Life, 1889-08-29 · page 12 of 16
Life — August 29, 1889 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire Page Analysis This page contains multiple brief satirical commentaries typical of *Life* magazine's humor: **Top cartoon**: An American tourist at the Eiffel Tower marvels at how small everything appears below, sarcastically commenting on European grandeur—mocking American provincialism and boastfulness abroad. **"Le Retour"**: Jokes about a woman's summer vacation funded by a depleted purse, now returning to work at Macy's asking for "cash"—satirizing the genteel poor and seasonal employment. **Corporal Tanner reference**: Appears to mock a Republican political figure being adopted as a platform plank to address budget surplus—political satire on using personalities rather than policy. **Bateman/Ismay quip**: Likely references a ship incident where a Briton was criticized; satirizes class and nationality tensions. **Colonial chief cartoon**: A comedic "fish-out-of-water" joke about a native chief threatening to expel a European woman in modern dress, fearing his wives' jealousy—mocking both colonial stereotypes and Victorian sensibilities about women's clothing. The page blends topical political jokes with social satire about American travelers, class, and gender conventions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AT THE TOP OF THE EIPFEL TOWER. Traveling American: Good GRaciovs! FAR DENEATH ME IT ALL SEEMS! p EUROPEANS ARE! How How sMaLt LE RETOUR. ING a song of summer, A pocket void of wealth; She's been at the sea-shore To benefit her health. Now vacation's over, Her money's gone to smash, She'll soon be back at Macy's As usual calling —'* Ca-a-ash !" F the boys could do all they intend to do, and the men could do all they “used to do,” what a brilliant world this would be! Co ANNpAtiSM in Chicago seems to be increasing, to judge by this open adver- tisement in the News: J ( STH-AV.-WANTED—A LADY TO COOK. AXTER STR has more prominent features than any other locality in New York. LGY: We cannot decide whether it is good form for you to wear a mous- tache with knee-breeches, as we have never seen a moustache dressed in that manner. “Jump iin, Dab, aND I’Lt CLEAR You!" (But he didn't clear him, and the old man expects to carry the marks to his grave. O one seems to be getting on so fast as Corporal Tanner. It is understood that he is to be adopted bodily as one of the planks of the next Republican platform, in lieu of any device for the reduction of the surplus. There's nothing like Tanner. OM. A. BATEMAN justified his name in squelching Mr. Ismay, but really, if a Briton isn’t to be allowed to brag aboard his own com- pany’s steamer, this is getting to be a very hard and cruel world indeed. NOT SUCH A FOOL AS HE LOOKS. Chief (to young lady who has come ashore for a ramble): YOUNG Woman, I DON'T WISH TO BE INHOSPITABLE, BUT YOU MUST LEAVE HERE IMMEDIATELY. IF MY WIVES WERE TO SEE YOUR COSTUME, MY FUTURE LIFE WOULD BE A NEVER END- ING MISERY. comicbooks.com