Life, 1893-06-08 · page 3 of 16
Life — June 8, 1893 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXI, Number 545) This page contains three distinct pieces of humor content: 1. **"A Bright Outlook"** (top): A dark illustration showing what appears to be a funeral scene, with accompanying dialogue about a "little brother waving about on a stick." The humor involves morbid wordplay about a child's toy or object. 2. **"A Wash Drawing"** (right): A brief anecdote where a woman remarks that a boy resembles his father because the father has been "telling me" things—suggesting infidelity or improper conduct. The joke relies on period innuendo about paternity and family relations. 3. **"A Fable for Fathers"** (bottom): A story about a college-returned son displaying modern fashions and mannerisms that his traditional father finds ridiculous, ending with the father's dismissive judgment. This satirizes generational conflict over changing social customs and dress codes. The page reflects early 20th-century anxieties about youth culture and social propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
lifferent St. VOLUME XxXI. NUMBER 545. A BRIGHT OUTLOOK. “THAT'S A CURIOUS THING YOUR LITTLE BROTHER 18 WAVING ABOUT ON A STICK, Miss Clara.” “THAT'S A COAT TAIL.” “A COAT TAIL! To WHOM, PRAY, DOES IT BELONG?” “TO THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO CALLED HERE LAST.” A FABLE FOR FATHERS. H E was the son of a worthy citizen, and had just returned from college. His father was a brusque, matter-of-fact man, who had no liking for anything pro- nounced, and he noticed with sorrow that his son returned with the latest thing in collars, and various other insignia of dudedom. The old gentleman surveyed him critically when he appeared in his office and then blurted out: “Young man, you look like an idiot.” Just at that moment, and before the young man had time to make a fitting reply, a friend walked in, A WASH DRAWING, “Why, hello, Billy, have you re- turned?” he asked. ‘Dear me, how much you resemble your father.” “So he has been telling me,” replied Billy. And from that day to this the old gentleman has had no fault to find with his son. Ernest P. Neville. N unpopular Presbyterian him.—Professor Briggs. “NO HARD FEELING.” comicbooks.com