Life, 1898-07-28 · page 3 of 20
Life — July 28, 1898 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains three separate humor pieces. The main cartoon shows a maid speaking to an older man, with the caption suggesting she's interested in a young man and has "hung something over the keyhole"—a period reference to romantic or sexual interest. Below are three brief jokes: "An Easy One" concerns a doctor's occupation; "Intercepted Dispatch" references Admiral Cervera and the Spanish-American War (mentioning Cuba and General Shaffer), satirizing the military campaign; and "A Canard" mocks a gossip story about the Wamputtock Woolen Mills in Bristol, suggesting exaggeration about General Shaffer's physical dimensions and military capabilities. The humor relies on contemporary references to the Spanish-American War and local New England textile industry gossip.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“MARY, 18 THAT YOUNG MAN IN THR PARLOR?” “1 THINK WE 13, SIR, MISS JENNIE HAS UNG SOMETHING OVER THE KEYUOLE.” An Easy One. HAT occupation would you recommend, doctor, as being the most favorable to long life?” Dr, SKILLFUL: Enlist in our navy. Intercepted Dispatch. Cmicaco, July 16. © Admiral Cervera, Annapolis, Md.: The combination was too strong, but history will remember us. Jspn Ltr, A Canard. HE story that the Wamputtock Woolen Mills of Bristol, R. I., ran day and night at emergency speed throughout the last week of June on a cholera band for General Shafter is probably mere gossip. There are mills in New England that could make a cholera band for General Shafter in half a day. The General's dimensions have been exaggerated, though it is truc enough that, even at his fighting weight, he is not suited to run very fast up hill on hot days in Cuba. Plenty of Time. ASHAWAY: I was going to ask you to dine with me, but I be- lieve you are going to take dinner at the x: What time do you dine? ** Six o'clock.” “That's all right, old man. don’t dine until seven.” They VEN the youngest of us has some- thing to learn, OUTH lives in to-morrow; manhood to-day; old age yesterday.