Life, 1894-02-01 · page 13 of 14
Life — February 1, 1894 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains two satirical pieces: **Top section**: A dialogue between "The Bird" (likely representing an American Eagle or patriotic symbol) and "Life" (the magazine's personified voice). They debate whether a building's ornamental front should be completed during construction. Life argues against finishing it, using absurd reasoning—comparing it to the sun suddenly jumping across the sky without warning. The satire mocks overelaborate architectural ornamentation and suggests that periodicals have a duty to sacrifice beauty for "public welfare" (efficiency/practicality). **Bottom cartoon**: Titled "Traveling on the L" (the elevated train), it depicts crowded, chaotic conditions on Chicago's or New York's elevated railway system. Multiple figures struggle and fight in cramped quarters—satirizing the notorious discomfort and danger of urban mass transit during this era. The "Chamber of Horrors" title emphasizes how awful the commuting experience was for ordinary citizens. Both pieces target contemporary urban life and excess.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
77 practical and philanthropic.” “ There may be practical reasons, but I fail to see where philanthropy gets her nose in.” Lire laid his fat hand gently on The Bird’s head. “ Did your American Eaglets ever realize what the effect would be upon humanity if the sun, instead of raising him- self cautiously over the edge of the horizon, should, without the slightest warning, leap suddenly into the vault above us?” “Well, no;-1 have never wrestled with that problem.” “Should our thoughtful and gentlemanly friend,” continued LiFe, ‘ever forget him- self so far as to commit that indiscretion, you can easily imagine the effect upon human nerves and human eyesight. You can also see how a thing of incomparable beauty and vi . By HIFE'G BUILDING. splendor would degenerate from very excess Wi. said The Bird, “do they not go on and finish of glory into a common nuisance.” all the carving of the front? The building “Yes,” said The Bird. “Let the work go gently might just as well be beautiful all these months as rough on.” and unfinished.” “Moreover,” said Lire, “it is the first duty of a great “For many reasons,” Lire answered; ‘reasons both periodical to sacrifice itself to the public welfare.” Gy ae Sy Ae may ee MANE FROM OUR CHAMBER OF HORRORS. TRAVELING ON THE L. comicbooks.com