Life, 1888-02-09 · page 1 of 16
Life — February 9, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Severe But Just" This cartoon from *Life* magazine (February 9, 1888) depicts a domestic scene satirizing marital discipline. A man (identified as "Mr. C. Van H. Been") stands before a mirror after being attacked by his companions, appearing disheveled. His wife, visible through a doorway, has apparently assaulted him—likely hitting him with objects now scattered on the floor. The caption's dialogue—"What a disreputable looking crowd you are—I'm going home"—suggests the wife is commenting on her husband's rowdy friends and has taken violent action to express her disapproval of their behavior. The title "Severe But Just" indicates the cartoon mocks the idea that such violence, while harsh, was justified punishment for disorderly conduct. This reflects 19th-century attitudes about domestic control and marital "correction."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OLUME XI. NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 4g, 1888. NUMBER 267. Entered at New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Copyright, 1887, by Mrrowmt: & Muizr. SEVERE BUT JUST. Mr. C. Van H, Boon (who was left asleep by his jolly companions, finally awakes and stands up before mirror): WHAT A DISREP’ABLE LOOKING CROWD YOU ARE—/'M GOING HOME. comicbooks.com