Life, 1890-06-19 · page 11 of 14
Life — June 19, 1890 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 359 **Top Cartoon:** Shows a woman and child with a small dog. The caption references "Harry De Retch" and an engagement, with dialogue about a "Tuesday evening" together. This appears to be a social/romantic satire about courtship etiquette among the upper classes. **Letter Section ("Why I"):** A reader complains to the Editor about inconsistent law enforcement—specifically that authorities raid gambling operations and pool halls while permitting horse-race betting, Chinese lottery games, and street gambling. The writer questions why working-class gambling is suppressed while wealthy pastimes escape police attention. **Bottom Cartoon ("How It Works"):** Depicts a museum trustee at home on Sunday, satirizing the hypocrisy of cultural elites who expect working people to visit museums on their day off rather than rest. The page critiques class-based double standards in Gilded Age society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: 359 - WHY? Eprtor oF Lire. Dear Sir; Why is it that the Society for the Suppression of Crime raids the pool rooms, gambling dens, ete., yet permits open advertising of odds on races ? Why is it any more reprehensible to receive and place bets than it is to publish such articles as we see in our morning papers and evening “ sporting editions.” ‘Read the Evening World's tips on races,” “+ Banister’s Surprise Party," etc. ? Can any pool rooms promote to a greater degree the desire to bet and gamble on races than the “ Barrister’s Surprise Party,” * Mutuals Banister straight, $280.25 ; place, $74.65," etc. ? Why is it that processions of Chinese appear again and again in our courts indicted for playing their ‘* small games "—played quietly in what are to them their clubs—yet the members of our clubs are never interfered with 2 Isit less evil to lose dollars at whist than pieces of copper at their games ? Why is it that the police permit the ttreet arabs to become proficient gamblers in our streets, and even gentlemen join the ring of spectators ? ‘These questions are the natura! thoughts of any one who has served on a General Sessions jury, and also of many who use their eyes by the way. Will you not bring them before the thinking public ? Yours, won, NOT ON SPEAKING TERMS. OW are you and your uncle getting along now?" “ ETHEL, I'M ENGAGED TO HARRY De RETCH—HE COULDN'T GET “We never speak OUT OF IT LAST NIGHT.” “ led?” “YOU DEAR, CLEVER GIRL—I MADE HIM PROPOSE TO ME, TOO, ON Quarreled ? Tuespay ING, AND RETWEEN US, WHAT A TIME WE CAN HAVE “No. He's dead.” rs Leh ee ninnt HOW IT WORKS. A TRUSTEE OF THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM; AT HOME OF A SUNDAY. Ut ts @ brutal shock to his sensitive nature that the working people should wish to desecrate the Sabbath by visiting a museum of ert on that day,