Life, 1893-12-07 · page 6 of 16
Life — December 7, 1893 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "The American Comedy" Page This page presents a satirical dialogue about a "young man" character—apparently someone of average appearance and modest means who pretends to greater wealth and importance than he possesses. The conversation mocks his pretensions: he claims to own multiple properties (London house, Paris house, Scottish moor, Canadian estates, yachts, polo ponies) and various luxuries, yet the speakers suggest these acquisitions are hollow attempts to appear successful. The satire targets wealthy Americans who accumulate status symbols while remaining essentially unchanged—still the same unremarkable person underneath. The illustration shows what appears to be a theatrical or social scene, reinforcing the "comedy" of performance and false appearances. The overall message critiques American materialism and the illusion that possessions can manufacture character or status.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE AMERICAN COMEDY. A NOT UNUSUAL PRODUCT. YOUNG man! To be sure. Any particular young man ? Very particular. Doesn't look it! No? No. Height average; no deformity of figure; clothing respectable; aspect prepossessing to intelligent. A good- looking young man, but why particular ? His father was Silas Snapshot, the pill-man. And that makes him ——? A Man of Means! Large means ? Oh, very considerable ! Had them long ? Several years. Seems to wear well. Oh, yes. Fine looking young man to be sure. firm mouth, and a direct glance. too in that width of brow. No dissipation; a There is thoughtfulness. s = Oh, Dan Snapshot is a good fellow, a first-rate ¢ 4] fellow. It was hard to find better company than he used to be. Has he deteriorated then ? Oh, I wouldn't say that. But he isn’t as good company as he used to be ? Potentially he is, | guess, but practically I suppose not, Poor old Dan! What's the matter with him ? He's got so many things, poor old chap. Too many ? Well, no; not too many. swings them all. The trouble then—— ? It seems to come to about this, that he has to hump himself so to get the full benefit of all his things, that he doesn’t get as much chance as he used to to invite his soul. So he is cheaper company than he was, is he! What has he got, anyhow ? A house in town, a house in the country, a house at the sea shore, a salmon stream in Upper Canada, a duck island off North Caro- lina, a steam yacht, a sail yacht, some hunters, some polo ponies, some four-in- hands—— What, all that just for him- self ? He's got a family. That's not many things for a man with a fam- ily. He has only one town house, and his yachts are not very big. Well, go on! Er—where was I? Four-in-hands. Oh, yes. And a wife and chil- dren, and a controlling responsibil- ity in the pill business, and one or two lawsuits, and some fancy cattle, and a picture gallery, and oh, a good many other things that I don't remember. You see, he’s been trying to get a complete set. Set of what ? Set of things. Well, hasn't he got it? Dear, no; not yet. What's to seek ? House in London, house in Paris, Scotch moor, ducal son-in-law, That isn’t quite it. He AN ADVENTURE HE CONSOLES HIMSELF WITH A Copy OF LIFF, comicbooks.com