Life, 1888-09-13 · page 12 of 14
Life — September 13, 1888 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 152: Social Satire and Humor This page collects several brief satirical pieces typical of *Life* magazine's format: **"Curiosity Punished"** references an ape named Crowley (likely from a contemporary news story) who lived in Central Park. The piece uses his death to moralize about New York men who squander their potential pursuing wealth and status rather than living authentically—equating such choices with animalistic behavior. **"Business Matters"** satirizes a wealthy man's excuse for staying home: claiming "pressing business" keeps him from a European summer, when his companion knows he's actually broke ("times are very hard"). **"Keeping It a Dark Secret"** presents ironic humor: a couple thinks they're hiding their beer-drinking from her strict father, unaware he's already drinking whisky with them. The remaining pieces offer light observational humor about pretentious hikers and children's mischief. The cartoons are crude line drawings illustrating each anecdote. The satire targets wealth-obsessed New Yorkers and social hypocrisy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CURIOSITY PUNISHED. he stuck to his humble dwelling in Central Park, and busied himself with the work of his calling until the climate killed him, But his example survives, and there is no question that it is valuable to persons who are capable of appreciating it. When will the men of New York be half as resolute in being men as Crowley was in being an ape? To be a Man may not be much, but it is the finest thing on earth; and yet the streets are full of fellow-citizens of ours who give their manhood no chance, who, not driven by sore straits, but having the power to choose, choose the shadows—riches, pleasure, notoriety—and invest their lives in them, while the substance, the true life, slips through their fingers. It’s too bad about Crowley—too bad that he died—for his was a credit- able life. He succeeded in a true sense. He scorned to sell his birthright for a mess of pottage, and was satisfied to work out what was in him and die an ape. He is to be stuffed, they say, and kept that future generations may know that there was one New Yorker who never cared to be excessively nor to be one of McAllister's CCCC, BUSINESS MATTERS. FREDERIC SPYRGE (at Saratoga): Aw—I did intend, Miss Smithers, to spend the summer in Europe, but business mat- ters of pressing importance kept me at home, Sue: Yes, I heard papa say, only a day or two ago, that times are very hard. HE confidence most people are compelled to place in the metre is one sort of a gas-trust, and a very unsatisfactory one at that. KEEPING IT A DARK SECRET. &s CLARENCE, dear,” said the girl anxiously, “what in the world do you suppose papa wouldn't say if he knew that you drank beer? You know how very strict he is.” “ But he doesn’t know it, darling,” responded Clarence, reassur- ingly; “we had a drink together to-day, and we both took whisky.” CONTRARY TO TRADITION. 66 7OUNG man,” he said, solemnly, “do you realize that the truly wise man doesn’t think that he knows as much as he really does know?" “Oh, yes, was the reply, “and the man who isn't truly wise thinks he knows it all, and when he jumps in he generally gets there with both feet.” WHex you see a young man get off of a North River boat with an Alpenstock in his hand, the chances are that he has been up as far as Ron- dout for a day's outing. Johnnie (astride the turtle); THat's iT, JIMMIE, PUNCH WHEN HE GETS REAL MAD JAM THIS STICK DOWN AND KETCH HID HIM AGAIN! POPS HIS WEAD ouT, I'L ROUND THE NECK. YOU CAN FOOL THEM THAT WAY EVERY TIME, IN THINKING IT OVER AFTERWARDS THEY CONCLUDED THEY HAD BEEN WORKING AT THE WRONG END, comicbooks.com