Life, 1898-11-17 · page 3 of 20
Life — November 17, 1898 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 383 Analysis This page contains three unrelated humor pieces typical of Life magazine's satirical format: 1. **"Life: By Way of Explanation"** — A sentimental poem about romance, with the speaker defending kissing as "amazing." 2. **"Evading the Difficulty"** — A brief joke about a Colonel using "liquid air, with a dash of bitters" to manage breathing difficulties. The humor relies on wordplay about alcohol consumption. 3. **"As Johnny Comes Marching Home"** — A cartoon dialogue between returning soldiers discussing military life. One soldier references General Aguinaldo and the Philippines, suggesting this references the Philippine-American War. The joke involves comparing returning to civilian life unfavorably to jungle warfare—likely satirizing the contrast between military hardship and domestic tedium. The cartoons use exaggerated illustrations typical of early 20th-century satirical journalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE By Way of Explanation. OUR rosy lips wero close to mine, Your eyes into my eyes were gazing, No one was near to spy—in fine, I kissed you! Pray, is that amazing? Your eyes into my eyes were gazing, They seemed to whisper: “Now or never!" I kissed you—pray, is that amazing? Tthought it really very clever. Evading the Difficulty. «7 HEAR the Colonel has got over that difficulty in his breathing.” “Yes, he uses liquid air, with a dash of bitters.” “WHAT'S YOUR NAME, LITTLE Bor?" “GEORGE DEWEY ROOSEVELT HOBSON SCHLEY SAMPSON 6MITH.” Thoy seemed to whisper: “ Now or never!” Your eyes—in them, Sweet, I confided. I thought it really very clever— And who would not havo done as I did? Your eyes—in them, Sweet, I confided ; Your eyes, that into mine were gazing; And who would not have done as I did? Tkissed you! Pray, is that amazing? Charles Love Benjamin. A Tribute tothe Army Ration. «© HEY say Lawton measures’ six feet four in his stockings.” “That's nothing. Shafter measures six feet four in his undershirt.” POLITICS IN THE ORIENT. As Johnny Comes Marching Home. IRST VOLUNTEER (of returning decimated regiment): The girls are going wild over us! Srconp VotunteeRr (grimly): Yes—we are rem- nants, “ I CAN stand being guyed about my golden col- lar and my tin whistle, and all that,” observed General Aguinaldo, ‘‘but when it comes to the papers calling me the Bryan of the Philippines, I fecl like going back into the woods and living with the gorillas!” comicbooks.com