Life, 1888-03-15 · page 11 of 16
Life — March 15, 1888 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 155: Satirical Observations This page collects short satirical "observations"—jokes targeting public figures and social types of the era (likely late 1800s based on references). **Key targets include:** - **Chauncey Depew**: A prominent businessman/politician mocked for his Peekskill origins - **Lord Lonsdale**: Criticized for going bear-hunting; the joke wishes he'll "freeze up with the country" (unclear historical context) - **Judge Hilton**: Subject of lawsuits; satirized through a literary reference - **Baron de Rothschild**: Jewish banker caricatured through antisemitic stereotyping about making "millions" - **Dr. McGlynn**: A priest who criticized the Pope **The main cartoon** depicts two women discussing a broken engagement where the man made "an assignment" (financial ruin)—the joke being she's now searching for *him* rather than a new husband. **Social humor includes** ethnic stereotyping (Irish inheriting earth), class commentary (wealthy businessmen), and marital satire. The final note jokes that Queen Victoria's speech authorship matters less than Shakespeare's—typical Victorian literary debate.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OBSERVATIONS. HERE is one stain on Chauncey De- pew’s character. He comes from Peekskill. * * * ORD LONSDALE is going off to the North Pole after bear. Good! We trust Lons- dale will freeze up with the country. * * * RS. SPRIGGINS when she heard of the suits against Judge Hilton was very. sorry because “Parasite Lost” was always a_ favorite poem of hers, and she had an affectation for the author. * * * O the young Ger- man who sets out to make his mark in the world the success of Bar- on de Rothschild is most encouraging. The Baron has made several millions of them. * * * R. MCGLYNN called the Pope a bag of bones some time ago, but we have yet to hear that the Pope shares the belief of some that the Doctor is a skin, “ OFF HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU. Mrs. M. C.: THE WRETCH! A WISE HEAD. UNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER: Now, boys, who “shall inherit the earth?” LITTLE JOHNNIE (wése beyond his years): it's the Irish! Please, mum, «¢ [T'S an ill wind that blows nobody good,” as the humorist remarked upon receiving a cheque for twenty-five cents, payment for a joke on the blizzard. PRUDENCE. ASHIER: Mr. Bullion, I’d like to take a little trip up to Montreal for a week or so; do you think I can be spared ? MR. BULLION: Why, certainly. Just get things to rights and—ah, by the way, who would be your bondsman ? ““IN TIMES OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR." Mrs, Mayne Chance: MY DEAR, YOU HAVE MY SYMPATHY. SO THAT RICH OLD HUMBUG HAS BROKEN You HAVE HIS LETTERS, AND HAVE SEEN A LAWYER, OF COURSE? Miss Piper: OH, CERTAINLY; BUT HE MADE AN ASSIGNMENT LAST WEEK! STILL SEARCHING. RS. BJONES: I hear that young Mr. Sissy is still in search of a wife. . MRS. JSMITH: Why, I thought he was married ! Mrs. BJONES: So he was. She's left him. She's the one he's in search of. ITTLE HOFMANN is so worn out with his labors that he has dropped one of the n’s at the end of his name. HE question as to the authorship of Shakespeare is eclipsed for the moment in England by the controversy over who wrote the Queen’s speech. It is attributed to Lord Salisbury, Rider Haggard and Tennyson. comicbooks.com