Life, 1891-07-23 · page 12 of 14
Life — July 23, 1891 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page contains several satirical cartoons and commentary typical of Life magazine's social critique: **"The Old World/New World"** contrasts exhausted Europe with an energetic America, both claiming to be "done" but with different meanings—Old World exhausted, New World satisfied. **"Strong Stuff"** mocks a rural deacon visiting Coney Island's merry-go-round, who attributes the spinning sensation to strong drinks rather than recognizing the amusement ride. **"Not His Fault"** presents a dialogue where a man avoids church year-round (too hot in summer, too cold in winter), satirizing selective religiosity. **The main article critiques hypocrisy** regarding Sunday alcohol sales: respectable establishments serving "soft drinks" at concert gardens are legally permitted, while dive-keepers sell liquor all day—yet the same temperance advocates block beer service at legitimate venues. Life argues this inconsistent regulation actually *encourages* drunkenness and police corruption rather than preventing it. The satire targets moral inconsistency and ineffective prohibition-era policies rather than opposing temperance itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘ ity The Old World: Te DAY 18 DONE. . _ & TWIT The New World (in the midst of his reasting): Vets, AND pretty . A tell DONE, TOO! STRONG STUFF. The Deacon (on his first visit to Coney Island, sees a merry- go-round in full swing): GOSM! 1 TOOK TWO DRINKS O° THES Coxey ISLAND BITTARS, RUT [DIDN'T THINK AS 'TWOULD ER MAKE THINGS SWIM LIKE THIS NotOW ! NOT HIS FAULT. RS. TROTT : Why don’t you come to church ? fk, Trot It’s too hot. Trovrer: And in winter it’s always too cold. ROTTER: Well, | can’t help that, can 1? audience of respectable people at the Madison Square Garden of a Sunday evening, list- ening to Thomas's Orchestra and slak- ing their Summer thirst with the con- coctions known as “soft drinks is an edifying spectacle. It is testimony to that consistent temperance element which enables every dive-keeper in New York City to sell liquor all day Sunday, but makes it a criminal of- fence for the keeper of a reputable resort to do the same thing. This visionary element which stands in the way of a reasonable control of the liquor traffic is doubtless ignorant of the effect of its own stubbornness. It is doing more to de- PREMREES HE. BS TOS WERE BREE BK WEE TH bauch the police and to encourage drunkenness than could be DONE, AX’ ITE WANTS TER KSOW IF YOU'LL. AXEFT A BOOKAY ? accomplished by any number of reputable concert gardens rieved One: TRL Wim Vv Lost ath coxripesce ix Where beer and music would be dispensed together. LIFE HIM AN’ TL DONT WANT NOTHIN’ TO DO WITH HIM NO MORE ! isn’t a friend of the liquor-leaders, but it does hate a foot. comicbooks.com