Life, 1897-09-16 · page 3 of 20
Life — September 16, 1897 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 223 This page contains humor about bicycling—a popular leisure activity in the late 19th/early 20th century. The top cartoon shows a woman riding alongside a man on a bicycle, with the caption "Don't scorch now, mamma! Here's a policeman," referencing "scorching" (reckless fast riding) and police enforcement. Below are lighter sketches with dialogue about appendicitis versus appendicitis (likely a pun on a medical dispute), and a "Lorence" cartoon mocking overly romantic or affected behavior among bicyclists ("Ah, my noble friend! Child of nature! Would'st eat of the fruit of the lord?"). The humor trades on bicycles as both fashionable leisure items and subjects of social commentary about propriety, class, and modern behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“DON'T SCORCH NOW, MAMMA! HERE'S A POLICEMAN.” Harmonious. ABBERS: Why have you and Mer- riman quarreled ? Havers: Oh, he’ssucha perfect ass! ‘*Then I should think you'd get along all right.” _ Appendicitis, of Course. To the Editor of Lire—Sir: dian me, Lire. VR Which one the +! & ‘. right is, BA Appendicitis or <a Appendicitis? W. J. Lampton, D° T explain Ma yourself too WS much; give the world a chance to think well of you. “NOPE—GOT PLENTY EAT, TRADE SQUAW FOR WHISKEY.” ‘*AH, MY NOBLE FRIEND! CHILD OF NATURE! WOULD’ST EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE Loxp ?"”” comicbooks.com