Life, 1888-11-01 · page 4 of 14
Life — November 1, 1888 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 242: Life Magazine Satire This page contains several brief satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor: **"The Retort Positive"** mocks a Maine voice claiming "Trusts are private affairs," with the rejoinder that ballots determine such matters—likely referencing contemporary trust-busting political debates. **"Morning Devotions in Philadelphia"** shows a crowd gathered at a doorway, apparently satirizing religious or civic gatherings in that city. **"A Fall Episode"** presents a dialogue between a stranger attempting to ship dynamite and a railroad agent who refuses, citing safety concerns. This appears to satirize either anarchist threats or dangerous shipping practices of the era. **"Our Fresh Air Fund"** lists charitable donations, a recurring feature acknowledging reader contributions to social welfare programs. The humor relies on contemporary political and social anxieties familiar to Life's educated, urban readership.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE RETORT POSITIVE. HE voice of one crying from Maine, “Trusts are private affairs, I maintain.” But the people said, ‘So Is the ballot, you know, A private affair, Mister Blaine.” . . . -ARGE iron spring has been discovered in the northern part of the State; it is supposed to have escaped from a Waterbury watch, DWARD: Got any money on the elec- tion ? Rurus: None straight; only a hun- dred on Harrison for a place. . 28 « 2 T OHNNIE (whohas lately read the papers): Mr. Goldby, do you believe in Prohibition or Free Trade? GoLpby: Well—er—I really don’t know. a 7 MORNING DEVOTIONS IN PHILADELPHIA, CERTAIN Colonel has recently removed from his boyhood home in Kentucky. On meeting a friend from the old place he was naturally delighted and anxious to learn all the news. “Well, everything seems to be going on about the same,” said his friend. “Well, how’s Jim Bullard getting on with his saloon? Jim used to keep first-class goods, and I always predicted that he'd make a big success.” “Oh, Jim failed—went all to pieces—hadn’t a dollar left.” “You don’t tell me!” exclaimed the Colonel. “I'm sorry to hear that. When did he fail?” “Isdon’t remember exactly, Colonel, but I think it was about three weeks after you moved away.” A PALL EPISODE. Thomas Jefferson Jones: GRAN'POP, YO! BETTER NOT TIE DAT MEWL UNDER DAT TREE, 'CAUSE DE LEABES MIGHT FALL ON "UM AN’ BREAK MIS BACK, . . . TRANGER: I have here a can of dynamite which I wish to ship to Von Firemouth, in Chicago. R.R. AGENT: Can't take it. We don’t want any deal- ings with you bloodthirsty enemies of the human race. STRANGER: Well, on second thoughts, I guess I'll walk there with it. I don’t want to trust it to your pauper Ital- ian switchmen, boy brakemen, wooden bridges, and rusty rails. It might go off and hurt somebody—just as your trains do. . . * OUR FRESH AIR FUND. Previously acknowledged, J. S. (acknowledged last week) Woodley B. Smith, Norwood B. Smith, + Elliott M. Smith, $6,042.83 15.00 11.25, $6,069.08 comicbooks.com