Life, 1888-08-30 · page 7 of 14
Life — August 30, 1888 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 119 **The Cartoon ("A Conversation Overheard"):** This simple sketch depicts two figures in conversation, with one saying "Don't," another asking "Why? Don't you like it?", and the response "Yes, but don't." The humor is subtle—likely poking fun at indecisive or contradictory social behavior, a common target of Life's satirical cartoons. **The Written Content:** The page contains two distinct pieces: a recipe/instructions for making a "Claret Cup" (a wine-based beverage), and a brief satirical piece titled "The Stereotyped Answer" where M. Inkling comments on predictable social responses. The claret cup instructions are humorous and detailed, while the final line about red making bulls and madder animals is a pun-based joke.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CONVERSATION “Don't.” “War? “YES, BUT Dow Don't y FOR CLARET CUP. TOM. CM, HE claret cup jug must be glass of pure crystal ; Nothing meaner should hold this rare whet for your whistle ; Tt ought to be generous, portly and clear, And this is the way that we fill it, my dear: Two ponies or less of fine Cognac we use, Ditto Benedictine, or the yellow Chartreuse ; The juice of two lemons is next to go in, With a curl of the peel and some slices cut thin, Then, if in your garden no borage you find, You have only to plump in some cucumber rind ; Of sugar the guantum's a matter to guess— For the girls, say two spoonfuls; for men, rather less. The foundation, of course, is a quart of Bordeaux, The best is not wasted, the poorest won't go. (‘* He that hath shall have more,” not of thanks, though, I ween, Who for claret gives logwood, for brandy, benzine). And as mortar to bricks, and as lime to the mortar, ‘The main-stay of cup is a good soda-water ; Add a bottle of that, and of this point be sure, You're safe only with ‘* Club," or our own ‘* Delatour.” OVERHEARD. U LIKE IT?” Don't forget, to cool all, that your ice must be there— One good chunk, if you please, or I stop in despai Little pieces but weaken our tested proportions, And bring damnatory, not grateful, emotions, ‘Then the garnishing comes, that deft, finishing touch Which completes the good work, and ‘of many makes much ;"" A handful of berries adorns just this place, And a bouquet of mint is the last crowning grace. There’s a drink that ne'er Jove had, nor Abra'm, nor Jacob, Sidney Smith and his anchorite, too, it might wake up; So pour out a glassful, with never a fear, For that is the way the jug’s emptied, my dear! WD. £E. THE STEREOTYPED ANSWER. R. INKLING (who aspires to authorship and matrt- mony, to his intimate friend, bitterly): Well, I've seen her. I did it; it’s over! “Ah, indeed, and what was the result?” “Oh, just the same as usual: ‘ Declined, with thanks.’” I" is a queer coincidence that red is made from madder, and bulls are made madder by red. comicbooks.com