Life, 1893-04-06 · page 3 of 16
Life — April 6, 1893 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXI, Number 536) This page contains three separate humorous pieces typical of Life's satirical format: 1. **Top illustration**: Shows a crowded scene with the caption about a young husband not telegraphing his mother-in-law. The satire targets domestic tensions and the burdensome presence of in-laws during outings. 2. **"Doubtful"**: A dialogue poem mocking marital discord. A wife complains about chapped lips; her husband suggests glycerin won't help. The joke satirizes male indifference to women's beauty concerns and domestic arguments over trivial matters. 3. **"Civil Service"** and **"Mrs. Younghusband"**: Brief comic sketches about workplace employment and spousal dynamics—poking fun at bureaucratic annoyances and wives' complaints about husbands' work obligations. The page reflects early 20th-century middle-class anxieties about marriage, employment, and social etiquette through gentle domestic humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XxI. NUMBER 536. Young Husband: Dion't | TELEGRAPH YOU NOT TO BRING YOUR MOTHER WITH YOU? Young Wife: THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTS TO SEE YOU ABOUT. SHE READ THE DISPATCH. DOUBTFUL. “ M* lips are, Oh, so chapped,” said she. “Why, glycerine is fine,” quoth be. “TL haven't got a drop,” she sighed. ‘* What difference does that make?" he cried. “Ere I left home,""—his face grew gay— ‘*T put some on my lips to-day ; And if, my dear, you will allow, I'll make an application now.” She smiled, she pouted. ‘‘ I don't know,” She murmured to him soft and low : “Say, do you think, they are so rough, One application is enough ?” “KATE, WHAT'S BECOME OF THE et POROUS PLASTER T LEFT IN| THAT RS. YOUNGHUSBAND: Why can't you stay PEse) I at home this evening, George. Your employer “Porous PLASTER! Wuy I if . : can get along without you. HE old toper never ob- THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE NEW z A . % TAORSTAMPS| ‘AND! 1 PUT! IT'ORTA GEORGE: I know it, but I don't want him to find jects toa good punch in the mouth. LETTER TO MA.” it out. comicbooks.com