Life — May 10, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Tis a Wise Child, Etc." — Life Magazine, May 10, 1888 This satirical cartoon depicts a conversation between a father and daughter. The caption indicates the father has just learned his daughter attended the theater the previous evening and greeted him cheerfully with "Good morning, Daughter of Satan"—to which she responds innocently, "Good morning, Father." The joke relies on a religious/moral critique: the father, apparently of strict Calvinist faith, considers theater attendance sinful enough to warrant calling his daughter "Daughter of Satan." The daughter's innocent reciprocal greeting ("Father") becomes darkly comedic—suggesting the father himself deserves such a demonic title for his harsh judgment. This satirizes rigid Victorian religious moralism and parental hypocrisy, portraying the father as unreasonably austere.