Life, 1898-02-24 · page 13 of 20
Life — February 24, 1898 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces typical of Life's humor: **Top cartoons**: Geometric female figures ("Mrs. Isosceles Tri" and "Sultan Circumference Curve") make puns about their mathematical shapes while expressing personality traits—the triangle fears being "perfectly square," the circle claims perfect impartiality. The satire mocks pretentious women who use abstract concepts to justify their behavior. **"The Wisdom of Added Years"**: A grandfather tells his grandson to ignore rules about leaving food on his plate, implying older people disregard etiquette. The humor critiques generational hypocrisy. **"Very Good Work"**: Praises Massachusetts's successful State-House restoration, noting women's committees achieved it under budget—an implicit compliment to female civic organization. **Various aphorisms** ("Oaks Progress," observations on women, health journals) offer cynical social commentary typical of Life's format. The page reflects early 20th-century American satirical magazine conventions: mathematical/geometric humor, gender commentary, architectural boosterism, and philosophical cynicism presented as brief, illustrated quips.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Said Mrs. sesceles Tri, “Thar tm sharp tve ne wish 16 deny; Bur [do nor dare B be perfectly square — Im sure if | dia | sheuld die! ” the purse-proud Britons than all the prob- lem plays imported by the Trust can win hack in a thousand years. * * . HO says that America provides no material for the dramatist? If William Shakespeare were living to-day he would make at least two five : out of Queen Lavinia Dempsey. Metcalfe, Very Good Work. IFE has inadvertently neglected to felicitate the citizens of Massachusetts on the successful reconstruction of the bullfinch front of their State-House in Bos- ton, The matter isn’t news any longer, but the achievement continues to be memor- able, The State-House Preservation Com- mittee (of ladies) agitated for the necessary THE WISDOM OF ADDED YEARS. Willie: THEY TELL US AT SCHOOL, GRANDPA, TO LEAVE A LITTLE FOOD ON OUR PLATES FOR POLITENESS’ SAKE. “NEVER MIND, WILLIE—AS YOU GET OLDER YOU'LL KNOW BETTER.” 193 Said SullinCrcumferenceGrve, “fer juste | stfain every nerve ; I never fake sides . And no selfishness guides My will, for I've neend leserve. appropriation (375,000), which the Legisla- ture granted; the Governor, acting with the committee, appointed three architects, Messrs. Cummings, Andrews and Everett, todo the work. The restoration was ad- mirably accomplished for $250,000; about 375,000 more was spent by permission of the Legislature for furniture and fittings, and 850,000 goes back to the State. Boston has now, within a stone’s throw of one an- other, two of the most remarkable monu- mentsin America—the Shaw memorial, and a public building which, being worth say- ing, was intelligently restored at much less cost to the public than the Legislature authorized. $* T WONDER what the Theatrical Trust thinks about this new play of mine.” “IT don’t know, I haven't seen the Sun to- day.” OAK’S PROGRESS: (1) A man with a (2) A thirst with (3) A thirst. (4) thirst. aman. Snakes. OMEN likea manly man: he is easier to manage. MAN earns a living 1) EX by his own work, M47) but he can become rich H /'Yonly vy the work of j ‘ others. CAREFUL perusal of contemporary health, dietetic and med- ical journals leads one to the conclusion that no food which is good enough to cook should be eaten, and all foods not good enough to cook should not be eaten,