Life, 1894-09-27 · page 12 of 16
Life — September 27, 1894 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers This 1792 *Life* magazine page presents a satirical comparison between Boston and New York, reprinted from the *Columbian Centinel* (a Boston paper). The text frames this as "putting a different face on it"—suggesting Boston's original account was biased. **The satire works through contrast:** Boston's self-congratulatory description (educated children, accomplished ladies, public banks) is juxtaposed with New York's pointed retorts. Boston appears provincial and self-satisfied; New York emerges as more progressive and practical. **Key jabs at Boston:** outdated dress fashions, reliance on rum, inefficient markets, traders' separated homes and shops. **New York's advantages:** five public markets, the new Tontine Coffee House (symbol of commercial modernity), neater streets, talented speculators. The accompanying cartoons show two figures in a confrontation—likely representing the two cities personified—mockingly questioning each other's courage and competence. The 1892 reprinting suggests enduring East Coast regional rivalries and reflects 19th-century amusement at how little had changed in a century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU ASKEERT OF? YOU AIN'T NO CHICKEN!” PUTTING A DIFFERENT FAC IN 1792. a mellow, musty copy of the Cofmmbsan Centinel, Dearing date June 20, 1792, we find this deadly parallel column. A hundred and four years have brought some changes, and the reader must also remember, in justice to New York, that the Co/mbsan Centinel was printed in Boston. The following excerpt is exact FOR THE CENTINEL RUSSELL HE comparifon between Newyork and Bojton, here inclofed, is BOSTON, e of the oldeit and largeit Towns upon the continent, and the mott hofpitable ; but much be- hind others in police and accommodation The country people who fupply the Town with provifions, for want of proper markets, lofe much time in hawking their butter and eggs a- bout the flreets, ‘The country about Bof- ton produces good barley, but the general drink is rum, rum, ram, The merchants af ble in the thre ing cither an ora Coffee Ht The traders have their ftore and dwelling-houfe remote from each other This is contrary to the practice of all other pla- ces, and occafions a lofs of time, and an expenfe, which they will fome day with to remedy. o children in the world are educated with fo much care as the chil- dren of Bolton Many of the Bc ladies ‘are remarked to {poil a handfome face, by wearing a clumfy fete, made of frizzled horfe- hair and hog’s brittles. The fuperiour beauty and_accomplithments Ibyall rans imperfection ft be at- tributed to th hneis of the ttreets Botion has produced fe- veral men of genius, par- ticularly in ec icks. Publick Banks are found of fuch extenfive utility, that it is intend- ed toh in every iderable ttreet in the ‘own—To encourage trade, by reducing the price of peaches in fum- mer, of falt-fith and ru in winter, and buying up OLD TENOR!!! handed you to occupy a place in the CENTINEL—in order that the publick may judge whether Fune 16, 1702. it has been impartially made. JANUS. NEW-YORK, Though of lefs worthy origin, and the lait in vindicating its liberty, is become the delight ‘of flrangers, and a pattern of neatnefs and elegance, from which older cities may learn to improve At New-York there are five publick markets at any of which the far: mer may difpofe of his produce at on The bett table beer is brewed from New-En, land barley The merchants have hitherto met at a C cery-Itore and the porter- but they are build- Tontine Coffee- House, which when 6- nithed will equal any ac- commodation of the kind in Europe. At New-York, the dwelling-houfe and fore are under the fame roof, The New-Yorkers a- bandon theirs to. the nurfing of negroes, and afterwards fend them to fchool to learn the Irith and Scotch brogue. The fame may be ob- ferved of the New-York ladies The New - Yorkers walk neatly, but then they have {mooth pave the heels of re lower New-York has alfo produced men of genius, particularly Speculators. Fable of the dog and his thadow dua 1 doxky, ginal waa men Mills ; Wu Roose Times comicbooks.com