Life, 1895-05-16 · page 3 of 18
Life — May 16, 1895 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXV, Number 646) This page contains three separate humor pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **Top cartoon:** Shows a couple at a social gathering. The caption jokes about a man becoming "round-shouldered" since his engagement, suggesting his fiancée has made him physically weak or listless—a dig at how romantic relationships supposedly emasculate men. **Middle section ("The Wife"):** A domestic humor piece where a wife tells her husband John he's hopeless, referencing a doctor's comment about John's "handsome young brother." **Bottom sections:** Include unrelated satirical bits—one about naming a naval ship "The Kentucky," and another mocking a waiter's confusion between serving clam chowder and maintaining an aquarium. The humor relies on wordplay, marital stereotypes, and absurdist non-sequiturs common to the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NUMBER 646. “YOU AKE GETTING KOUND SHOULDERED E YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGED TO HER.” “VERY LU BUT YOU OUGHT TO SEE THE MUSCLES IN MY ARMS,” HE WIFE: I'm afraid there's no TO UNCLE SAM. hope for you, John. F a name you want that's sure to be lucky, Let the next cruiser be called ** ‘The Kentucky,” “ The doctor says he has No doubt her guns would do terrible slaughter, a handsome young brother And though full of holes, she'd never take water. he'd like me to meet.” A SARCASM. ‘“TOOUGHNUT —¢¢ P4415 hasn't a sign of aclam in it,” said the guest who is dead.” had ordered clam chowder. “It's a swindle; “Well, he’s better that’s what it is.” off.” “ Excuse me, sir,” responded the waiter, who is too good “Sothey say. Did for that business, “but we only undertake to serve a you know his wife? chowder; not an aquarium.” rvemel lief w ich. chines net we es caf