Life, 1888-03-01 · page 1 of 16
Life — March 1, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, March 1, 1888 - "At a Tea" This satirical sketch depicts a social awkwardness at a tea gathering. Mr. Tynchaser complains to the hostess (Mrs. Roan) that he hasn't enjoyed visiting her home lately due to an obstacle. When asked to identify it, he obliquely refers to "the front door." The joke appears to target social pretension and cold hospitality: Tynchaser is sarcastically suggesting that Mrs. Roan's front door—the literal barrier to entry—has become an obstacle, implying she's unwelcoming or excluding him. The humor lies in the euphemistic, indirect complaint about not being invited, disguised as a discussion of a physical obstruction. This reflects Victorian-era social commentary on class dynamics and the subtle social snubs conveyed through hospitality practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEW YORK, MARCH 1, 1888. Entered at New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Copyright, 2887, by Mrrcumi: & Miter. onicany, is SVM. AT A TEA. Mr. Tynchaser (who has been obnoxiously persistent in his attentions): 1 HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF FINDING YOU AT HOME FOR A LONG TIME, Mrs. Bonn, Opulent Widow: No. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN OBSTACLE, Mr. T.: Can’? I REMOVE IT? O. W.: PossIBLy. Mr. T. (tenderly): AT LEAST, LET ME KNOW WHAT IT Is. O. W. (coldly): THE FRONT DOOR. comicbooks.com