Life, 1896-02-20 · page 3 of 20
Life — February 20, 1896 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine (Volume XXVII, Number 686) contains several short humorous pieces rather than political cartoons: 1. **"Before the Operation"** - A joke about a doctor charging $350 for a hopeless surgery. 2. **"A Romance of To-Day"** - A brief dialogue about a woman rejecting marriage. 3. **"A Necessary Trip"** - Miss Newwoman needs city shopping; Miss Strongmind notes there's no men's furnishing store in town—likely satirizing early 20th-century women's independence and changing social roles. 4. **"The Affinity of Contrast"** - A longer piece by W.J. Lampton describing how he and his wife Tom differed greatly yet complemented each other—a commentary on marital dynamics. The sketch below illustrates domestic or rural life. The content reflects *Life*'s satirical focus on contemporary social customs and relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ts of tiness awers Its. VOLUME XXVII. NUMBER 686. THE AFFINITY OF CONTRAST. To CARTER and I were just as different as could be, yet we were extremely fond of each other. I liked most women in a way, but not closely, and I never made a confidant of one. Tom, on the other hand, was very fond of them. Perhaps that’s why he liked me. There is much, they say, in the affinity of contrast. We differed in many other respects. Tom smoked and I didn’t ; Tom took a nip occasionally, and 1 was strictly temperate; Tom was poor and I was rich; ‘Tom swore sometimes and I never did; and Tom liked the club and I didn’t. Still, when there was any place to go we always went together, and we always had a good time. He introduced me to all the women he knew, and never failed to tell them that I was the best fellow alive. I liked Tom and he liked me, and goodfellow- ship doesn’t always last for a dozen years as mine and Tom's had. People, our friends, used to say it was really remark- able, and outside of the books they couldn't cite a similar case, but Tom and I merely smiled and kept right on as we had been doing. Surely it wasn't because we were alike. Because we were so different. It was the affinity of contrast, I am sure. Tom was a man and I wasn't. We had been married for a dozen years. W. J, Lampton, BEFORE THE OPERATION. $67 R—I suppose, Doctor, there is some chance of saving him ? ‘Absolutely none; he will die whether operated upon or not.” ‘Well, what are you doing it for then?” ‘* For $350.” A ROMANCE OF TO-DAY. HERE are you going? My pretty maid. Into ‘* Society.” Sir, she said. Well, I'll not marry you, My pretty maid. You won't? then Il sue you, Sir, she said. A NECESSARY TRIP. ISS NEWWOMAN: I will have to go to the city to-morrow and make some purchases. Miss STRONGMIND: Can't you get what you want here? Miss NewwoMan: No, there isn’t a gent’s furnishing store in “Tom, SHE GIV' ME THE MARBLE HEART, THE COLD SHAKE; THEM BALOOM SLEEVES 1S TOO MUCH FOR HER. (/n a whisper) 1 WANT YOU TO LET ME PULL YOUR SISTER 'ROUND ON THAT SLED FOR A LITTLE I WANT TER MAKE THAT GAL JEALOUS—IT'LL BREAK HER