Life, 1895-01-24 · page 3 of 14
Life — January 24, 1895 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXV, Number 630) This page contains several brief satirical pieces typical of Life's humor format: **"Past and Present"**: A poem contrasting old-fashioned propriety (maids hanging around fireplaces) with modern fashion trends where "every girl on high" will elevate herself—likely mocking contemporary women's changing social ambitions. **"His Nerves Gave the Lie"**: A joke about unreliable testimony regarding a composer, poking fun at casual deception. **"She Had Cause for Fear"**: Dark humor about a "cannibal beauty" and her mother's appetite—a racist caricature common to the era's offensive stereotyping. **"A Loving Father"** and **"The New York Girl"**: Brief conversational humor pieces about parenting and tourist behavior. The cartoons and text reflect early 20th-century Life magazine's mix of social observation, class humor, and period racism that would be unacceptable today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ities. atiste VOLUME XXV. PAST AND PRESENT. HERE was a time when every maid, Around the fire-place blocking, In childish innocence essayed TOM 13 SO VERY PUNCTILIOUS AND IN THIS CASE WAS ESPECI- ALLY ANXIOUS ABOUT PRODUCING A GOOD IMPRESS! But THE FLORIST MADE THE MISTAKE OF SENDING WITH THE ROSES THE CARD THAT BORE THE INSCRIPTION: ‘DO THE BEST YOU CAN FOR TWO DOLLARS.” SHE HAD CAUSE FOR FEAR. “VAN ," said the cannibal beauty to her maternal ancestor, “I am really alarmed at Mr. Kinkey’s intense passion for me.” “Why, my dear?” “Only last night he declared | was sweet enough to eat.” ‘To hang thereby her But now this fashion has gone by, And there are sundry rumors This year that every girl on high Will elevate her / HIS NERVES GAVE THE LIE. IMSON: I can never put confidence in the word of Gimble again. WEED: Why? Jimson: Because he told me that the chap who plays the cornet in the fourth floor back is a composer. “LOCK DER DOOR, JIM, AN’ KEEP DE PERLICE OUT; DIS FIGHT 18 A-GOIN’ TER BE A KECORD BREAKER I” A LOVING FATHER. OBBINS: I'm troubled with insomnia. Doctor: I can cure you of that. “Yes, I know; but we want to keep the baby, doctor.” HE NEW YORK GIRL: Lord Dumley, did you ever hear the joke about the museum keeper who had two skulls of St. Paul; one when he was a boy and the other when he was a man? THE ENGLISHMAN: No; what is it?