Life, 1892-11-03 · page 6 of 16
Life — November 3, 1892 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 248 This page contains two separate satirical pieces: **Upper cartoon**: Depicts a social conversation where a woman expresses fear of becoming a widow, prompting discussion of marrying an army officer. The satire critiques military life—an officer's dialogue argues that soldiers face mortal danger ("nobody is ever killed"), while civilians pursuing ambition risk overwork and death. The joke inverts expectations: the "safe" civilian profession is actually more dangerous than military service. **Lower section ("Happy Dispatch")**: A brief comedic exchange between physicians. The humor centers on a doctor's first patient, with wordplay around medical memory and professional obligation—the first E.P. (unclear acronym) apparently didn't make a will, creating an ironic situation. Both pieces employ Victorian-era conversational humor typical of Life's satirical style.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ BUT IF YOU ARE SO AFRAID OF BEING A WIDOW, WHY DO YOU MARRY AN ARMY OFFICER 2?” “BECAUSE IN OUR ARMY, YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS EVER KILLE! PIECES FROM OVERWORK, WHEREAS, A CIVILIAN, IF AMBITIOUS, IS ALMOST SURE TO GO TO Bessie: Pray, don’t stop at that, Dick, a little abuse Would be quite in keeping with— Diex Bess, you're a goose ! By Jove, Lwen't have it! A saint would be riled If be found that he'd married a petulant chiki. Bessit: I didn't know, Dick, that you could be so rude, So hateful— Tom (from the doorway): Bey pardon—I fear I intrude ? I went off forgetting my cane—a bad trick. Ah, thank you. Good night all. Dick (d/ankly) Bessie (teats) : Well, Bessie ! Oh, Dick ! J. W. Tompkins. HAPPY DISPATCH. RST EMINENT PHYSICIAN: 1 have always remembered my first patient. Second Dirro: 1 trust he remembered you. First E. P.: He would have done so, no doubt, but he hadn't time to make a will. “NOT RY A JUG FULL.” comicbooks.com mal