Life, 1893-01-05 · page 56 of 60
Life — January 5, 1893 — page 56: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical domestic humor typical of early 20th-century Life magazine. **The main dialogue** depicts a husband catching his wife in a lie about her evening out. She claims to have met "Mrs. Gaybody," then "Mrs. Golightly"—contradicting herself. When he presses her, she becomes defensive and tries to deflect with affection ("trying to kiss him"). The satire targets married women's suspected infidelity or deception, and husbands' suspicions—a common trope of the era. **The cartoon illustrations** show comedic domestic scenarios: a man giving a fountain pen that sprays ink everywhere; a couple covered in mess; a husband and wife with their dog, the husband evidently suspicious. **"Only a Pun"** at bottom is an unrelated joke: a woman asks if her suitor would still marry her with an artificial eye; he replies he'd love her despite her "false eye"—a pun on eye/I. The overall theme: wives' unreliability and marital mistrust, presented as humorous rather than serious social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE - THE Man: Yes, if you will, THE Woman: That's just what I was going to do if you hadn't persisted in interrupting me. Well, | met Mrs. Gaybody, whom 1 hadn't seen for— THE MAN (interposing): You said just now it was Mrs, Golightly you met. THe Woman: Nonsense, my dear. It was Mrs, Gaybody. { know what Iam talking about, I hadn't seen her since— THE MAN: You certainly told me that it was Mrs. Golightly you met and that it was she you had not seen for— THE Woman: Do you suppose 1 don't know whom I've seen to-night 2 THE MAN: I suppose you do, I know i don’t. Tue Woman: That's all right, it was Mrs. Gaybody, Besides (with @ sudden thought) what's the matter with my meeting them both ? THE MAN (wvarving the question): Well, go on. After you met Mrs, Gaybody or Golightly, or whichever it was, Tur Woman: Yes, Well, as I was saying, we went to dine together, and then, of course, I had to return the courtesy in some way, . so we went round to the club, There was an important committee ‘TAKE MY PENCIL.” meeting there which | was obliged to attend and—and here I am. “\No, THANKS, I'VE JUST BOUGHT A FOUNTAIN PEN. IP 1 THe MAN (doudtingly):; Humph! (Zhen, very sarcastically) 'T FLOW ALL RIGHT, YOU GIVE A— There were no men, 1 suppose, either at this meeting or the dinner preceding it ? Tue WoMAN (surprised): Men? Why, how ridiculous! What do we want with men? Don't you suppose, darling, (approaching and trying to kiss him) that you are all 1 require in the world?) Now, you Toustn't be a goose; I've told you all about it. 1 know I'ma little bit late, but you must forgive me like the dear, darling hubby that you are. The Max: And do you suppose that such an explanation is suffi- cient for the hours of torture and anxiety I have suffered ? Tue Woman: Come now, dearest, don't be cross. You know 1 love you, even if | have been celebrating a little. The MAN: Celebrating! And what right have you to celebrate ? What were you celebrating ? THE Woman tadstracted?yy : What were we celebrating ? ONLY A PUN. She: AND WOULD YOU STILL WISH TO MARKY ME IF 1 aD aN ARTIFICIAL OPTIC ? A He: Yes, DARLING, WITH ALL THY FALSE EYED LOVE THEE I'M AFRAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT." STiLt comicbooks.com