Life, 1896-01-16 · page 3 of 20
Life — January 16, 1896 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXVII, No. 681) **"A Schemer" Cartoon:** The top sketch depicts a financial negotiation between a man and woman. He claims he can only afford $5,000 yearly income, yet she responds that with "economy" she can dress on $1,500 and cover household expenses with the remainder. The satire targets the common marital dynamic where wives manage household budgets while husbands claim financial constraints—a commentary on gender roles and domestic economics of the era. **"A Tale of a Shark" & "A Stitch in Time":** These are humorous illustrated poems/stories unrelated to political satire. "The Shark" is whimsical verse about a shark and frogs; "A Stitch in Time" appears to be a moral tale, shown in the right illustration. **"Increasing Proficiency":** A brief joke about Clara receiving compliments on her growing beauty, with Maude's response that "practice makes perfect"—light social humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XXvVII. ‘ili vA nuh A SCHEMER. He: VM AFRAID | COULDN'T MAKE YOU HAPPY, DARLING, ON ONLY $2,000 A YEAR. She; Ou, 11's PLENTY! WITH ECONOMY I CAN DRESS ON $1,500, AND JUST THINK, DEAR, WE CAN HAVE ALL THE REST FOR HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES! A TALE OF A SHARK. A SHARK walked out of the sea one night ‘Come down,” he said, ‘where the earth is warm, When the moon was riding high, Sing treble and I'll sing bass.” And he said: ‘This is just the night forme, Then all unseen, such a horrible smile For I see there's a mackerel sky.” Spread over the creature's face So he waddled along till he came to a wood. So one by one those foolish frogs Where, perched on an oak-tree limb, Dropped into the maw beneath, Six youthful frogs sat all in a row And as each one fell, he sighed—"* Yum-yum"— Chanting their evening hymn. And complacently picked his teeth. ** Good evening, friends,” said the sly old shark, And waddling back to the sea, he said ** You sing with feeling and force ; **T'm pious and fond of hymns— But the hour grows late, and the wind is chill, And it’s O, for a mackerel sky, say I, And I fear you are getting hoarse. When the frogs roost low on the limbs!" INCREASING PROFICIENCY. Cra: Mr. Softerly paid me a great compliment yesterday. He said | grew more beautiful every day. MAUDE: Well, practice makes perfect, you know. A STITCH IN TIME. comicbooks.com