Life, 1889-06-20 · page 3 of 18
Life — June 20, 1889 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XIII, Number 238) This page contains three separate pieces of satirical content: 1. **"On the Pullman"** - A poem by Irving S. Underbill about newlyweds hiding their relationship on a Pullman (railroad) car, with the joke being that everyone knew anyway. 2. **"The Wise Druggist"** - A comedic dialogue where a customer requests "soap—cast-iron" (likely a pun), and the clerk assumes she wants Castile soap but questions whether she's confused the metal. 3. **"The Excursion Season"** - References the Mikado (a Japanese warship) involved in unsuccessful encounters with enemies during what appears to be military conflict, with commentary about casualties. 4. **"Military Terms"** - A visual joke labeled "Falling in," depicting soldiers falling into a trench or ditch, playing on double meaning of the military phrase. The page reflects early 20th-century American humor and military/naval references.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XIII. ON THE “PULLMAN.” any ; were bridegroom and bride, (everyone) And] nobody J knew it; carefully tried— were bridegroom and bride— relation to hide, ) So none would construe it. We | were bridegroom and bride, (every one) And) nobody J Irving S. Underhill. knew it. THE WISE DRUGGIST. ELL, sonny, what is it?” asked the drug clerk, peer- ing over the counter at the three-foot mite of humanity. “Mammy sent me to get a piece of soap-—cast-iron, I think she said.” “We don't keep any summer-hotel soap here,” returned the clerk; “ you must have mistaken the metal. Wasn't it Castile?” “cc Eg THE EXCURSION SEASON. Mr. Nazyna Ti (who has been sent to America by the Japanese government to report on the navy): AH, 1 SEE. THIS IS ONE OF YOUR NEW MEN-OF-WAR, RETURNING FROM A SUCCESSFUL ENCOUNTER WITH THE ENEMY, SOME OF WHOM ARE STILL ON BOARD, WHILE THE DECKS ARE COVERED WITH THE DEAD AND DYING HEROES. THE MIKADO WILL BE MUCH INTERESTED IN MY REPORT. A BALCONY SCENE. She: No, BILLY, I CAN'T COME DOWN TO-NIGHT, I AIN'T BEEN GOOD, AN’ I AIN'T GOIN’ TO GET ANY SUPPER, AN’ I'SE GOT TO GET LICKED AN’ GO TO BED! . “FALLING IN.” HE banks have stopped taking Cana- dian money, but the Canadians haven't stopped taking the banks’ money. MILITARY TERMS. comicbooks.com