Life, 1888-04-12 · page 3 of 16
Life — April 12, 1888 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: Life Magazine, Page 205 This page contains three separate satirical items: 1. **"Alas, Yes!"** (top): A whimsical illustration of a cherub riding a dog, with Jack Frost speaking. The joke plays on seasonal absence—someone warns Jack Frost to wait until mid-August when people will want him back (suggesting summer heat). 2. **"Very Natural"** and **"Force of Habit"**: Brief joke items mocking Shakespeare scholarship and railroad operations respectively. 3. **"A Bold Step"** (bottom): The main cartoon depicts a wealthy man (Mr. Michael Van Flanigan, identified in caption) proudly showing off his newly purchased Oriental porcelain to others. The humor satirizes nouveau riche pretension—his wife urges him to spare no expense displaying their acquisition, emphasizing status-conscious materialism among the wealthy. These pieces represent typical Life magazine humor: social satire targeting literary pretension and class affectation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ALAS, YES! Jack Frost: YOU MAY DRIVE ME AWAY, ‘GENTLE SPRING,” BUT WAIT TILL THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, AND THEY'LL BE WANTING ME BACK AGAIN. F Bacon Shakespeare wrote, It is no wondrous note— If I be not mistaken— These Shylocks should hate bacon. Lee Fairchild, FORCE OF HABIT. LD LADY (¢o railroad brakeman): How soon does this train start fer Shack- nack ? BRAKEMAN: Not for two hours yet, madam. Step lively, please. A CHANGE IN AFFAIRS. ECTURER ON POLIT- ICAL ECONOMY: In France, gentlemen, the govern- ment practically owns the rail- roads— STUDENT (abruptly): Guess you're mistaken about that, Professor. “Why, it’s an established fact.” “But Jay Gould’s just been over there.” A BOLD STEP. Mr, Michael Van Flanigan, formerly of Chicago, having purchased a villa at Newport has just had it furnished regardless of cost.—SOC\ETY NOTES. f Mr. R. (Furnisher and Decorator): Now, SiR, YOUR HOUSE HAS THE MAGNIFICENCE OF AN ORIENTAL POTENTATE, EXCEPT, OF COURSE, THE—ER—SERAGLIO. Mrs. Michael Van Flanigan (proudly to her husband): MIKE, DEAR, SPARE NO EXPENSE, LET US HAVE ONE, comicbooks.com