Life, 1893-07-13 · page 11 of 16
Life — July 13, 1893 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 27 This page features a Victorian-era satirical illustration and dialogue about social class and occupational shame. Two men converse in a drawing room; one appears to be leaving ("I must go. I have to get down to business early"). The humor centers on a gentleman's embarrassment about his occupation in the potato business—a trade considered ungenteel for respectable society at that time. His companion tries to comfort him by suggesting he soften this "inevitable" shame through charitable work or finding a business partner. The satire mocks Victorian class anxieties: the rigid social hierarchy that deemed certain trades beneath gentlemen, and the absurd contortions the wealthy undertook to maintain respectability. The illustration's formal domestic setting emphasizes how seriously these social prejudices were taken.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Wet, I must Go. I HAVE To GET vowN To nUSt S EARLY, YOU KNOW,” “Do you? WELL, IT IS VERY KIND IN YOU TO STOP IN ON YOUR WAY DOWN, MR, STAYLATE.” and all because of your sponsor's utter, deliberate, insuffer- able damphoolism.” Mr. Bumpstarter drew a deep breath, as if fresh air had filled the room and it had pleased him. He sat up on the hearthrug and with vehemence of resolution exclaimed, “ Say it again.” “ Damphoolism.” “Ah, that does me good. I never could bring myself to say it, but I endorse it. And have you no other comfort ? Can you offer a few remarks, stronger, if possible, on the first of my ancestors to submit to this name without killing the man who put it on him, and likewise on that person, Hermogenes !" “T can, but why do you allow yourself to be thus over- come by the inevitable ? Soften the sorrow of your name by drawing attention to others.” Mr. Bumpstarter inclined his bald head until it glistened in the firelight and thoughtfully scratched his ear. “1 don't see exactly how,” he said. “You are in the potato business, Get a partner—two comicbooks.com