Life, 1894-12-06 · page 3 of 16
Life — December 6, 1894 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis The main illustration depicts zebras mounted by human riders wielding weapons, captioned "Opening of the Polo Season in Central Africa." This is visual satire combining two incongruous elements: the fashionable sport of polo (played by wealthy Europeans on horses) with African zebras and what appear to be caricatured African riders. The satire likely mocks either: (1) colonial-era perceptions of Africa as wild and uncivilized, or (2) the absurdity of transplanting European leisure activities to Africa. The text sections below discuss opera advertising schemes and include a domestic humor exchange about a new Irish maid named "Japan." The joke's full impact depends on early 1900s attitudes toward colonialism and racial stereotyping that modern readers would find offensive.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
<SIONS, NUMBER 623. OPENING OF THE POLO SEASON IN CENTRAL AFRICA. OPERATIC. LTHOUGH certain boxholders at the opera have been so thoroughly advertised there will always be some who do not know them by sight. It is to educate these few ignorant spectators that a plan of the boxes is printed upon every programme, giving the names of the occupants and the nights they are to be present. Asan advertising scheme this has seldom been surpassed. It may require some brass on the part of those advertised, but we are a new people and why should we hide our light under a bushel? Besides, this sort of thing should not, in fairness, be judged more hastily than any other advertising scheme. And these jewelled ladies are certainly pleasanter objects to gaze upon than the proprietors of pepsin gum or three dollar shoes. WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT. =: There comes that tramp I gave some of my iscuits to the other day. HUSBAND: Impossible! That must be his ghost. ALLER: Why do you call your new maid “ Japan,” Mrs. Joms; isn’t she Irish ? Mrs. J.: Oh, she’s Irish, and her real name is Mary Ann; but we think the other more appropriate; she seems to have such a grudge against china, you know. T the request of many who have been kind enough to express that wish the exhibition of original drawings at LIFE BUILDING will remain open day and evening until December 8th, inclusive. comicbooks.com