Life, 1899-02-16 · page 14 of 20
Life — February 16, 1899 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine combines a satirical cartoon with gossipy social commentary. **The main cartoon** shows a man riding an elephant labeled "The Rogue Elephant"—likely a visual pun on upper-class social pretension or a specific scandal (the exact reference is unclear without additional context). **The text sections** mock wealthy New York society families through deliberately inane observations: the Sweetleighs dining together, the Kockie Lotts' fashionable carriage, Kockie Lott reading newspapers but scorning books, and Mr. Graiton Kloze's meticulous moustache maintenance. The humor lies in *Life's* satirical elevation of trivial details into mock-serious social reportage—treating wealthy people's mundane habits and shallow concerns as if they were momentous news. The final non-sequiturs ("recipe for bare soup") suggest the absurdity of such gossip columns. This reflects *Life's* role as satirical magazine skewering Gilded Age Manhattan society pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The World’s Progress. j HE Evvor Gaddyn: to dine next Saturday . lg with the Sweetleigh 4 Riches. Mrs, Sweet- < leigh Ric everyone knows, is a cousin of Evvor Gaddyng. Both are descended from Polhouse Gad- dyng, the famous beau, who used to sit down when he was tired. It is expected that Lord Howe Poore will select a bride before he leaves America, Love isa power. THE ROGUE ELEPHANT. Miss Sniftie Bond ate too much choco- late Friday. She was better Sunday, One of the most graceful brougbams in the city belongs to the Kockie Lotts. In fact, everything of theirs is just what it ought to be. Their coat-of-arms is a dividend rampant, or, on two ancestors passant, gu Kockie Lott is often seen at the windows of the Knicker- bocker Club, He reads the papers every day, but says he doesn’t care much for books. They bore him, Mr. and Mrs, Graiton Kloze will go to Philadelphia in Me-ch for a two days’ visit. Mr. Graiton Kloze trims his moustache twice a week. He says he feels better for it. Among the Amateurs. V IGGS: Why are you so anxious to be cast for the réle of ‘* Hamlet"? Fottites: As I recollect the part, I get a chance to kill most of the other members of the company. Those Manilas. OLUMBIA: Oh, Dr. Bull, Samuel wants to smoke this nasty cigar. Dr. Butt: Let him, madame. It'll make bim at first, but he’s a very healthy boy, and the experience won’t hurt him, HE wise woman—but here we are reminded of the recipe for bare soup.