Life, 1889-12-19 · page 11 of 18
Life — December 19, 1889 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 349 This page contains three satirical pieces: 1. **"A Conversation"** (top): A dialogue mocking American showmanship and theatrical fraud. Two figures debate whether circus perpetrators are "vulgar" or "sharp and intelligent," ultimately concluding Americans view the entire enterprise as "a gigantic and successful practical joke." 2. **"A Gentle Hint"** (middle-left): Mr. and Miss Grump discuss insomnia remedies—Dr. Fourfthly's sermons are humorously suggested as a cure for sleeplessness. 3. **"Nothing New to Them"** and related pieces (lower section): Brief quips about smokeless powder and a politician's crimes (horse stealing, arson). "His First Offense" depicts a domestic scene involving infidelity and reconciliation. The overall tone satirizes American entertainment culture, politics, and social hypocrisy typical of *Life* magazine's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A CONVERSATION. Overheard near the “Angelus” after the crowd had gone. How sick I am of this farce ! Sur: I believe it well, It is a degrada- tion. He: And to think that we, simple unpre- tentious peasants, should be made to serve such a purpose! fa for, but these Ameri- cans are offensive! Sur: No more so than the perpetrators of the show, He: But yes, Jeanne, for they are vulgar and without perception, whereas the perpe- trators are vulgar perhaps, but they are sharp and intelligent. Sue: Perhaps well ? He: And this crowd—to sce them standing before us with their false enthusiasm blinded by the glory of that hundred thousand of their damnés dollars—bah | I sicken at it, Snr: And this putting us off by ourselves and draping that cloth about the frame is a perpetual horror, How can they do it?) Why do not the crowd burst into laughter when they see it? Recause they take it all seriously. Sue: Possible, But, mon cher Jules, they must see that we are not such an extraordinary picture. Not they! They only see what they are told. : But what is the reason for it all ? he reason for it all, my é/en aimée, is that the Yankees love to be humbugged and now they are just getting it in the neck. Sie: But we are no humbugs ; we are honest enough. He: Diadle, 1 should say so! As far as we go nothing could be better, but these imbeciles have heard no end of stuff about a “deep religious feeling” in us, and when a deep religious brings a hundred thousand dollars the cultivated American is going to sce it, you know, and let his friends realize that he appreciates it. Sue: It's all like a hideous nightmare, is it not ? He: Yes, but there is one consolation. Sue: What is that? He: We area gigantic and successful practical joke on the Ameri- can public. A GENTLE HINT. LD MR. GRUMP (at? the door): Maria! Miss GruMP: Yes, papa. OLp Mr. Grup: If that young man fs troubled with insomnia jest tell him we've got a spare bedroom up stairs with a copy o° Dr. Fourthly’s sermons on the table. NOTHING NEW TO THEM. "ANNY: The papers are mak- ing a great fuss about smoke- less powder now. ARABELLA: Yes; just as though we had not used it for years, OLITICIAN: Were you ever up for anything out West? RETURNED Boomer: Oh, yes; I was up twice. POLITICIAN: What for? RETURNED BOOMER: Horse stealing and arson. HIS FIRST OFFENSE. “On, Epwarb, WHY ARE YOU SO LATE? I HAVE BEEN so FRIGHTENED.” Edward (wh? has “taken in” champagne supper): "PORTANT BISNISH, M'. DEAR. “WOULDN'T IT KEEP TILL TO-MORROW ?" “\No, LOVE; NOT AFTER CORKSH DRAWN.” comicbooks.com