Life, 1890-02-20 · page 5 of 18
Life — February 20, 1890 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 105 This page contains several unrelated humorous anecdotes and illustrations typical of Life's satirical format: **"The Irony of Fate"** presents a lawyer's story about a successful boy (John) who now owns real estate, contrasted with a "bad boy" (Jim) who merely dusts office corners—yet Jim has become the more prosperous man owning multiple city blocks. The joke satirizes unpredictable life outcomes and social mobility. **"Mrs. Somebody's Husband"** is a brief, cynical quip about spousal fame dynamics. **"Recent Literature"** section includes three unrelated cartoon vignettes with captions like "April Hopes," "Face to Face," and "He Did Know"—featuring a snowball fight reference and general domestic humor. The page reflects early 20th-century American humor emphasizing irony, class commentary, and domestic situations rather than specific political events.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE IRONY OF FATE. ss ELL, friend of other days, how are you, and how is the law? And what has become of that good boy, John, who used to dust out the corner of your office so carefully? And what has become of that bad boy, Jim, who used to skip the corner entirely?” asked the visitor, as he sauntered in after an absence of twenty years. “Hem!” began the lawyer, clearing his throat; ‘fairish! fairish ! John was a trusty boy, was'nt he? And he's a man to be proud of !— a man to be proud of! Why, sir, he’s dusting out that same corner to-day just as clean as he used to sweep it.” “And that bad boy, Jim?” “Jim! Ah, yes. Jim—he owns the corner, together with about four blocks of real estate in each direction. John and | work for him.” HANDLED WITH CARE. £6 I DON'T see why you criticise the mail service. I sent a letter toa man in Chicago a month ago.” “And when did he get it?” “He didn’t get it. The letter came back to me in good shape, and that after having gone way out to San Francisco.” HE DID KNOW. es GENERAL GREELY, do you know a snowball from a Charity Ball?” 3; one strikes you on the neck and the other hits you on the pocket.” MRS. SOMEBODY'S HUSBAND. HOUGH it may be only human To wed for fame and pelf, God help you if the woman Is more famous than yourself. RECENT LITERATURE. “Face To Face.” comicbooks.com