and the competitive boosterism between American cities. The illustration of a "Boston Girl" asking about "romantic love and personal beauty" complements this satire, suggesting such human qualities resist statistical measurement—the cartoon's central joke.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE- LOVE AT FIRST SOUND. When every morn I greet you, dear, CANNOT see your beauteous face— You answer with a youthful glee ; Your sparkling eyes shine not for me; You may be sad and worn with fear Your form, your motions full of grace, I do not know, I cannot see. Ido not know I cannot see. ‘Tis you I love, and you alone, Perchance you are another's wife— _- Whoa ever you may chance to be; Perchance engaged and lost to me; The maiden at the telephone, Perchance you've lived a long, long life: I do not know, I cannot see. I do not know, I cannot see. G. de Lisle Zimmermann, FULT ATSUBT -SLPTRMIT OCTAVE ORIER We tltweed ae COMPARATIVE STATISTICS. A la Edward Atkinson, HOSE who have seen Edward Atkinson's statistical diagrams in recent numbers of thé Century, will be glad to learn that Lire has just purchased fifteen tons of yard- wide leads, and now proposes to go into this business with its customary exactness. To begin, the reader's attention is called to the comparative growth of our firtation areas, and a glance will show just where life is worth living. (The timid reader need not feel alarmed; we have the following lines under perfect control, and none will be permitted to escape.) 1gth Street, N.Y, Duluth. Staten Island. Coney Island. Barren Island. Saratoga. = Grand Central Depot —— Waukesha, Wis. Minneapolis, Minn, ——— Mt, Desert. | ; | The next comparison we approach with great diffidence, and only go on record after an exhaustive search of two seconds assures us that we are correct. We wish to show the relative amount of Queen Anne villas in this country as compared with those of other styles of architecture. Queen Anne. | The Field, == Ethelred, the Unready. = And now, dear reader, having been thus far enlightened, we ask you to turn your atten- tion to the next set of kindergarten statistics, which shows at a glance the relative abilities of our prominent statesmen to bivouac, picket and skirmish for the loan of a $5 bill. Cleveland. Blaine. - George. R. Butler. Rossa. The Writer. ° — Boston Girl (innocently): Have, you * ROMANTIC Wallace Peck, Love axp PeRsonaL Beauty >?” comicbooks.com