Life, 1888-04-19 · page 11 of 18
Life — April 19, 1888 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 227: Analysis This page contains three unrelated satirical pieces typical of Life's humor: **"The Moor's Insult"**: A humorous poem mocking a Moroccan ("Morisco") who rejects being offered a bath, playing on ethnic stereotypes about cleanliness common in early 20th-century American humor. **"The Trials of an Artist"**: Satirizes the difficulty photographers faced pleasing families with baby portraits. Every family member (mother, grandmother, father, aunt) has conflicting opinions, forcing multiple retakes—commentary on both family dynamics and the commercial photography business. **"Spring Styles"** and **"Theatrical Terms"**: Light social satire. The fashion piece jokes about Fifth Avenue dust ruining clothing colors. The theatrical section uses humorous drawings illustrating stage terminology—"a leading lady," "securing a heavy part," "throwing it up," etc.—parodying theatrical jargon and the physical comedy of stage acting. All are gentle, domestic humor targeting contemporary American social life rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE MOOR’S INSULT. MORISCO who dwelt at Tangier, When he viewed the ship Znter- prise near, Cried aloud in his wrath, “*T don’t need a bath; Don’t send your old wash-tubs round here!” THE TRIALS OF AN ARTIST. OUNG MOTHER (¢o photog- rapher): 1 am sorry, Mr. Cam- era, but the negatives you sent of Baby don’t suit. PHOTOGRAPHER: None of them? There were six. YounG MOTHER: Yes; I like this one very well, although it doesn’t do Baby justice, but mother thinks it’s horrible. The one she likes I wouldn’t consider for a moment. Baby's papa thought this one would do, but his grandma became indignant at the idea and I agreed with her. The dear little fellow’s Aunt Kate thought they were all bad, and I guess—er—that Baby will have to sit again. ET us honor and respect the busy bee. Once full he makes straight for home. “A LEG PIECE.” ‘WELL SUPPORTED.” SPRING STYLES. ““YEs, IT’S A LOVELY COLOR, BUT I DON’T QUITE LIKE IT FOR THE CITY.” “Way NoT?” “IT DOESN'T MATCH THE FIFTH AVENUE DUST.” THEATRICAL TERMS. SIX DAYS GOAS YOU PLEASE sy eaay rate: isso oe “A POOR NIGHT.” “WELL SET.”