Life, 1889-09-12 · page 11 of 16
Life — September 12, 1889 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 151 This page contains several brief satirical dialogues and a scientific illustration, typical of Life's humor format. **"Love's Young Dream"** mocks romantic expectations: a couple plans to name their pet "Birdy"—a diminutive, cutesy choice suggesting how marriage infantilizes partners' speech. **"Ready for Remodelling"** jokes about domestic labor: a man anticipates his flannel shirt doing laundry duty, reducing it to a utilitarian object rather than clothing. **"Too Expensive"** presents a gold-digger scenario where a woman rejects a suitor due to financial inadequacy—sharp economic commentary on marriage as transaction. **"Wonders of Science"** depicts a comet and stars through a telescope—an astronomical illustration with no apparent satirical intent. The remaining vignettes mock gender dynamics, domestic incompetence, and social pretension typical of early-20th-century American humor magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
RS. F.: They must have some very heavy winds in Boston, Mr. F.: Indeed they do. Mrs. F.: There is an item in the paper about a safe being blown open there. READY FOR REMODELLING. AWKINS: Well, Jack, the cool weather's coming on now. JACK BorrowltT: Yes, and I’m glad of it. One more washing, and my flannel shirt will do for a chest- protector. TOO EXPENSIVE. 6 . She: WHEN WE ARE MARRIED, DARLING, WHAT PET NAME SHALL I ACK: Edith will you have me ? CALL you? Tue HEIRESS: Thanks Jack—I can’t afford you. He: CALL ME Birpy, SIMPLY BIRDY, THAT IS ALL, LOVE'S YOUNG DREAM. REGULAR EXERCISE. HYSICIAN (fo unprepossessing female patient): You say you follow a seden- tary occupation—you should be on your feet as much as possible out of working hours. UNPREPOSSESSING FEMALE: I am—I tide back and forth to business in a Broad- way street-car. M® YOUNGWIFE (at breakfast): There is no bread on the table, Norah. Norak,: Shure, there’s none in the house, mum. Mrs. YOUNGWIFE (severely): Then make some toast. ME. FASHIONNE: Did you meet any nice men at Bar Harbor this sum- mer ? LALAGE: Men? There were some Phila- delphia dudes and some actors there, but no men. AWKINS: I wonder why they call a J pawnbroker “ Uncle?” BaBoony (with recollections of the“ Gou- WONDERS OF SCIENCE. ernor”): Because you can get your money COMET AND SHOOTING STARS AS SEEN THROUGH THE LICK TELESCOPE. from him without a paternal lecture.