Life, 1892-11-03 · page 5 of 16
Life — November 3, 1892 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 247 This page contains two theatrical sketches satirizing marriage and social behavior. **"A Honeymoon Episode"** depicts newlyweds Dick and Bessie with bachelor friend Tom. The humor centers on marital conflict: Dick warns Tom that marriage leads to quarrels, while Bessie defends her right to occasional disagreement. The satire mocks both the idealization of marriage and the reality of domestic discord—a recurring theme in early 20th-century humor. **"Baby's Grip"** shows an irate passenger confronting a woman about her child's behavior, using exaggerated dialect ("Madame, what do you mean by letting that young cub"). The joke targets both unruly children and permissive parenting—social anxieties about changing child-rearing practices. Both sketches use class signifiers and accent to enhance comedic effect, typical of period magazine humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A HONEYMOON EPISODE. CHARACTERS. Dick, newly married. Bessie, Ais wife. Tom, @ confirmed young bachelor. ICK: How are you, old fellow ? You staying in town ? Seems jolly to see you. My wife will be down— Tom: I really can't stay. Merely thought I'd drop in To see how you're looking. You haven't grown thin ! = Sho Dick: Ab, Tommy, you missed the best part of your life, Not having a home and a dear little wife. a It’s four weeks to-morrow—Jove! how Sy the days pass! YY Tow: Had your first quarrel ? Dick: Oh, don’t be an ass ! - _. We're not the kind, sir, to squabble and fight ; Why, Bess always yields when she sees that I'm right. We always think first of each other, and that’s The secret of all happy marriage. uM Oh, rats! Bet you a hundred, you'll both come to blows By the end of a fortnight ! A hundred? That goes! “Twill teach you, my boy, your ideas are all wrong. Ah, here Bessie comes, Won't you stay? Well, so long. (Exit Tom, Enter Ressie.) “(HE MAY BE DULL, BUT HE 1S WEALTHY, AND HE 1S CERTAINLY VERY ATTENTIVE TO YOU. DOES HE SAY NOTHING?” “YES, MAMMA; EVERY TIME HE TALKS, Besste: Why, who was here, dearest, just now ? Dick: An old friend, A bigoted bachelor, destined to spend In single accursedness all his young days ; In short, a misogynist, going his ways Unloved and unloving. He's only to thank His own ignorance. Bessie : Horrid! 1 do hate a crank! Dick : So fixed are his notions, he offered to bet That even we two would be quarreling yet ! Imagine ! BEessIr : The brute! You refused it, of course ! Dick: Why darling, you see, I thought a small loss Would alter his notions. It really might pay To teach him a lesson, dear. Bessie : Well, I must say | If you think that your wife is a theme for a bet With a low, horrid, stupid— Don't fly in a pet. Why, Bessie, the whole thing is merely a jest. I don’t see the harm— BEssiE : Oh, of course you know best ! You told him that I was a dear little lamb, 7 Lcphiedice pie And always did just what you ordered me ? Irate Passenger: MADAME, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY LETTING — Dick: Damn! THAT BRAT SNATCH OFF MY WIG? Bessie: Yes, swear if you want to, I haven't a word. Mother (with sigh of relief): OM, 11's A wic, 1s IT? I was It's like you—so courteous— AFEARED FUR A MINUTE THAT HE'D SCALPT VE ALIVE. Dick : This is absurd comicbooks.com