Life, 1891-12-17 · page 12 of 14
Life — December 17, 1891 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 364 This page contains several satirical pieces typical of early-20th-century American humor: **"Her Size"** mocks overwrought romantic sentiment—a man dramatically pines for a tiny woman ("Camilla") whose absence creates an "immense" void, playing on Victorian excess and affected emotion. **Theater commentary** critiques American audiences' taste, noting that while manager Daly produces serious classics like *The Taming of the Shrew*, audiences prefer spectacle ("legs") over moral substance. **Christmas cartoon** depicts working-class characters preparing for the holiday with practical cynicism rather than sentiment. **"One Thing Thou Lackest"** jokes about social climbing: Mrs. Spinnaker has become prominent but faces repeated rejection ("blackballed three times") from exclusive groups—likely Daughters of the American Revolution—suggesting old-money elites resist nouveau-riche membership. **"A Long-Felt Want"** satirizes mourning culture by praising new "fashionable" black-bordered envelopes in varying widths to display grief's intensity—mocking how the wealthy performatively display emotion through consumer goods. The humor targets pretension, materialism, and social aspiration among the wealthy and middle classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HER SIZE. *A MILLA! She is so petite ! Yet when, too soon, her hast- feet, ¢ her from my sight, The aching void she leaves be- « —" hind Is so immense that all mankind Could never fill it quite! TRUE atmosphere of the certainly improved by the pre- During the brief en us . Daly's Company. period since his return he has gi Taming of © School for Scandal,” with Roth of the company, al rubbish the American seems to love. It is possible he may not love it he certainly ry moral sentiment, play or legs are what fill the theatres in N The mans insists upon atitude of the publi . * . WHAT There is some good music in this city this winter, The New York Symphony String Quartette are f a series of concerts that promise much enjoy: IM TO SEE ARE VER A DRIVIN’ THAT NAIL IN FOR? TO HANG ON 17?” “WELL, IF SaNty CLaus should MAPPEN TO COME : MY INTENTIONS WAS GOOD, ALTHOUGH T ALN’T Got ment for lovers of chamber music AN THAT TL bIDN'T FORGET Aims GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS. YER MNT GoT NOTHIN’ AROUND HERE 1 WANT NO STOCKIN'S, ONE THING THOU LACKEST. Srinxer RATIFIED? He: Mrs. AMBITIONS ALL LOOKS UNIEAPPY, AREN'T HER SOCIAL She: No, SWE MAS HECOME PROMINENT AMONG THEE oo. BUT HAS REEN RLACKBALLED THREE TIMES BY THE DaveureKs oF THE REVOLUTION A LONG-FELT WANT. I IFE is glad to lea the stationery trade are introducing some new and n that the enterprising gentlemen in stunning styles in mourning envelopes. Grief was growing monotonous when its varying intensity could be shown only by the different widths of the black borders. With the new styles, grief for lost friends can be shown in a number of eccentric and remarkable ways. ter enclosed in When we receiv let- with one that wk an envelope corner in deep black we our correspondent — is know suffering an intense and fashionable grief that commands our most’ correct. and proper sympathy. When the end of the shows the same mournful hue, we know the grief, although perhaps not so recent nor quite so deep, is still quite high-toned and entitled to the same ad- miration from lovers of the new and céée. We are glad to sce this invasion of the neglected tield of ostentatious mourning Who will be the rext to suggest some novel way of showing fashionable sorrow ? by the caterers to good taste. PAIR AND SQUAKE comicbooks.com