Life, 1895-05-16 · page 9 of 18
Life — May 16, 1895 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 323 The main illustration depicts "The Wonders of America: Monument to Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales at Yorktown," a satirical architectural fantasy showing a ornate monument rising impossibly high above a cityscape. The accompanying dialogue mocks American social pretensions: a sister scolds her brother Alikan for his lack of ambition, criticizing his "illusions about your beauty." The family discussion revolves around marriage prospects—whether he should marry an artist or "literary man" for variety. The satire targets American class consciousness and the expectation that marriage should secure social standing. Below, a humorous evolution chart shows transformation "From a P.D.Q. Locomotive to the President of the Road," satirizing American industrial advancement and social mobility through corporate hierarchy.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
323 men of the same stupid type. So papa said that I should marry an artist, or literary man, or some such freak for variety at the family parties.’ **T don't see much variety about him,” chuckled the sister. “No,” said Allean, “but then he has a mighty entertaining valet, and that helps to give distinction toa new American family.” “Good night, dear,” said the sister, and the lights went out. POOR ZAGGLES! INKS: For a professional humorist. J Mr. Zaggles looks remarkably sad-eyed and melancholy. Binks: Yes; you see everyone who has children insists upon telling him all the smart little things they say, in the hope he will put them in the papers. ANN UPTREE: Robbie, old man, " don’t you find that fashionable : Sa = “J ‘tailor deuced expensive? So many men THE WONDERS OF AMERICA. beat him that he has to get the price of MONUMENT TO QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE PRINCE OF WALES AT YORKTOWN. four suits out of every three customers to — ~ keep even, “Poor boy,” said the sister, spitefully, ‘1 imagine that he was ROBDEIGH DRAPER: That's all right, Uppie; mine's struck speechless to find that you were not nearly as pretty close at * 5 hand as he had thought you were. We all meet with such disappoint- that fourth suit. ments in our ideals, now and then.” “You horrid thing,” jibed Allean. “He never had even a ghost of an illusion about your beauty at any rate!” “Don't you think that American irl must be tired to death of having him around, talking all the time about “his princess?’ asked the sister, adroitly changing the subject. “That's all right,” said Allean, “I had a little talk the other day with her, and she told me that she was just playing him now, She hoped to land him before she left Athens. ‘You know we need an artist in the family," she said. ‘We're very rich, and all my sisters have married rich Evoution From A P. D. Q. LocoMOTIVE TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE Roan.