Life, 1896-11-19 · page 12 of 18
Life — November 19, 1896 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 360 This page contains three distinct pieces of satirical humor typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **Top illustration:** A romantic scene showing a couple in an elegant bedroom. The accompanying poem "What It Is" by Tom Masson satirizes married life as a series of mundane hardships—illness, financial strain, child-rearing, exhaustion—disguised with poetic language about "sunshine" and "rain." **Middle section:** Two brief joke items. The first references an actress in "tights" (theatrical costume), playing on double meanings. The second is a father-daughter marriage joke about paternal authority and courtship customs. **Bottom article:** Discusses Stanford University's endowment and suggests the University of California will receive millions from donors including Senator Hearst's widow. The satire implies wealthy Californians are engaged in competitive charitable giving, with Stanford expected to respond by offering education on a "one cent basis"—mocking the race to appear generous. **Overall tone:** Cynical humor about marriage, wealth-based education competition, and theatrical propriety—reflecting Edwardian-era social preoccupations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WHAT IT IS. UST a little sunshine, J Just a little rain, Just a freezing atmos- phere, Then it's warm again. Justa little hacking cough, With us for a day; Just bronchitis, tonsilitis, Or pneumonia. Justa little maiden, Just a word or two, Just a case of macried life— That's the thing to do, Just a score of hungry mouths, Open night and day; Just a hustle, brain and muscle, Countless bills to pay. Just a few friends here and there, As things chb and flow, Just a little lingering, As we sce them go. Just a little laughter, Just a little song; Just a tired feeling, Lasting all life long. Just a little sunshine, Just a little -ain: Just a sojourn he're awhile, Then we're off again. Tom Masson. WHY NOT? 667 )O you suppose,” thundered the irate father, ‘that ] am going to give my con- sent to the first mar who asks my daughter to marry him?” ‘\AN ACTRESS! WHAT ARZ YOU GOING TO APPEAR IN?” “I don’t see why you “TIGHTS.” J shouldn't,” replied the ATELY the Cause of American Education was holding its breath, for fear that Uncle suitor. ‘* She did.” Sam would gobble up the Stanford estate and Stanford University would lose its = endowment. Now, not only is Stanford's endowment assured and confirmed, but there SIGNS. is a tale that the University of California is to be enriched to the extent of four millions LARA: Sadie must by a number of donors, chief among whom is the widow of Senator Hearst. California is have been talking in no present danger of being over-educated, so this is good news; but since inthe East about me. the name of Hearst naturally suggests competition, there is a natural expectation of news Mauve: Why so? that Stanford has seen this raise and will furnish education ona one cent basis until further “When I met her she notice. It is proper to state that this expectation is not well-founded and will not be realized. _ kissed me twice.” comicbooks.com