Life, 1898-01-20 · page 7 of 26
Life — January 20, 1898 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 47 This page contains a humorous short story titled "Studies in Demonology" about a man who refuses alcohol at a theater intermission, choosing instead to attend a play. The narrative suggests this abstinence is unusual or noteworthy behavior. The accompanying illustration shows a crowded street scene with the caption "You are desperate," depicting what appears to be an urban nightlife setting, possibly a red-light district or entertainment area. The satire targets **Prohibition-era social attitudes**, mocking the idea that avoiding alcohol—or preferring theater to drinking—would be considered abnormal or even desperate behavior. The joke critiques how thoroughly drinking culture had permeated American social life that sobriety seemed remarkable or pitiable. The poem "Bub to Mary Ann" above reinforces themes of youthful mischief versus propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Bub to Mary Ann. UT say, I’ve got the goodest plan! When we are deaders, Mary Ann, °N goes to Heaven, you and I, Let’s have a race across the sky! °N then, if you get to the gate Afore I catch you, will you wait ? Because I’m most afraid you can Beat me a’flyin’, Mary Ann. Oh, my! won't you be bu: A’curlin’ all us angels’ hair! °N brushin’ down our feather-wings, .N tyin’ on our bibs and things! there I guess that when you get to Heaven You can’t go out one day in seven. Nancy Vincent McClelland. §¢ CHE says that since she married she has been through everything.” “Yes, Her husband says the same thing.” as AVING but a dol- lar and a quarter, how can I dine?” he muttered. ‘I will go to the theatre instead.” On his way out between the acts, while he was thoughtfully ‘balancing his last quarter in his pocket, he encountered a friend and asked him into the café. «You are desperate.” \\ < DEMON % OLO “Tf he takes whiskey I shall be forced to beer,” he thought. ‘Bah! how I hate the stuff.” His friend ordered beer. “Whiskey,” he said, and reflected that even then he would have to walk home. His friend offered him a cigar- ette and he absent-mindedly took two. After the play he met the Devilaround the corner, comicbooks.com