Life, 1896-12-10 · page 5 of 20
Life — December 10, 1896 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 475 The main photograph shows Fifth Avenue in New York with a large billboard advertisement. Three short humorous pieces appear below: **"The Coming"** jokes about searching for an item in *The World* newspaper being like "looking through the Morgue"—a pun on the newspaper's name and actual morgue. **"Something of a Delay"** depicts a telephone conversation where someone tries to reach Benjamin Harrison (likely former U.S. President) at Indianapolis to offer him the portfolio of Secretary of State, but Harrison hasn't been offered it yet. **"An Idol of Autumn"** is a poem celebrating a polo player—described as powerful, padded, and famous, weighing 200 pounds with golden hair. It's a humorous tribute to the autumn polo season sport. The overall page mixes visual journalism with satirical commentary typical of Life magazine's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MA BMRS L TOWNS Witt DINE TONIGHT LOOKING UP FIFTH AVENUE. THE COMING. INA’S Count has arrived from Europe, I hear. How did he come?” “C. O. D., they say.” ““ GENTLEMAN was heard to remark, recently, that to search for an item in The World was like looking through the Morgue. He must have a grudge against the Morgue. SOMETHING OF A DELAY. 7 ELLO, Central! I want to talk to the Honorable_Ben- jamin Harrison, at Indianapolis.” “All right. There you are.” ‘Is that Mr. Harrison?” “Yes. Who are you?” “This is Lire. We want to know whether you will accept the portfolio of Secretary of State?” “* Mark!Hanna has not offered it to me yet. ** Good-by.” Good-by.”” AN IDOL OF AUTUMN. S the hero of the hour, He's an autumn pet of power, le Though his canvas suit is anything but neat ; He is padded very plump, So that other men may jump On his frame with little damage to their feet. He’s the opposite of grace, When he sets a scorching pace Down the field upon his puffy, padded pegs ; When he slides upon his face, * When he forms a cushioned base, For a pyramid of human arms and legs. He's a man of mighty fame, He's a man of giant frame, Terra firma fairly trembles ‘neath his tread ; He is very big of chest, And he weighs two hundred, dressed, But the largest thing about him is his head. With a lot of other freaks, He is trained for many weeks, But he never fully gets the kicking knack ; Never wins a plaudit warm, Never feels in proper form, Till the golden hair is hanging down his back. Earle H, Eaton. comicbooks.com