Life, 1889-09-26 · page 3 of 16
Life — September 26, 1889 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XIV, Number 352) This page contains three distinct satirical pieces: **"A Foolish Text"** parodies religious preaching about self-love versus neighborly love, using Wilson K. Wells's poem to mock excessive self-regard. **"Force of Habit"** presents a cartoon where a doctor tells a lady her sick husband needs calling upon, but she refuses—the joke being she's so habituated to neglecting him that even his illness doesn't change her behavior. **"Simply Brutal"** mocks courtship rejection and social pretension through dialogue between characters Mabel and Laura, plus exchanges satirizing fashion-conscious young men and lazy work habits. The bottom illustration shows a carriage scene with accompanying dialogue about impossible demands (marrying through a window while two miles behind). Overall, these pieces target Victorian social hypocrisy, relationship dynamics, and class affectations through humor and caricature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XIV. 7 [. | A FOOLISH TEXT. OVE thy neighbor as thyself?” What a foolish preacher ! Thou art dearer than myself, Neighbor, sweetheart, teacher. None is equal to thyself, Thou art far above me, And I dare noteask myself ** Would she stoop to love me?” None I love except thyself— Kneel in awe before thee— And I only hate myself That I'm all unworthy. “* Love thy neighbor as thyself !” Parson’s lost his labor, Fool I'd be to love myself As I love my neighbor. Wilson K. Welsh, Dr.> Wet, WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU WANT? er: Can't YOU MARRY US THROUGH THE WINDOW ? “T TWO MILES BEHIND. FORCE OF HABIT. “JOHN,” SAID A LADY TO HER SICK HUSBAND “THE you.” “TELL HIM I's OUT AND HE'LL HAVE TO CALL AGAIN,” SAID JOHN FROM SHEER FORCE OF HARIT. SIMPLY BRUTAL. ABEL MEADOWSWEET: So you refused him. What did the poor fellow say ? LAuRA LAYOVEREM: He said he knew a girl who would marry him and be glad to. MABEL: I wonder whom he meant. Laura: I wondered, too, so | asked him. MABEL: Who was it? LAURA: You. RITIC: What does that fashionably attired young man with wings represent? CARTOONIST: The angel of style Critic: Who ever saw an angel wear a silk hat and a suit of clothes? CARTOONIST: Who ever saw one that didn't? CCORKLE: Isn't Briggs naturally a lazy man? McCCRACKLE: Not exactly lazy; but he seems tothink it is unhealthy to work between meals, UMSO: There's nothing in it! “FANGL jothing in what ? Cumso: Ina vacuum. OLICEMAN: Do you have to take care of the dog ? THe NuRSE-GIRL: No. The missis says I'm too young and inexperienced. 1 only look after the children, comicbooks.com