Life — September 16, 1897 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a sketch from Life magazine titled "As the Days Get" showing two figures in period dress (appearing to be late 19th/early 20th century based on clothing) standing in a rural landscape. The dialogue reads: **His horse:** "Do you think it's all go?" **Her horse:** "We've been here every day. Then you never can tell." The satire appears to target romantic courtship rituals—specifically the predictability of young couples' behavior. The joke suggests that despite the couple's apparent routine meetings in the same pastoral location, there's uncertainty about whether their relationship will progress ("it's all go"). By attributing the commentary to the horses rather than the couple, the cartoonist creates ironic distance, implying that even the animals recognize the stagnant repetitiveness of their romantic endeavors. The humor mocks both courtship conventions and the couple's lack of spontaneity.