Life, 1892-04-07 · page 13 of 18
Life — April 7, 1892 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, Page 219: Multiple Satirical Sketches This page contains several unrelated satirical jokes typical of Life's humor: **Top sketches** mock pretentious or foolish figures: a senator (Smith) introducing absurd burial legislation at Albany is mocked for lacking education; an "Royal Academician" boasts about artwork while a committeeman reveals Chicago's buildings lack fire safety. **Center cartoon** shows a jeweler selling fake diamonds to a naive young man—the joke being the engagement will be as short-lived as the paste gems. **"Editor Kansas Daily" joke** satirizes Kansas's prohibition laws, suggesting the state's temperance stance makes it undesirable for hosting the presidential convention. **Bottom illustration** titled "Mythological Difficulties" appears to be a classical reference joke, though the specific meaning is unclear from context alone. The page reflects early 20th-century American concerns: legislative incompetence, class pretension, consumer fraud, and prohibition politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MARIAN AND THE FRIARS. But, prithee, Muse, do not to me again Such task assign. I'd rather in the shades below Remain in converse with my friends of old. Metcalfe. . . . HE recent production in this city of Saint Siens's dra- matic opera, “Samson and Delilah,” by the Oratorio Society, under the leadership of Mr. Walter Damrosch, was in every way a success. All who participated have reason to be satisfied with this first production in this country of an un- usually interesting work. HE: Mr. Nicefello—Mr. George—George, |—— Say no more. I can only be a brother to you. But I haven't—— 0; but I know what you were going to say. ail begin that way. They THESE THINGS GET TO ALBANY. T appears that one Senator Smith has been introducing at Albany a bill pro- hibiting all disposition of human bodies except by burial. Knowing the material of which the present legislature is composed, nothing can surprise us, but this special Smith must be even more so, as it were, than the others. Go back to your ash cart, Senator Smith, to your saloon, your tonsorial palace or what- ever you ran for a living before you went to Albany, and try not to mortify us. Perhaps the safest way will be for you to consult some educated adult before exposing your- self again. OYAL ACADEMICIAN: So you want to take my water colors to your fair in Chicago? But I hear your structures are not fire-proof, COMMITTEEMAN: Oh, but we can flood every building from floor to ceiling in two minutes. Jack: Jeweler: THESE PASTE DIAMONDS LOOK JUST AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE REAL ONES, LAST A SHORT TIME. Young Man: NT 18 ONLY GOING TO LAST A SHORT TIME, DITOR KANSAS DAILY: Half a dozen Western cities have been fighting for the presidential conven- tion. Why wasn’t our city represented ? Let’s put in our claim. GREAT STATESMAN (sadly): No use; Kansas is a pro- hibition state. MYTHOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES. I SAY, DOES THAT THING SLEEP IN A RED OR A STABLE ? comicbooks.com