Life, 1899-05-18 · page 20 of 20
Life — May 18, 1899 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes the invention of the top hat through three figures dressed in period clothing, appearing to be from the 18th or 19th century. The comic depicts the hat's "invention" as a comedic accident or necessity—the figures seem disheveled and are interacting with the tall structure in exaggerated, bumbling ways, suggesting the hat was an absurd or impractical creation. The caption "Early English Inventions" frames this as mock-historical humor, poking fun at English fashion and refinement. The joke plays on the pretension of the top hat as a symbol of dignity and formality, treating it instead as a ridiculous contraption that real people would struggle with. The satirical point mocks both the garment itself and, by extension, English pomposity about fashion and tradition. This reflects Life magazine's irreverent humor about social conventions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ROASTS ARE GIVEN AMOST DELICATE AND APPETIZING RELISH, IF JUST TOUCHED UPA BIT WITH » LEA PERRINS ~SAUCE., THE ORciAL a cenune woRcESTE® FOR SIXTY YEARS THIS SAUCE HAS GIVEN PERFECT SATISFAC: TION_THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. NCAN'S SOW: ORR ON ewrorn 407% The guiding star of candy lovers isthe famous name of Whitman. The excellence of WHITMAN'S Chocolates and Confections has made them famous everywhere. Ask the dealer. Whitman's Instantaneous Chocolate te perfect n flavor and quality. delicious and bealthful. Madetnstantly with botling water, NF. WHITMAN & SON, wut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 99999999993999999999999% Comfortable Shoes, $4. Gentlemen’s Shoes. Health=giving Shoes. Good fitting Shoes. Shoes that give you character. Send for Catalogue free. Ralston Health Shoe Makers, Campelilo, Mass. eeeeeeeeeeeceeceeee: EARLY ENGLISH INVENTIONS, THE Tor Mar. —Moonshine, NESESSITY TO SMOKERS OF REFINED TASTE ~ Ne St PREES OF THE J. W. PRATT CO., NEW YORK. Tickets To California Will be sold in late June and early July by the Santa Fe Route, at the time of the N. E. A. Convention in Los Angeles. Liberal stop-overs and choice of % return routes, Particulars on application. The Santa Fe Route is 24 to 4 36 hours shorter than ¥ any other. Address General Passenger Office, The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, THE SUCCESS OF LONDON. 385,Regent St FAMILY TAILORING aNd COURT DRESSMAKING After fifteen years of uninterrupted success # & Ladies’ Tatlor in New York, Mr. Ernest bit opened an extensive establishment at 185 Reget Street, near Conduit Street, London, where # has always on view the latest creations COATS and GOWNS. Swiftest, Strongest Saves Most and Lasts Longest emington Standard Typewriter WYCKOPP, SEAMANS & BENEDICT, 327 Broadway, New York.