Life, 1888-07-12 · page 3 of 14
Life — July 12, 1888 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 17 This page contains humorous dialogue and satirical content typical of early 20th-century Life magazine. **"The Broken One"** illustration depicts a street scene where a boy reports to a lady that "Leander Binks giv my girl half an orange, an' she's run off with him." The satire mocks romantic drama over trivial gestures—suggesting a girl would abandon her sweetheart for fruit. Other sections include brief comedic exchanges about housing complaints, numismatic worthlessness, and workplace frustrations. "To Helen, on Her Birthday" is a poem mocking the gods' gifts to Helen of Troy, suggesting Father Time's neglect is her worst curse. The humor relies on everyday social observations—landlord problems, romantic jealousy, labor disputes—making pointed fun at contemporary middle-class anxieties and relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES. ROWN: How do you like your new house ? SmItH: Well, there are some objection- able features about it. Brown: What are they? SMITH: The landlord's. HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS ABOUT. $$ SrEst HAUSEN,” said the leader of the little German band to the Trombone ; “ vat for you blay soloud? You drown der rest of dat music.” “MEIGENSTEINER,” returned the Trom- bone; “ven I don’d blay so loud und drown the rest of dat music, ve lose money; so don'd you forgot id!" BETTER THAN NOTHING. OUNG MAN (to num#smatist) : What's a silver half dollar worth dated 1833? NUMISMATIST: Nothing; the market is flooded with them. YOUNG MAN (discouraged): 1 thought they were valuable. Can't you give me something for it ? NuMISMATIST: I wouldn't mind giving "Ot. youa quarter, YounG Man: Take it; that's better than nothing. TO HELEN, ON HER —-TH BIRTHDAY. ““TANTAME ANIMIS CCELESTIBUS IR?" HE bounteous gods at Helen's birth S ~~ ee ates BSS [KF With gifts divine came laden ; AR! | Said Venus, ‘She of all the earth Ra Shall be the fairest maiden.” ace ree Jove graced her with a royal mien pe To win each mortal’s duty ; A SO Athena's gift was all unseen— iN A mind to match her beauty. 7 Each brought a boon, save one, alas! Who had not been invited ; I know not how it came to pass, But Father Time was slighted. His vengeance for the sad neglect, I own, might be severer; Fair Helen gets the cut direct— Time never has come near her. James Jeffrey Rocke, THE BROKEN ONE, Lady: WHAT'S THE MATTER, MY LITTLE MAN? Boy: LEANDER BINKS GIV MY GIRL HALF AN ORANGE, AN’ SHE'S RUN OFF WITH Lady: OH, NEVER MIND, YOU CAN SOON FIND ANOTHER SWEETHEART. Boy: Nav, TO FILL. AN EARLY GRAVE. T LADY, WEDLOCK IS NOT FOR ME; MY ONLY HOPE IS THE RIGHT ANSWER. EACHER (fo class): Why is procrastination called the thief of time? Boy (at foot of class): Because it takes a person so long to say it. AT THE CLUB. ACK HARDUP (who always forgets to repay): | say, J old fellow, lend me a dollar, will you? I have nothing but a large bill in my pocket.” FRIEND (who has been caught before): Whose is it, your tailor’s ? ANOTHER WRONG TO BE RIGHTED. E/MPLOvER (to spokesman of deputation): So you want your pay raised, do you? Don't you think that is rather cool, just after I have given you the benefit of the Saturday half-holiday ? SPOKESMAN: Sure, that’s just the cause of it. You don't suppose we can get along with the same wages when we have a half-holiday every week ! A JACK-KNIFE is a dangerous thing, but is not so fatal as a jack-pot. comicbooks.com