Life, 1897-07-01 · page 12 of 20
Life — July 1, 1897 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 12 This page contains two separate pieces of social satire: **Top illustration**: A cartoon captioned "Weren't you surprised when he proposed?" / "Why should I be?" / "Everybody else was." The drawing shows a woman reclining on a couch speaking with a visitor, satirizing sudden marriage proposals and the social gossip surrounding engagements. **Bottom story "Rather One-Sided"**: A dialogue between George Holdington and his fiancée Esther about summer plans. George suggests rest; Esther insists on activities (clubs, theater, lessons). The accompanying sketch shows a tramp asking a girl about food sources. The satire critiques how women's social obligations and activities leave no actual leisure time, despite claims of needing "rest." The overall theme targets leisured-class contradictions between stated desires and actual behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ WEREN'T You SURPRISED WHEN HE PROPOSED + “No. Wty siounp T pe?” “EVERYBODY FLSE WAS. RATHER ONE-SIDED. HEN you leave Brooklyn for the summer you should go to some quiet little plac where you can have a good long rest said George Holdington to his fiancée Yh, | don’t want to rest; pouted Esther. * Haven't you had fun enough this winter? I’m sure you nged to the Clas- I want to have some fun;” Haven't we b son Avenue German, and the Hanson Pl And we've gone to the theatre once a week, and then we've must be nearly worn out. Bowling Club ? had our choir rehearsit!, and every Wednesday night you had your sewing class at the Young Women’s Christian Associa- and Authors’ I should think that was tion, besides all the Progressive Euchre parties reading and lectures we ‘ve been to, enough for any girl.” “Pooh!” “Those things were well observed Esther. enough while they lasted, but I'm going in for a really good time now. I want to go to some awfully » like Bar Harbor or Asbury Park.” “I'm afraid you are a little inclined to be giddy ;” swell pla said Tramp: LATTLE GIR COTTAGE AROUND HERE WHERE | CAN GET ar THING BESIDE CHICKEN AND ASPARROWGRASS 2 FOR THE LAST WEEK I'VE HAD NOTHIN’ BUT ASPARROWGRASS AN CHICKEN ; CHICKEN AN’ ASPARROWGRaSS, IF YOU COULD ONLY TELL ME WHERE I COULD STRIKE A PLATE OF OOD, OLD FASHIC REEF, OR EVEN A SIMPLE SALAD, I'D BLESS you! 1S THERE