Life, 1895-03-28 · page 14 of 18
Life — March 28, 1895 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines two distinct satirical pieces: **Top cartoon** (from *La Caricature*): A child receives expensive toys but expresses anxiety about punishment for breaking them—satirizing how wealthy parents give lavish gifts while maintaining harsh discipline. It's social commentary on class attitudes toward childhood. **"Our Best Society" section**: This is *satire through ostensible flattery*. Life mockingly catalogs the jewels and clothing of wealthy society women (Vanderbilt, Kernochan, Alexander, etc.) in breathless, detail-obsessed prose—the kind of fawning coverage society pages actually ran. By listing every diamond, pearl, and satin band with such earnest specificity, Life ridicules the shallow materialism and status-obsession of high society. **Bottom cartoon**: A domestic comedy where a baby swallows a latch key; the husband casually says he'll climb through a window rather than retrieve it. The joke mocks negligent parenting and working-class practicality versus propriety. Together, the page contrasts wealthy society's pretension with working-class pragmatism—a recurring Life magazine theme.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
From La Caricature. “WELL, MIMILE, YOU DO NOT SEEM PLEASED WITH YOUR TOYS.” “On, YES! ONLY I WAS THINKING OF THE WHIPPING I'LL GET IF I BREAK 'EM.” OUR BEST SOCIETY. Advertisements under this bead one dollar per line. Copy must reach this office not later than 10 P.M, Fridays, RS. WILLIAM K. VANDERBILT was in a gorgeous gown of cream-white satin, the corsage relieved with shoulder straps and bands of turquoise blue satin, She wore her famous rope of pearls and a diamond crescent in her coiffure. stebge Mrs. James P. Kernochan was in mauve brocade, with trim- mings of sable. She wore a coronet of diamond stars and some handsome diamonds in a black velvet band around the neck. : ecotsasit Mrs, Charles B. Alexander was in a light shade of gray moire, the skirt trimmed with bands of black velvet and the corsage ornamented with silver embroidery. Her gems were pearls and diamonds. cotchge Mrs. Elisha Dyer, Jr., was in a striking gown of pale blue satin flecked with silver and trimmed with lace and large bows of blue satin ribbon. DHdaily The cotillon was led by Elisha Dyer, Jr., and in the several figures many handsome favors were distributed. Didaily “On, HEAVENS, JOHN! THE BABY'Ss SWALLOWED YOUR LATCH KEY!” ~ . . “ON, THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I CAN CLIMB IN THR WINDOW.” The Countess de Montsaulnin wore a gown of black satin, embellished with silver spangles. Her ornaments were a coronet of diamonds and a necklace of pearls. Diteot