Life, 1891-11-26 · page 3 of 14
Life — November 26, 1891 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XVIII, Number 465) This page contains several brief satirical pieces typical of Life's humor format: **"Very Simple"** mocks religious hypocrisy—a man asks God for rain through a play rather than prayer, suggesting faith in entertainment over genuine devotion. **"A Convenience"** jokes about New Jersey's proximity to New York City, implying residents can easily access vice (drugs via slot machines at train stations) rather than settling in the suburbs for wholesome living. This reflects 1920s-30s anxieties about urban corruption spreading to residential areas. The dialogue snippets appear to reference social situations—one mentions meeting a Prince and apologizing for being American, suggesting contemporary class consciousness or international embarrassment about American behavior. The illustrations are decorative rather than specifically political cartoons, typical of Life's mixed-content format blending satire with visual humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XVIII. * ° L | f E ° NUMBER 465. ).S OKS. Wanted.—ROOM FOR SINGLE GENTLEMAN, . 4 —— nsertion 2 a. VERY SIMPLE. ECAUSE the country needed rain, He did not loudly pray. He simply asked two girls he knew To go and sec the play. rws, ted ORRISON: 1 hear Stivey met the Prince, last Summer. JANSEN: Yes. Morrison: Whatdid Stivey say to him? Ja Apologized for being an Marie: HE BROKE HER HEART—THE WRETCH! Celeste: Dib WE JILT HER? Marie: NO; WE INSISTED ON HER KEEPING HER ENGAGEMENT WHEN SHE Hab A RETTER OFFER. A CONVENIENCE. “T SHOULDN'T think you'd care to live here in New Jersey, so far from a drug store.” “Oh, that’s all right. You drop a nickel in the slot-machine, up at the “DROP A WORM IN THE SLOT, AND HEAR station, and get all the quinine you want.” ME SING." comicbooks.com