Life, 1889-06-27 · page 11 of 17
Life — June 27, 1889 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 377 This page contains a humorous narrative sequence about packing for travel, likely depicting a married couple preparing for a journey. The illustrations show the escalating chaos of Wife's packing efforts—trunks overflowing, clothing strewn about, and increasingly frantic activity. The satire targets the stereotype of wives' excessive luggage and the time-consuming nature of packing, contrasted with the husband's (Rufus's) impatience. The final panel shows a boat departing without them, suggesting the packing took so long they missed their departure entirely. The accompanying text discusses John L. Sullivan and the Wallack theatrical company, appearing to be an unrelated tribute to deceased actor John Gilbert. The page mixes satirical domestic humor with theatrical commentary, typical of Life's format during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LIFE: 377 OF course RUFUS WAS ONLY TOO GLAD TO FINISH PACKING HIS WIFE'S TRUNKS FOR HER, AND ALTHOUGH THERE SEEMED TO BE PLENTY OF TIME IN A WESTERN HOTEL. Englishman (with unsealed letter): CLERK, HAVE YOU ANY GUM? Clerk: No.1 ain't GOT NO GuM, GIVE VER A CHAW TERBACKER. UR esteemed religious contemporary the Sun says that the managers of a good many of the branches of the Young Men's Christian Association are disturbed on ac- count of the way in which baseball absorbs the minds and energies of the members. Perhaps this is due to the public indorsement given by the Association to Pitcher Stag; curves and other Y. M. C. A. methods in playing ball. "TO HANK Heaven, it was not true. The pulses and arteries of this great nation stood still, men met each other with down- cast and averted looks, the sad news was flashed under the ocean waves, and even the very air was freighted with the weight of woe. But it was not true. John L. Sullivan did not break training and get drunk. NE DID NOT CATCH THE BOAT AFTER ALL, HE death of John Gilbert, easily first among the men” of the American stage, brings back to recollection once more the glories of the Wallack regime, For twenty-seven years Mr. Gilbert imper ed the old men in the Wallack productions. Asa rule, dramatists endow the old men in plays with only kindly qualities, and these Mr. Gilbert seemed made by nature to reproduce, He was most at home in parts like Jesse Rural, where he seemed the personification benevolence. He was beloved by the theatre-going public of New York in the dual capacity of man and actor. His work found such an appropriate setting and harmonized so thoroughly with its surroundings in the Wallack company that Mr, Gilbert's memory will always be particularly associated with its triumphant career. Its disbandment left him with no necessity to look for new Puppy: ON, COME NOW, DRY UP, employment, and his last days were spent in well-earned comfort, comicbooks.com