Life, 1888-03-08 · page 9 of 20
Life — March 8, 1888 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 137 This page contains several satirical pieces about American life and manners: **"The National Game"** presents a dialogue mocking American patriotism—a mother reads biblical passages to her son, who responds with crude American materialism, suggesting the nation's values are skewed. **"At the Philadelphia Station"** cartoon depicts crowded travelers. The joke critiques Philadelphia's status as a transit hub where people rush through to reach "New York and Washington"—implying Philadelphia lacks appeal compared to major cities. **"Thoughts on Seeing a Belle"** is romantic poetry mocking sentimental verse about beautiful women. **"Winter Pastimes"** and **"Reflections"** offer brief satirical observations on social absurdities and human nature. The page overall reflects *Life*'s role as social commentary on 19th-century American culture, manners, and pretensions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE - the outgrowth of pride in the great empire; one seldom reads a contemporary English novel without finding para- graphs that glow with patriotism; but the American novelist too often either satirizes his countrymen and government, or goes Abroad to escape that necessity. Droch, THE NATIONAL GAME. AMMA (reading): And the Lord called Samuel— Tommy (a young American): What did he hold? 137 THE NEW SCHOOL. EPORTER: Good morning, Mr. Jones, I've got some- thing here that'll curl your hair. The finest bit of scandal with sidelights and everything anybody could possi- bly want—nothing like it ever published in a New York paper. EpiTor: Good, Mr. Samuels, we'll have to raise your salary—is it—er—racy enough for the Sunday edition, or would you slap it in to-morrow ? AT THE PHILADELPHIA STATION. She: IS LOTS GOING ON. I DON'T SEE WHY THEY'RE ALWAYS POKING FUN AT PHILADELPHIA, SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE, THERE He; GoING oN—yES, TO NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON. THOUGHTS ON SEEING A BELLE. AN feet so fairy light Have earthly mission ? Can breast so snowy white, Burn with ambition ? Can eyes so soft as thine, With envy glisten ? Can ears so pink and fine To scandal listen ? Peter Pettle. HE game laws prohibiting toboggan chuting are now in force. WINTER PASTIMES. coo” A SLAYING PARTY, REFLECTIONS. WO heads are better than one, especially for a man who wants to go round the country with a circus. * * ® OAH and his family must have had a very stupid time of it on board the Ark, with y 4 only two games along. * * * iS ee man who gets up a patent to give illu- minating qualities to sewer gas will make a fortune. comicbooks.com