Life, 1892-08-04 · page 3 of 16
Life — August 4, 1892 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XX, Number 501) This page contains three separate humorous sketches rather than political cartoons: 1. **Top illustration**: Shows maidens with exposed stockings, captioned about their shock at public disclosure—likely satirizing Victorian prudishness about women's leg visibility. 2. **"An Important Branch"**: A dialogue joke about a college graduate pursuing "post graduate course" in spelling, playing on educational pretensions. 3. **"An Epitaph"**: A dark humor piece about a cannibal king, followed by a fishing anecdote featuring characters named Swartz and Friend discussing a shark. 4. **Bottom sketch**: Shows a man offering blessings to a woman, with caption referencing St. Swallow's day—appears to be sentimental domestic humor. The page is primarily light satirical humor and wordplay rather than political commentary, typical of Life's general entertainment content from this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME Xx. NUMBER 501. Is 1T NOT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT ANY ONE OF THESE MAIDENS SHOULD BE SHOCKED BEYOND EXPRESSION TO DISCOVER HERSELF US OF HER STOCKING ? TENTIONALLY DISCLOSING TO THE PUBLIC'S GAZE A FEW INCHES AN IMPORTANT BRANCH. UNKER: I thought your son, after graduating from college, was going right into business, but I -hear-now that he is to take a post graduate course. HILL: Yes; we thought it necessary. BUNKER: What is he going to study ? HILL: He's going to learn how to spell. (Robinson, followed by an old woman begging, puts his hand in his pocket, and she exclaims): “OW! MAY THE BLESSINGS OF THE SAINTS FOLLOW YOU ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE; (then, as Rob- inson draws out his handkerchie/) FOLLOW YOU ALL THE DAYS OF YER LIFE, AND NEVER CATCH YER UP, YER DAMNED MEAN CRITTER.” AN EPITAPH. HE King of the Cannibals nothing could save He passed from earthly labors ; And kind missionaries wrote over his grave, ‘“A man who loved his neighbors.” WARTZ (the pawnbroker, out shark fishing): Led’s go home. FRIEND: What's the matter, Swartz. Feel sick ? Swartz: Nah! But I gan’t bear to ketch deze sharkz. Loog at dot puddy veller shnappin’ his jaws. Id seems too mooch lige ketchin’ vun oaf der vamily. Corner Lounger: Hi Indignant Female: E Lo, Hi ME, HENRIETTA IF YOU PLEASE! comicbooks.com