Life, 1891-08-06 · page 1 of 14
Life — August 6, 1891 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Scientific Result" This cartoon satirizes the then-popular phenomenon of mesmerism (hypnotism). The caption presents a mock dialogue: **She:** "They say Mrs. Veriplane can hypnotize; do you suppose it's true?" **He:** "Shouldn't wonder: she got Veriplane." The joke turns on the name "Veriplane"—suggesting he's so thoroughly under her hypnotic influence that she's essentially "very plain" yet he remains mesmerized by her. The cartoon mocks both the pseudoscience of mesmerism (popular in the 1890s) and marital dynamics, suggesting a husband is inexplicably enchanted by an unremarkable wife. The illustration shows a couple sharing an umbrella, depicting the supposed hypnotic state as romantic submission.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEW YORK, AUGUST 6, 189r. NUMBER 449. Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Copyright, 1891, Mircnatt & Mittmr, A SCIENTIFIC RESULT. She: THEY Say MRS. VERIPLANE CAN HYPNOTIZE; DO YoU SUPPOSE IT's TRUE? He; SHOULDN'T WONDER: SHE GOT VERIPLANE. comicbooks.com