Life, 1895-04-11 · page 9 of 26
Life — April 11, 1895 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine features two satirical illustrations of elderly European nobility from 1899. The upper image shows "Humbert Ranieri Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio"—King Humbert I of Italy—depicted as a caricatured, elderly gentleman with exaggerated facial features. The lower illustration shows "Umberto I, King of Italy, as he appears after a forenoon on his favorite pony," presenting him in an undignified, disheveled state following equestrian activity. The satirical point targets the aging monarch's physical decline and unfitness—mocking his age (nearly 98 summers mentioned in the text) and inability to maintain dignity or function effectively. The humor derives from contrasting royal pretense with physical reality and decrepitude, a common *Life* magazine practice of ridiculing elderly or ineffectual political figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE: 235 caKe, Orange. Angel, Chocolate, Fig, Berwick Sponge, ‘Cup Cakes, Ribbon, Cream Cakes, Cookies and Doughnuts DRINKS, Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, Beef Tea, Milk, Bass Pale Ale, Eldredge’s Lager, Frank Jones’ Present use and Stock Ales, Imported and Domestic Wines, Imported and Domestic Ginger Ale, Soda and Plain Lemonade. FRUITS IN THEIR SEASON, Choice line of Candies, Imported, Key West and ~ Domestic Cigars. Cigarettes and Tobacco. And still the phonograph droned on ; the automatic waiters whirred ; the hundred families ate as one ;—but the old man heeded them no more. The gong sounded, and the companies rose, and formed in ranks to leave the room ; but he stirred not. No. 653 tapped him on the shoulder, and No, 6st jogged him with his elbow—but he was beyond their co-operative reminders. His heart had broken. P. A. Leonard. HUMBERT RANIERI CARLO EMANUELE GIOVANNI MARIA FERDINANDO EUGENIO. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1849. centre of the room, recited extracts from Henry George, Herbert Spencer, and John Stuart Mill, during the meal, which was scheduled to last precisely thirty-five minutes. It was a wholesome and improving spectacle, But the aged No. 652, the last of his race and family, who sat at the foot of the last table (because he was too old to be of any service to the state), pushed away his mug of cocoa, and turned from his prunes in bitterness of spirit. Wild memories of the past crowded upon his soul, as he drew from the pocket of his canvas blouse a worn and folded paper and, spreading it upon his knee, bowed his head upon his hand, and wept silently. What was it, that thus had power to draw tears of agony from eyes that had seen the passing of ninety-eight summers unmoved ?) What hopeless relic of a time long past, and never to return ? Only this : BROADWAY RESTAURANT. Bit. OF FARE. Supper. oysters. Stewed, Raw, Fried. satans, &c. Lobster Salad, Lettuce Salad, Plain Lobster, Boiled Eggs, Beef Stew, Hot Baked Beans and Brown Bread. COLD MEATS. Turkey, Roast Beef, Tongue, Fried Sausage, am, Pickled Lamb's Tongues, Sliced and Potted Ham Sandwiches, Sliced Chicken and Tongue Sandwiches. . PASTRY. . . Mince, Apple, Custard and Squash Pie, Umberto I., KiNG OF ITALY. Lemon, Cream and Cranberry Pie, Apple Turnovers, Fried Pies and Bow! Custard. AS HE APPEARS AFTER A FORENOON ON HIS FAVORITE PONY. comicbooks.com