Life, 1890-08-07 · page 12 of 16
Life — August 7, 1890 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire Analysis This page contains several brief satirical sketches typical of Life's social humor: **"Ocean Blue"**: A couple jokes that the ocean embraces "objectionable people"—likely mocking pretentious seaside resort society. **"Going and Returning"**: Two men debate racetrack locations. Softleigh prefers Guttenberg because it's near the city with "a handy placeto walk home from"—the humor lies in the implied reason: he's broke and can't afford transportation back. **"All Dead"**: Mrs. Debraine reads that Punch magazine's original editorial circle (Mark Lemon, Douglas Jerrold, Leech, Thackeray) has completely disbanded. Mr. Debraine's response—"No; I have seen Punch"—is a deadpan joke suggesting the magazine itself is now lifeless. **"Base Ball Amenity"**: A quick quip about baseball league sympathizers offering only sympathy, not actual support—likely satirizing fair-weather fans. The page illustrates Life's trademark witty, conversational humor targeting middle-class social pretension and absurdity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mrs. Broughne: OceAN mLvE? Mr. Broughne: BECAUse. SO MANY ONJECTIONADL GEORGE, DEAR, WHY Is THE TOMAS TO EMBRACE GOING AND RETURNING. N ISS JENNIE: Monmouth Park my favorite race It's a ut inthe country, you know, and a pleas- ant place to ride out to. SOFTLEIGH: Well, I prefer Guttenberg. It's right near the city, you know, and a 2— handy placeto walk home from. } . *PAiisthe = silent ~ Yes, my son, it’s as silent as Quay. E JINKS: Here's a nice cigar, I picked it out especially for you. MERRITT: Thanks. I'd rather take the one you picked out for yourself. THE SAME MAN IN AUGUST. ALL DEAD. (reading): The whole of Punch's original I RS. DEBRAIN “ Round Table” is at last dissolved, There is no longer surviving a member of the band that in years gone by every week sat at dinner to meet Mark Lemon, Douglas Jerrold, Leech and Thackeray. Mr. DEBRAINE (weartly): Yes, yes; I know. Mrs, DEBRAID Why, have you seen this article? Mr. DEBRAINE: No; I have seen Punch. BASE BALL AMENITY. ULLO, Kel, are you a League sympathizer this year?” “Yes; they have my sympathy.” comicbooks.com