Life, 1891-01-01 · page 13 of 18
Life — January 1, 1891 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes New York high society's pretensions and nouveau riche social climbing. The upper sections mock Ward McGuillister's dinner invitation and society column coverage, featuring absurdly grandiose guest names ("Duchess of Seven Dials," "Plantagenet Einstein") that parody aristocratic pretense. The joke intensifies when revealing the Misses Oleum—wealthy but socially new—come from "one of the oldest families in Western Pennsylvania," mocking how Americans manufacture gentility. The large illustration titled "Seeing the Old Year Out" depicts an elaborate Egyptian-themed New Year's Eve party, equating modern American revelry with ancient Egyptian practices. The caption's claim about "similarity in methods" is tongue-in-cheek: both cultures apparently engage in excessive, ostentatious celebration. The cartoon mocks how wealthy Americans adopt exotic themes and excess to appear sophisticated while fundamentally engaging in the same base festivities as any other culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: vil. Ward McGullister, Esqr., requests the pleasure of the company of the Misses Oleum to dinner at 7 Thursday P.M., at Delmonico’s, No reply is necessary. vu. FROM THE SOCIETY COLUMN OF THE New Vork Sunday Planet. The dinner given by Mr. Ward McGullister to Mrs, Rhynelander-Simpson, at Delmonico's, on Thursday evening, was one of the most rechaué events of the season. ‘The guest of the evening was seated at the host's right hand. The table was handsomely decorated with ever- greens, and the viands, while simple and inexpensive, were very filling. The other guests were the Duchess of Seven Dials (formerly Miss Beverly-Wycks, of Boston), Mrs. Chandos Dusenberry-Phipps, Mrs, Plantagenet Einstein, the Misses Oleum, Mr, Delancy Rhynelander- Simpson. Mr. T. Edgerly Wyn Koop, Mr. Van Bordentown Smith, and Mr. Chauncey Van Troup. 1x, (THe same.) Mr, McGullister tells me that the Misses Gussie and Susie Oleum are bound to create a furore in New York society this winter. They are not only wealthy and beautiful, but are thoroughly accomplished, having acquired their education abroad. In addition, they are derived from one of the oldest families in Western Pennsylvania. ——_—-;, f(eoux rnc ora 1 [row ener (UN Tssmex 59 a Perret SEEING THE OLD YEAR OUT. VERY INTERESTING AS SHOWING THE SIMILARITY “IN METHODS BETWEEN THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN AND THE MODERN AMERICAN, comicbooks.com