Life, 1890-05-29 · page 3 of 18
Life — May 29, 1890 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine (Volume XV, Number 387) contains political and social satire targeting wealthy industrialists and their influence. The main cartoon "Business is Business" depicts what appears to be a wealthy businessman (labeled "Silas") negotiating to marry off his daughter to a nobleman for money, treating matrimony as a business transaction. The dialogue satirizes how the ultra-wealthy view marriage as commerce rather than romance. The smaller cartoons labeled "Half Calf" and "Full Calf" appear to be satirical character studies, likely mocking social types or political figures of the era. The opening section critiques Andrew Carnegie's influence in American politics, specifically questioning how a wealthy businessman managed to keep someone out of the U.S. Senate—suggesting concern about plutocratic control of government. The "Unmailable Letters" section provides additional satirical commentary on contemporary social attitudes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XV. NUMBER 387. OVERHEARD AT TROY. es HaT is Flan- nigan's busi- ness?” “He's a voter.” pee is one thing nie; about Andrew Car- re negie that this journal confesses its inability to comprehend, and that is, how a man of his wealth has managed to keep out of the United States Senate. BUSINESS IS BUSINESS. “WHO IS THAT WITH YOUR DAUGHTER, SILAS?" “TT's A NOBLEMAN I BOUGHT FOR HER ON THE OTHER SIDE.” “Dip YoU PAY MUCH FOR HIM?” “WELL, I HAD TO PAY SOMETHING.” “You GOT CHEATED, SILas.” UMMAILABLE LETTERS. O you believe that marriage is a lottery, Mr. Wanamaker?" asked Benjamin Harrison. “ Largely so, Mr. President.” “Fun Car.” “Then you must forbid mail facilities to love-letters.” comicbooks.com