Life, 1895-10-31 · page 3 of 18
Life — October 31, 1895 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, Volume XXVI, Number 670 The main illustration shows a dramatic scene between a woman and man, with the caption referencing someone calling another "an ass" and the response "I never knew him to tell a lie." Below are three brief satirical sections: **"The Benefit of the Doubt"** - A matron asks a bookseller about a book of "doubtful morality"; he recommends it anyway, noting most doubtful books he's read were actually of undoubted quality (satirizing how "forbidden" books often prove worthwhile). **"Paid Better"** - A joke about Cohen never failing—he drinks "dey pays better" (playing on ethnic dialect humor common to period satire). **"Helping Each Other"** - Social commentary praising a conscientious New York voter, while noting two boys (John became a dentist, James runs a candy factory) who "help each other" by doing what benefits them. The humor relies on period stereotypes and class-based social observation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NUMBER 670. “*] HADN'T BEEN TALKING WITH HIM THREE MINUTES BEFORE HIE CALLED ME AN ASS, “WELL, I NEVER KNEW HIM TO TELL A LIE.” WUAT SORT OF A PERSON IS HE, ANYWAY 2?” THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. Matz: Now, is this novel a fit one for my daughter to read ? BOOKSELLER: H'm, Well, candidly, madam, I think it a book of doubtful morality. MATRON: Well, I'll take it. Most of those I've read lately have been of undoubted immorality. PAID BETTER. Has Cohen ever failed? [sAacs: No, he vas had fires; he dinks dey pays Levi: better. HELPING EACH OTHER. R. CAWKER: I admire the helpful spirit the Wil- berforce boys display. They are always doing what they can for each other. Mr. Cumso: What have they done lately ? Mr. CAWKER: John, has become a dentist, while James has established a candy factory. ESSED is the conscientious New York man who knows how he ought to vote at the approaching election, and much may his knowledge redound to his personal comfort and the promotion of good government in this city. comicbooks.com