Life, 1895-05-02 · page 1 of 18
Life — May 2, 1895 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine, May 2, 1895 This page features a satirical illustration titled "The Gentleman Is Right," accompanied by a dialogue quote about marriage and drinking. The main image shows what appears to be a domestic scene with figures in period clothing, though the photograph's darkness makes specific details difficult to discern. The accompanying text presents a cynical exchange about marriage: a man claims he married "to reform you," while a woman responds that "of course a man drinketh more if he marries such a fool as that"—suggesting marital discord and the husband's continued drinking habits. The ornate decorative border on the left contains small vignettes illustrating various scenes, typical of Life's design aesthetic. This appears to be satirizing Victorian marriage expectations and male behavior, a recurring theme in 1890s American humor magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XXvV. NEW YORK, MAY 2, 1895. Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Copyright, 1895, by Mrrcwent & Minune, THE GENTLEMAN IS RIGHT. “*AND I ONLY MARRIED TO REFORM you!" “YESH, BUT OF COURSH A MAN DRINKSH MORE IF HE MARRIES SUCH A FOOL AS THAT.”