Life, 1892-01-21 · page 9 of 18
Life — January 21, 1892 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: Life Magazine, Satire on Social Manners This page contains three separate humorous cartoons satirizing New York social customs and etiquette. **"A Philanthropic Idea"** (top): Dialogue between characters debating the usefulness of a New Year's Day diary—the stationer notes it's designed so poorly people won't want to write in it, making blank pages worth more than filled ones. **"One Reason Why"** (middle): A large open book lies in a city street, blocking pedestrians and a horse-drawn carriage. The satire appears to mock the impracticality of outdoor "Parisian fashion" dining/socializing in New York. **"A Mean Trick"** (bottom): A doctor refuses payment, claiming the patient is "no better than I was"—implying the patient shouldn't owe money for unsuccessful treatment. These pieces target urban social pretension and practical absurdities of city life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
She Wty CAN'T WE HAVE 17 80 IN New Yorn ? ONE REASON WHY. NOW, ISN'T THUS PARISIAN FASHION OF HAWENG 7 HE TARLES OUT OF DOORS, CHARMING | A MEAN TRICK, CAN'T pay this bill, Doctor. It’s exorbitant. “ That's because you didn’t take my advice.” « Ah—well morning. of course if 1 didn’t take it I don’t owe you for it. I'm no better than I was, either.” Thanks. Good 37 A PHILANTHROPIC IDEA. OWSON: I want to change this di that 1 bought on New Year's Day. The first ten pages of it are good but the rest cannot be written on. money's worth in shaving paper. The man who off the Blue Canary Isles.” had some- thing to go along with that last cigar. BANKs: think so? TANKS: blue canary ? What makes you Did you ever sce a “You HAVE FOOLS MEN ARE!" “Oves—InDEED Tuave! You DON'T SUPPOSE I'VE KEEN TO A SELECT BOARDING - SCHOOL FOR NOTHING, DO YoU ?” NO WEA WHAT comicbooks.com