Life, 1888-12-27 · page 41 of 43
Life — December 27, 1888 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines satirical humor with book advertisements from what appears to be the late 19th century. **The Cartoons**: Two simple sketches show an old gentleman being tricked into jumping—first reluctant ("Won't he jump!"), then successfully startled into action ("He jumps."). This appears to be gentle, physical humor about fooling an elderly person, typical of period comedy. **The Clippings Section**: Three brief jokes mock theatrical pretension and social dishonesty. One actor is told his Hamlet needs a "tank scene" (absurd suggestion). Another joke ridicules a man carrying two watches—an expensive Jurgensen for impressing strangers and ladies, a cheap Waterbury for creditors he's avoiding. These satirize vanity, financial dishonesty, and class consciousness. **The Advertisements**: The bulk of the page promotes boys' books by Robert Grant and illustrated Christmas volumes, targeting middle-class parents concerned about "what your son reads." This reflects Victorian anxiety about proper moral education. The overall tone: lighthearted mockery of pretension and deceit, wrapped in entertainment for genteel readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SOME FUN WITH AN OLD GENTLEMAN. - LIFE: 25 “Won't HE JUMP!” THE TWO BOY’S BOOKS OF THE YEAR. JACK IN THE BUSH; R, A Summer on a) Salmon River. By ROBERT GRANT. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill. Mr. Grant in his second book for boys has achieved another | decided triumph.—Boston Sat- urday Evening Gasette, Its literary qualities are as | strong as its popular qualities, and open to Mr. Grant ways to new, certain, and unrivaled achievement. It has many beau- tiful illustrations, that, in draw- ing and printing, represent the | very best American work.—Bos- | ton Sunday Globe, Sept. 9. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WHAT YOUR SON READS? Nothing published for years appeals so directly to a boy's better nature as JACK HALL; OR, The School-Days of an American Boy. | By ROBERT GRANT. It is a model boy's book, and every one who has boys to care for should procure a copy. We do not know a living author who writes a better book for boys than Robert Grant— | Philadelphia Press. FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. PUBLISHED BY CLIPPINGS. Actor : How did your people like Ham/ef last night ? ‘WESTERN MANAGER: Oh, pretty well; but I heard several of them say it would never be a big success until you wrote a tank scene in somewhere.—Jexas Siftings. Gus: Do youcarry two watches, Jack, or is that double chain a bluff ? Jack: No bluff, Gus. I carry a Waterbury in one pocket and a Jur- gensen in the other. Gus : What’sthat for? Jack: Whenamanto whom I owe money asks me the time I consult my Waterbury, but when a stranger or a lady wants the same information, it’s the Jurgensen that gives it, and don’t you forget it !—Epoch. ILLUSTRATED CHRISTMAS BOOKS. A SUMMER VOYAGE ON SAONE. By Pamir Giwvert Haserron, Illustrated by Joseph Pennell and the Author. Quarto. Full gilt, Cloth. Price, $3.50. A delightful volume. THE MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill. Quarto. Full THE RIVER By Epwarp Everetr Hate. gilt, Cloth. Price, $2.50 ‘ his is the first attempt to give this world-renowned volume a fitting costume, IN HIS NAME. By Epwarp Ever Illustrated by G. P. Jacomb-Hood. eTT Haug. 12.n0, Full gilt. Cloth, Price, $2.00. THE BOOK OF CHRISTMAS. Descriptive of the Customs, Ceremonies, Traditions, Superstitions, Fun, Feel- ing and Festivities of the Christmas season. By ‘'Homas K. HERVEY. With all the original illustrations by R. Seymour. 12mo, Cloth. 2.00. This is a new edition of a clever book by the poet Hervey, long out of print, probably the best account ever written of the now universally celebrated Christmas Season. Price, NONSENSE BOOKS. Comprising “A Book of Nonsepse Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets,” “More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany,” etc. ighable Lyris a Fresh Book of Nonsense Boems, Songs, Botany,” etc. By Epwarp With all the original illustrations, a sketch of the author's life and a portrait, Complete in one volume, 12mo.' Cloth. Price, $2.00. Send for our New Descriptive Catalogue (free) containing list of other presentation books. Our books are sold everywhere. Mailed, post-paid, by the publishers, on receipt of price. ROBERTS BROTHERS, JORDAN, MARSH & CO., BOSTON Boston, Mass. comicbooks.com