Life, 1892-02-18 · page 13 of 18
Life — February 18, 1892 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire Analysis (Page 107) This page contains four unrelated humorous sketches typical of early 20th-century American satire: **"Operatic"**: A man returning a glass claims he sees no difference between German and Italian opera—mocking audiences who pretend to sophisticated taste they don't possess. **"For a Purpose"**: A customer orders a suit deliberately larger at the waist than needed, claiming it's for dinner wear. The tailor notes it already fits perfectly, satirizing men's vanity about appearing slimmer in public. **"Breaking the News"**: A husband admits losing a poker bet involving bonnets for his wife and his friend's wife. His smug response suggests the friend's wife is attractive, implying marital complications—humor based on gentlemen's gambling and jealousy. **"A Belle of the 400"**: Society women discuss a wealthy peer's engagement, suggesting the woman won't marry him because she prefers variety—mocking upper-class attitudes toward romance and commitment. The final sketch shows a boy with an absurdly pretentious name, joking he'll seek revenge on whoever named him once grown—humor based on ridiculous nomenclature and childhood resentment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OPERATIC, (As he returns the glass) “1 DON'T SEE WHY THEY MAKE ALL TINS FUSS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BRTWEEN GERMAN AND ITALIAN OPERA, / CAN'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE—CAN You ?” 107 FOR A PURPOSE, M R, FEEDER: This vest wants to be a little larger around the waist, Schneider. SCHNEIDER: But it fits you perfectly ow, sir. Mr. FEEDE 1 know it fits all right now, but I am ordering ¢/7s suit to wear at dinners ! BREAKING THE NEWS. } RS. BINGO (severely): I should like to know where you were last night ? BinGo: Well, if the truth must be told, I was playing poker with Kingley, and, my dear, the last jack pot I bet him a new bonnet for you against a new bonnet for his wife. Mrs. Binco: Yes, my dea nd who won ? Bin Well, you just wait until you see his wife next Sunday. I" is better to be right than to have an ove shadowing Secretary of State. A BELLE OF THE 400. £© GO Mary is engaged to him.” Yes, and I know she docsn’t be- in long engagements. “So you think, then, they'll be married soon?” “No. I think Mary lik change.” Say, did Mc- [VL EEHISTOPHELE Society as I Have Allister’s book, Found it,” make a hit ? ASMODEUS: It is said that he made a great deal of money out of it. MEPHISTOPHELES : Well, if | were to write a book on the same subject, do you think it would go well? RIGGS: Strange things happen. A Brooklyn policeman was seen walking the streets at mid- | night, recently. Griccs: What was the trouble ? BRIGGS: Upon investigation it turned out that he was a somnambulist. “WELL, LITTLE NAME?" “*SHADRACK NEBUCHADNEZZER JONES.” ‘WHO GAVE YOU THAT NAME?” “1 pon'tT KNow, BUT YER BET CHER LiFe IF I FIND OUT, WHEN I GETS ME GROWTH THEY'LL BE SORRY FOR IT.” BOY, WHAT'S YOUR