Life, 1894-08-23 · page 5 of 14
Life — August 23, 1894 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 117 This page contains several short satirical pieces rather than a single cartoon. **Left illustration**: Shows a social scene with the caption "What do you think? Fred proposed to me just now!" / "Yes. He got into that habit when he used to call on me!" This jokes about a man's recurring proposal habit—suggesting he's chronically unsuccessful at matrimony, having proposed to multiple women. **Right side sketches and text**: Include pieces titled "Turned," "Easily Remedied," and "Symptoms of Paresis." These appear to be brief comedic dialogues poking fun at romantic misunderstandings, distressed mothers, bachelors, and marital anxieties—typical early 20th-century Life magazine humor targeting middle-class courtship and marriage customs. The overall theme: satirizing courtship rituals and relationship awkwardness among the genteel classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK! “Yes. HE Got INTO THAT HABIT WHEN HE USED TO CALL ON MEI!" “ey Br WO. Sm os FRED PROPOSED TO ME JUST Now!" THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT. TURNED. ER voice was full of laughter And hereyes were merry too, But when she went into the surf They say she got quite blue. EASILY REMEDIED. ISTRESSED YOUNG MOTHER (traveling with a crying infant): Dear me! [don’t know what to do with this baby. KIND AND THOUGHTFUL BACHELOR (ca the next seat): Shall I open the window for you, Madam ? SYMPTOMS OF PARESIS. RAVERS: Oldboy must be crazy ! SELLORS: What makes you think so? TRAVERS: He is trying to push a rapid transit scheme in Philadelphia. HE: Do you think of me as much as you did ? CHOLLY : No, not quite, I'm raising a moustache now.