Life, 1888-05-03 · page 11 of 16
Life — May 3, 1888 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 255: Victorian-Era Satirical Content This page contains period satirical advertisements and two cartoon jokes mocking 1890s upper-class pretension. **The advertisements** parody fashionable young men of means—one listing a "domestic dude (slightly damaged)" for rent, another offering a gentleman's complete social outfit (monocle, cravats, walking-sticks, theatrical photographs) cheaply as he "retires temporarily from active fashionable life." The satire targets the superficiality of maintaining appearances through purchased accessories. **"Animosity After Death"** jokes about class indifference: a reporter asks the assistant editor to contribute to burying a poor proofreader; offered one dollar, he gives two to bury him "one dollar's worth deeper"—mocking callousness toward working-class death. **"It Does Make a Difference"** depicts a governor outraged his son ran away with a girl—until learning she's worth twenty thousand a year. The governor's opposition instantly vanishes. This satirizes how wealthy families' moral objections to relationships evaporate when money is involved, exposing mercenary hypocrisy beneath claims of principle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IMPORTANT ADVERTISEMENTS. ° LET, by week or month, one heavy English-made Walking-stick with mouth-piece complete ; also attached, one domestic dude (slightly damaged). FS SALE.—.Maynificent opportunity sor a young man of small means. A gentleman about to retire temporarily from active fashionable life, offers his complete outfit and datterde de société at the phenomenal price of $50, including — 1 pet bull-dog collar, cost $15; 5 pairs shoe leggings; 1 monocle, plain glass ; over 1,000 old tea-cards and invitations (best up- town localities), to stick in looking-glasses and picture-frames; 3 trouser racks; 1 bottle boot varnish; 1 do. mustache tonic; 45 cravats, includ- ing 3 examples of the celebrated “Dog Show Plaque,” and 1 “ Abraham's Bosom ;” 13 walking-sticks, and 1 Brigg umbrella, never unrolled ; 1 figured meerschaum pipe (Comstock) ; 35 photographs of theatrical people, most of them signed; 7 high hats; 1 turquoise pin ;"1 silver-mounted shaving-mug; and a library of 7 volumes, viz. : “Bell's Life,” Zola’s “ Pot Bouille,” bound volume of “Life” (slightly thummed), Appleton’s “Guide to Manners,” “Night Side of New York,” Dr. Dix’s Sermons, and a book of accounts. “RRTICKE THROUCH AND HOW HE WAS FOOLED. ANIMOSITY AFTER DEATH. EPORTER (fo assistant editor): Can you chip in something towards burying the proof-reader. He died without a cent. AssIsTANT EDITOR: How much do you ‘ want me to give ? A: “rr “One dollar.” . “ Well, there are two dollars; bury him one IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. dollar's worth deeper.” The Governor: A PRETTY FELLOW YOU ARE TO DISGRACE ME_IN THIS way! ‘WHAT ON EARTH TEMPTED YOU TO RUN AWAY WITH THAT GIRL? . Alfred: WHY, LEAVING OUT ALL SENTIMENT, SIR, IT WASHER TWENTY OMEN may not have the right to vote, THOUSAND A YEAR. ; eae The Governor; OQH—AH—IT was PRETTY ROUGH, AFTER ALL, TO HAVE MET but no one questions their right to veto. wit so MUCH OPPOSITION. comicbooks.com