Life, 1891-03-12 · page 8 of 14
Life — March 12, 1891 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 156 This page contains two satirical pieces: **Top Left**: A dialogue between two men about employment. One man asks why the other doesn't work, and receives the reply that there's "ain't much doin' at my trade now" — his trade being "Pickin' flowers off er century plants." This appears to satirize unemployment or underemployment, possibly mocking someone claiming inability to find work while describing obviously non-viable "employment." **Right Side**: "Brains Will Tell" — a series of illustrations showing progressively degrading human postures and behavior, from upright walking to crawling, suggesting a satirical commentary on intellectual decline or devolution. **Bottom Left**: "Why Cupid Reigns" and "Exeunt Omnes" — poetic pieces about women's vanity and social climbing, with a dialogue joke about Count Von Hauptman being "select" German. The overall tone mocks social pretension and human folly.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
““WHY DON'T YoU GO TO WoRK ?"” ‘THERE AIN'T MUCH DOIN’ AT MY TRADE NOW." ‘WHAT 18 YOUR TRADE?" ‘* PICKIN’ FLOWERS OFF ER CENTURY PLANTS.” WHY CUPID REIGNS. OVE was a woman till she sold Her hearts and arrows all for gold, Left whispered vows and sighing sonnets To spend the time in trimming bonnets, Scorned the rose’s ruddy crowa Unless it matched her favorite gown, Left lithe lilies fast to die Lest with her bosom’s snow they vie; In short, neglected all her duties To deck herself with borrowed beauties: Until in rage the lovers rose And chose a god disdaining clothes. EXEUNT OMNES. HE: Isn’t Count Von Hauptman an eligible party ? He: Oh, more than that—he’s a select German. comicbooks.com