Life, 1891-08-20 · page 5 of 14
Life — August 20, 1891 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 89 **Main Cartoon**: The top illustration satirizes New Jersey mosquitoes, depicting an oversized mosquito harnessed to pull a cart with a man and barrel—inverting the normal relationship between humans and beasts of burden. The caption reads: "The New Jersey mosquito as he might be if domesticated and developed!" This is a humorous exaggeration playing on New Jersey's reputation for large, aggressive mosquitoes, suggesting they're so formidable they could replace horses as draft animals. **Supporting Content**: The page includes humorous poetry and dialogue pieces about romantic love, an observation about apple blight, and street scene vignettes. These are typical satirical filler content mocking social pretensions and everyday absurdities of the era. The overall tone reflects Life's characteristic blend of visual humor and witty social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SSM THE NEW JERSEY MOSQUITO AS HE MIGHT RE IF DOMESTICATED AND DEVELOPED! FOUNDED UPON THE ROCKS, LOVE my love, but ah, ‘tis not “~ Because she's fair to see ; Mere beauty fades and is forgot — Less transient charms for me! ” T love her because her voice Is_ tender, low ; sweet and It's tones may make my heart rejoice— Is that sufficient? No! I love her not because her heart Is given all to me; Maids may be fickle, love depart— My prize must lasting be. No—this is why my love will stay, Nor fails me nor desponds She has a million, piled away In solid U. S. bonds! R.H. Titherington. T was a sad instance of vegetable depravity when the first apple tried to destroy the first pair. AT BAR HARBOR. H sitting on? Boston GiRL: “OUT OF THE MOUTHS, ETc.” LDERLY MAIDEN (out rowing with a possible suitor and her little sister, who ts frightened by the waves): Theodora! If you are so nervous now, what zw7// you be at my age? LITTLE SISTER (meek Thirty-seven, I suppose. A STREET SCENE. ROTTER: What are those men_ standing there in a bunch for ? BARLAW: They're look- ing at the thermometer. They want to find out how hot they are. 40 Boston girl): You are “up” on geology. Can you tell me what kind of rocks these are wi To the unengaged they are trap; to the engaged they are gneiss. THOSE RELIABLE HORSE ADVERTISE- PORTRAIT OF THE * Fam ILY SUDDENLY CALLED AWAY OFFERS A GREAT SACRIFICE,” comicbooks.com