Life, 1891-04-23 · page 9 of 14
Life — April 23, 1891 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 257 This page contains several unrelated humorous sketches typical of early Life magazine's satirical content: 1. **Top narrative**: Trustee Goodheart withdraws a motion at a meeting, citing his associates' Christian values and sensitivity regarding Sunday observance—satirizing religious hypocrisy about charitable works. 2. **"Mr. Snopps" dialogue**: A joke about chickens trespassing between neighbors' yards, playing on class differences and property disputes. 3. **"A Knowing One"**: Street-level humor about avoiding gas explosions—likely referencing gas lighting hazards common in urban areas. 4. **Marriage/kissing jokes**: Brief comedic exchanges about courtship and marriage. 5. **"Toothpick Charley/Spider"**: A ragged vagrant's boastful account of his deteriorated condition, using humor to comment on poverty or homelessness. The sketches reflect early 20th-century American urban social commentary through working-class and domestic scenarios.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: TRUSTEE GOODHEART rose to withdraw his motion. He said he had been aware that his associates were followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, and that their daily lives were goverened entirely by Christian motives, Had he been aware, however, that they were so peculiarly sensitive on the subject of Sunday observance he would not have dared put in his impertinent and sacrilegious plea for giving pleasure and instruction to the poor. There being no further business Chairman Narrowmind offered up a prayer and the meeting adjourned after singing the hymn which begins : “* This is the day the Lord hath made, Let young and old rejoice.” R. SNOPPS: Snipps, your chickens come over into my yard, MR. SNIPPS: Yes, and they do not come back. A KNOWING ONE, No, stn! THEY DON'T CATCH ME A BLOWIN’ OUT THE Gas.” E: May I kiss you just once ? SHE: No, HE (unabashed): How many times? Toothpick Charley: WELL, SPIDER, HOW GOES IT? She (after the wedding): DON'T YOU THINK IT STRANGE, JACK, THAT Spider: Fine; WHY WHEN I FIRST WENT OM THE THE MINISTER DIDN'T CONGRATULATE THE BRIDE ANO GROOM, ROAD I HADN'T A RAG ON MY BACK. NOW LOOK AT ME. He: YoU FORGET THE MINISTER HAS BEEN TWICE MARRIED, Tit Att Rags, comicbooks.com