Life, 1891-09-24 · page 13 of 18
Life — September 24, 1891 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces mocking social issues of the era: **"Doomed"** depicts a personified five-dollar bill arguing with a man about how he'll spend it. The joke relies on the bill's bitter awareness that the man will squander it on frivolous pleasures (theater tickets, roses, drinks) rather than save it—a commentary on poor financial habits and consumerism. **"Dress Reform"** mocks a gentleman being told to remove his hands from his trouser pockets and behave properly—satirizing both the period's strict etiquette expectations and debates over "dress reform" movements. **"Charging by Time"** critiques railroad pricing. A passenger protests paying thirty cents per mile from New York to Orange, while a railroad official counters that it's only twelve cents per hour—highlighting the absurdity of different pricing schemes and corporate evasion of fair-rate criticism. All three pieces use humor to critique consumerism, social convention, and business practices of their era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
First Recent Arrival: HOW vo YOU Like tT WERE? Second R. AL: Fine! NEVER THOUGHT THERE WAS ANY PLACE LIKE Citcaco, nut 1 TELL YOU, OLD MAN, HEAVEN BEATS IT, First R. Ac: Great ! Dox't you KNow Tis 1s H—t ? Is your betrothed well off ? DOOMED. : No, I presume not. They HE MAN: Now, what shall | do with you ? he has a princely fortune. THE Five DOLLAR Bit: Keep me. I’m pretty nearly worn out. Let me have a rest. Tur Max: Not much, That's not what I got you for. I think I'll buy a new hat with you. How does that strike you ? THE BILL: Don't. You don’t need one. THE MAN: Well, how about a couple of theatre tickets and a dozen roses ? THe Bitt: You would only be making a fool of yourself. She doesn’t care a straw for you. THE MAN: But I would enjoy it myself. THe BILL: Can't you enjoy keeping me ? THe M Don’t know—never tried it. THE BILL: Well, try it now, THE MAN: 1 believe I will—that is, I'll keep part of you, most of you. T'll just take one drink and — THE BILL: I'm doomed now, CHARGING BY TIME. ACRES 2D PASSENGER: What, thirty cents. DRESS REFORM. from New York to Orange? Why, that’s three “Maun, E wist you woutn Take your Cents a mile! . Se Wat RR HANDS OUT:OF YOUR TROUSERS: POCKETS OFFICIAL (of the Delay, Linger & Watt ROR): x. wowax at tue nottom AND BEHAVE LIKE A GENTLEMAN.” Yes, but it’s only about twelve cents an hour. oF IT, comicbooks.com