Life, 1897-01-28 · page 7 of 20
Life — January 28, 1897 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 69 **Top Cartoon - "Aspects of Current Fiction":** This satirizes literary trends, specifically invoking Robert Louis Stevenson. Four caricatured old men represent stock characters appearing in contemporary fiction—depicted as grotesque, bearded figures. The caption quotes Stevenson asking "Good heavens! What have I let loose?"—suggesting that Stevenson's influence on literature has spawned countless poor imitations featuring similar melodramatic, exaggerated characters. **Bottom Image - "Cupids of All Nations (China)":** A cherub-like figure plays a flute while riding what appears to be a dragon or mythical creature. This likely satirizes Western romanticization of Chinese culture and "Oriental" aesthetics that were fashionable in late 19th/early 20th-century America. The right column contains unrelated satirical dialogue about politics and finance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ASPECTS OF CURRENT FICTION. Invisible Shade of Robert Louts Stevenson : “GOOD WEAVENS! WHAT HAVE 1 LET LOOSE?” BOOKED FOR THE PLACE, EADING out towards Cantor now, . atesmen hurry on the sly; Statesmen, if they are not great, Want to know the reason why Every day a new one comes, Till it seems that statesmen grow On the trees of every State, And they're hanging mighty low Hanging so that they're in reach Of t ajor's held-back hand, Ready at a moment to Drop, and with the Major stand. Each man knows himself to be What will prove a valued prize; Each one knows he'll fit the place, Which, of course, is cabinet size. That's what they are there for, sure And they're bound to make a hit; What great statesmen there will be In the Major's Cabi— Nit ! W. J. Lampton. ‘THE more you sympathize with yourself the less you do toward improving‘ your con- dition, = __ THE ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS. IS LITTLE SON: Papa, what does it mean ‘‘to throw good money after bad"? Tue Stock BROKER: It meat what are you reading about, anyhow; some reorgani- CUPIDS CF ALL NATIONS. zation scheme ? CHINA.