Life, 1896-07-02 · page 6 of 18
Life — July 2, 1896 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains humorous social commentary rather than political cartoons. **"The Old, Old Story"** depicts anthropomorphic rabbits by a riverside, illustrating a romantic or domestic scene with period charm. **"We May Be Happy Yet"** is satirical prose celebrating William's (likely William Jennings Bryan or another political figure) leadership, with exaggerated predictions of wealth and luxury—clearly mocking excessive optimism or populist promises. The tone is ironic, suggesting the writer doubts these grandiose claims. **The remaining sketches** show domestic humor: adults and children in formal dress, with captions like "Discriminating Than" and "He Anticipated," depicting social awkwardness or class distinctions. **"His Excuse"** presents a dialogue between a weary mother and her son Tommy about evening prayers—gentle satire on childhood mischief and religious hypocrisy. The page emphasizes *social* rather than *political* satire, focusing on manners, family dynamics, and human nature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE OLD, OLD STORY, WE MAY BE HAPPY YET. At hail the power of William’s name, for it is nothingmore. Let countless thousands cheer the same with elephantine roar. Come boys and gird your loins up, let Hanna's man be boomed, and let us quaff of Victory’s cup with gladness unassumed. What though Lord Marcus rule the roost with others of his kind? let’s give the millionaires a boost, e’en though we go it blind. Come, toot the hornand bay the moon while history unrolls; we'll all be wearing diamonds soon and drink from golden bowls. We'll ride in chaises lined with silk with ruby studded wheels, and drink champagne in place of milk: each day have eighteen meals. Oh! when great Mark's behind the throne, when William gets the prize, all blessings then will be our own—unless it’s otherwise. * I “HE corporation of Yale has decided to assign to the Woolsey statue a site that the undergraduates can conscientiously approve. Wise corpora- tion! It is always a mistake to jostle a sentiment when there is room to BEARING HIS HONORS MEEKLY. HIS EXCUSE. EARY MOTHER (to troublesome off- spring whom she has been trying in vain to coax into saying his evening Prayer) ; Come, Tommy—this is all nonsense. You iC know that prayer as well as I do, and I want \ you to say it. 5 Tommy (sweetly): Well, Mamma, I was only just trying to tease God a little bit. i co Mc of us know a good thing when > DISCRIMINATING THAN HE ANTICIPATED. some one else has it. comicbooks.com