Life, 1890-01-30 · page 1 of 16
Life — January 30, 1890 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Give and Take" - Life Magazine, January 30, 1890 This cartoon satirizes social class dynamics in 1890s New York. A well-dressed man (appearing to represent upper-class society) sits with a woman identified as "Miss Manhattan." The Duke of Medbury offers to "wager" Miss Manhattan knows Burke better than he does—Burke likely referring to Burke's Peerage, a guide to aristocratic lineage. Miss Manhattan's retort suggests that despite the Duke's noble credentials, his Grace couldn't "stump" her on Broadway—implying New York's commercial culture and street knowledge rival European aristocratic pretension. The satire mocks both the snobbish European nobleman and the brash American socialite, suggesting American wealth and urban sophistication challenge Old World aristocratic superiority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| VOLUME Xv. NEW YORK, JANUARY 30, 1890. NUMBER 370. i Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Copyright, 1890, by Mrrewart & Mitier. perRicany, ss SVM. GIVE AND TAKE. The Duke of Mudbury: Now, Miss MANHATTAN, I'LL WAGER YOU KNOW YOUR BURKE BETTER THaN I Do, Miss Manhattan: Av, BUT 1 DARE SAY YOUR GRACE COULD STUMP ME ON BRADSTREET. comicbooks.com