Life, 1897-02-04 · page 3 of 20
Life — February 4, 1897 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This Life magazine page (Volume XXIX, Number 737) contains three separate satirical vignettes about social behaviors: **"Not a Fair Division"**: Satirizes hereditary aristocracy—a man complains he inherited his great-grandfather's gout but not his wealth, referencing Scottish writer McLandrugh's Wilson. The joke targets the unfairness of inheriting only disadvantages. **"Dangerous"**: A doctor warns a patient to stop smoking cigars; the patient fears stopping will cause heartbreak. This mocks vanity and addiction. **"On the Field of Battle"**: Spanish soldiers debate whether to attack insurgents. The caption is unclear without historical context, but appears to reference colonial conflict. The main illustration depicts a Victorian-era park scene with well-dressed figures and dogs—likely illustrating one of these satirical scenarios about class, health, or social propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Q) A, KS, lours, me, ils, Silke ear, ovens, DS. VOLUME XxXIX NUMBER 737 “1 PEAR, DOCTOR, I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO GO TO CHURCH.” “RUT, MY DEAR MADAME, IT ISN'T YOUR GOODNESS, IT'S YOUR DESIRE.” NOT A FAIR DIVISION. EREDITY is most unjust, And that’s why I repine; I have my great-grandfather's gout, But haven't got his wine. MeLandburgh Wilson. “RUT I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO HAVE ANY DESIRE.” DANGEROUS. ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. Y physician tells me 1 must IRST SPANISH SOLDIER: stop smoking so many ci- The insurgents have attacked gars.” the rear. “Afraid you will get the cabbage Tuk Orner: Caramba! Let us heart?” hasten to the front! comicbooks.com