Life, 1891-02-26 · page 5 of 14
Life — February 26, 1891 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 125 **Left cartoon ("Making Up the Average"):** A domestic dispute where a wife complains about her husband's long nights out. He dismisses her concerns, suggesting she should be grateful he's not doing worse. The satire mocks husbands who justify mediocre behavior by comparison—"at least I'm not the worst." **Right section:** Multiple small cartoons with office/workplace humor: - "Next to Nothing": Two men comparing salaries or assets - "You Press the Button": An A.D.T. (American District Telegraph) messenger service advertisement - "And We Do the Resting": Workers relaxing, likely satirizing automation's promised leisure **Bottom ("At a Fifth Avenue Sanctuary"):** A church scene where a choir performs poorly during services. The minister pragmatically moves forward despite the musical disaster—satire on institutional tolerance and lowered expectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MAKING UP THE AVERAGE. Mrs, B.: T1818 DISGRACEFUL! You'LL HAVE NO ONE TO THANK BUT YOURSELF; I'VE WARNED YOU OFTEN ENOUGH HOW YOU ARE SHORTENING YOUR DAYS. Mr. B.: YS, MY DEAR; BUT YOU DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE WHAT LONG NIGHTS I'st HaviNo. AT A FIFTH AVENUE SANCTUARY, HE contralto had contraltoed, the soprano had shrieked for Providence to have mercy upon the choir for its miserable singing, the basso profundo had come up from “out of the depths,” and Christian quiet pervaded the stillness. “And, now,” said the simple-minded provincial minister who had “ exchanged ” for the day, “ now we will begin the religious services.” YOU PRESS THE BUTTON, A.D, T. orrice RS /_FURM LAREN AND WE DO THE RESTING. comicbooks.com