Life, 1888-07-19 · page 3 of 14
Life — July 19, 1888 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 31 Analysis: Life Magazine Humor This page collects several short humorous pieces typical of Life's satirical style: **"On the Steamer"** presents a romantic dialogue between passengers, with the female speaker lamenting their separation. **"His Point of View"** depicts a shipboard conversation where a man describes a woman (Miss Smith) he met, noting only that "she was dressed all in black"—a joke about male obliviousness to social details. **"A Wider Experience"** and subsequent sections feature dialogue-based humor between characters like Dumley and Featherly, a Court and Mr. Johnson, and a Magistrate and Prisoner, playing on misunderstandings and social pretension. **"Thinking Caps"** concludes with a young man requesting a month to "think over" a proposal—gentle satire on romantic hesitation. The sketches mock Victorian-era social conventions, male behavior, and courtship customs through quick, punchy dialogue.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ON THE STEAMER. N the steamer, oh, my darling ! When the fog-horns screech and blow, And you hear the gentle steward Softly come and softly go— When the passengers are groaning With a great and nameless woe, Don’t you think ‘twere better, darling, You and I should go below? In the cabin, oh, my darling, Think not bitterly of me, Though I rushed away and left you In the middle of our tea; I was filled with sudden longing To gaze upon the deep blue sea ; It was best to leave you then, dear— Best for you and best for me. S a great many people object to what is known as “tipping.” perhaps they won't be willing to even Tippecanoe. This is some more Cleveland luck. HIS POINT OF VIEW. Sister: Come, DICKY; NOW TELL US WHAT THE ADORABLE Miss Siti WoRE? Dick (with tender recollections of the night before): Ot, 1 ONLY KNOW SHE Was A WIDER EXPERIENCE. UMLEY (who has given Featherly a cigar from his private box): I've smoked worse cigars than these, Featherly. FEATHERLY: Ye-es, Dumley, 1 s'pose you have ; but you must remember that you are an older man than I am. A FINE DISTINCTION, “HE COURT: How is this, Mr. Johnson? time you were here you consented to be sworn, and now you simply make affirmation. Mr. JOHNSON: Well, yo’ Honah, de reason am dat 1 ‘spects I ain't quite so suah about de facks ob dis case as de odder. THE AMENDE HONORABLE. “ORELY TIRED MAGISTRATE: It's S ten dollars fine. What did you drink to bring you to this deplorable condition, whiskey ? PRISONER (‘ndignantly) : No, sir; I drank nothing but champagne. MAGISTRATE (meekly): Oh, pardon me; to show you that no insult was intended 1'll make the fine twenty dollars. THINKING CAPS. ‘€ 7 CANNOT give you a definite an- swer to-night, Mr. Paperwate,” said \ the girl softly; “ you must give me a month eet to think it over.” \fe “Very well,” was the young man’s re- sponse, “and in the meantime I can think it over myself.” The last - DRESSED ALL IN BLACK, WHAT SHE REALLY WORE, SAD TRUTH. BASEBALL—The average concert rendition of “ Rock- ed in the cradle of the deep.” WHY HE DIDN’T WANT IT. 7 ARRINGER, have you a half dollar that you don’t want?” “Why certainly. Here it is.” The next day: “Say, Darringer, that half dollar you gave me was a counterfeit.” “Yes, Bromley. You asked me if I had a half dollar that I didn’t want.” comicbooks.com