Life, 1900-02-01 · page 1 of 20
Life — February 1, 1900 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine, February 1, 1900 **The Main Cartoon:** The ornate header spells "LIFE" with elaborate decorative illustrations featuring cherubs, mythological figures, and allegorical scenes—typical of the magazine's ornate Victorian design aesthetic. **The Bottom Illustration:** This depicts a domestic scene with a man showing a woman what appears to be a document or letter. The caption reads: "BY THE WAY, MY WIFE SAYS SHE LIKES YOU." / "I HAD NO IDEA, SIR; I WAS QUITE SO PLAIN AS THAT." This is a genteel Victorian joke about social awkwardness—apparently a veiled compliment or misunderstanding between a man and his wife regarding another person's appearance or acceptability. The humor relies on the gentleman's self-deprecating or confused response to being complimented.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 1, 1900. NUMBER 898, Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Ciass Mail Matter, Copyright, 1900, by LIyR PUBLISHING ComPaNy. RICAN, a us Sum grant ad fa ali “RY THE WAY, MY WIPE SAYS SHE LIKES You.” “1 HAD NO IDEA, SIR, 1 WAN QUITE SO PLAIN as