Life, 1890-10-30 · page 3 of 14
Life — October 30, 1890 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page contains two distinct satirical items: **"Woman's Reason"** (upper left): A comic dialogue mocking women's logic. Clara wants to marry Jack despite his character flaws because he's wealthy and fashionable. Her mother questions this reasoning, which Clara dismisses as "a false impression"—satirizing the idea that women prioritize material wealth and social status over genuine moral considerations in marriage decisions. **"The Edison Electric Umbrella Walker"** (lower right): A humorous illustration depicting a man using an electric umbrella as a walking device or power source. The caption suggests this absurd invention helps him navigate rainy days, likely satirizing contemporary enthusiasm for applying new electrical technology to everyday objects—a common subject of early 20th-century humor about over-mechanization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XVI. ° L. | F E 2 NUMBER 409. refer to the cost of these dinners, balls, etc. Every one in society knows how to estimate such things. The gifted author takes it for granted that the guests, as they gather at the table, at once proceed to calculate the cost of the entertainment, An abnormally developed snobbishness, abetted by the almost impos- sible vanity of this unfortunate citizen, are the only discernible reasons for the existence of such a volume. The following touching incident illustrates in a faint way the mod- esty and good taste that characterize the work : A great compliment once paid me in Newport was the speech of an old public 4 Un waiter, who had grown gray in the service, when to a confrere he exclaimed: “In ISS ills} ( . this house, my friend, you meet none but quality.” rew ‘illian igges A WOMAN'S REASON. Clara: JACK INTENDS TO HAVE EVERYTHING HIS OWN WAY WHEN WE AKE MARRIED, Clara's Mamma: TWtN WHY DO YOU MARRY HIM? Clara: TO RELIEVE HIS MIND OF A FALSE IMPRES- SOME EXTRACTS. ROFESSIONAL snobbery has reached its apex in the person and in the book of Mr. Ward McAllister. It is saddening to know that an adult American can have so little self-respect as to produce such a work, but, happily, there are few (Price members of the reading public who take this gen- E COMP tleman seriously. onery. In speaking of a girl whose reckless parents had placed her in his hands for an introduction in “society,” he says: I showed her whom to smile upon and on whom to frown; gave her the entrée to all the nice houses ; criticized severely her toilet until it became perfect. Had ever budding womanhood a more glorious opportunity for the development of character! In another place this simple patriot remarks : If you want to be fashionable be always in the company of fashionable people. . We are informed, moreover, that : THE EDISON ELECTRIC UMBRELLA WALKER. It is in excessive bad taste for such relatives to in any way Mr, Paterson: PAULINE NEVER FORGETS ME ON RAINY DAYS. comicbooks.com