Life, 1888-07-19 · page 12 of 14
Life — July 19, 1888 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page contains several short satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor magazines: **"Hobson's Choice"** jokes about a woman choosing between Canadian summers and her husband, who preferred Canada to "Sing-Sing" (a notorious prison), implying he's a criminal. **"Publishers' Contracts"** mocks the powerlessness of young authors: a publisher is so intimidating the author won't even bow to him without explicit permission in the contract—satirizing exploitative publishing deals. **"Would Get Over It"** is a brief joke about a stingy uncle and a poor child's reaction to receiving a nickel. **"Mr. Ah Wing's Distorted Views"** presents Chinese-immigrant perspective (rendered in offensive pidgin English, typical of the era) observing American electoral politics: that whichever party has more money wins the presidency, regardless of ideology—suggesting American democracy is simply purchasable. The cartoons accompanying these pieces use exaggerated illustrations to emphasize the humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HOBSON'S CHOICE. HAT? Leave these cool breezes for a sum- mer in Canada!” “Well, my husband is there—and—" “Goodness! The idea of his going there!” ~ Well, he preferred Canada } to Sing-Sing.” PUBLISHERS'- CON- TRACTS. RIEND (toyoung author): Isn‘t that gentleman who just passed us the publisher of your book, Charley ? YOUNG AUTHOR (¢” @ low reverent tone of voice): Yes. FRIEND: He seems a very proud man, Why didn’t you bow to him? YOUNG AUTHOR (earnestly): Fred, I wouldn't dare to; it's not down in the contract. WOULD GET OVER IT. et i ind said his penurious uncle, “how would you feel if 1 were to give you a nickel?” “T think,” replied Tommy, “that I would feel a little faint at first.” pee bomb is dynamightier than the sword. MR. AH WING'S DISTORTED VIEWS. J BLY four yeah Melican man get heap tired “~ him Plesident man, Tly to get new one. Two kind Melican man, Democlat and Lepub- lican, Democlat say Lepublican man no goodee, Le publican he no likee Democlat. Sabe ? Soebly four yeah hab heap good timee, Fightee, dlinkee whiskey, tellee bad stoley bout Plesident man, spend heap money. Supplose Democlat he got em most money. He get ‘em Plesident. Allee same Lepublican man, Sabe ? Tienty-four yeah Lepublican man he got em most money. Democlat he no spend em. He save ‘em, Next time he catch em Cleveland. Heap big man. Dis time Lepublican man he likee Hallison. Democlat man he likee allee same Cleveland. Who catch em Plesident ? Me no sabe! Who got em most money and pullee ? Ah Wing. comicbooks.com