Life, 1902-03-20 · page 15 of 20
Life — March 20, 1902 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several unrelated satirical pieces typical of Life magazine's format. **"A Query"** opens with absurdist humor comparing sleeping customs of distant peoples (Eskimos, Japanese) to a ridiculous question about sleeping on oyster beds in Baltimore—likely mocking pseudo-scientific travel writing popular at the time. **"Modern Examples"** presents deliberately absurd math problems that use contemporary anxieties as setups: overcrowded schools in South Africa, subway dangers and traffic accidents in cities, and exhausting waltz partners. These mock both educational word problems and turn-of-the-century urban dangers into dark comedy. **"Under the Rose"** is a brief dialogue comedy about Mrs. Surplice complaining that her husband's bad mood during Lenten season stems from parishioners' spiritual indifference—gentle satire of religious hypocrisy. **"The Sad Part"** jokes about a woman who's had fourteen cooks in three months, none satisfying her—common servant-keeping humor among the wealthy. The illustrations show fashionable couples and comic character sketches typical of Life's visual style.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Query. HEY tell me that the Eskimo Can go to rest in beds of snow ; And that the curious little Jap Upon the floor can take a nap ; Now do they sleep, and sometimes snore On oyster beds in Baltimore? Modern Examples. Na South African school district there are 4 schools, and each school contains 130 desks, and each desk enough pine to make a coMa for & child from 8 to 10. Supposing this Proportion to be maintained tn a space of 180,000 square miles, and cof- fins needed for 14th more ctil- dren than there are desks, how many children will be left coffin. less? There are 3,000,000 individuals tn @ city, and 1-41h of these are blown up tn the subway, 14th of what aro left are gradually killed in tunnels, and 14th of the remainder maimed by street cars, ‘and L4th of what are still left run over by automobiles. What ts the name of the city? A young girl, 6 ft, 2 inches in height, welghing 114 pounds, can waltz three hours straight without stopping, while @ young man, 5ft. 9 inches, welzhing 190 pounds, can waltz only 32 minutes, How many partners, averaging 170 pounds, and 6 ft. 3 inches fn height, will the young girl exhaust In an evening of 11 hours, allowing 20 minntes for refreshments ? Under the Rose. M RS. JULIUS WENTWORTH = WIDDLETO: The Lenten season, dear Mrs. Surplice, must be very hard on dear Mr. Surplice, Mrs. SurPLICE: Oh, indeed it is. He told me last night that the indif- ference of this parish in spiritual matters kept him in a bad humor for forty days and forty nights. RECENT FICTION, *Tamny Tov TILL 1 com.” He; pox’? YOU THINK YOU COULD LEARN To Love MET “wnat’s THE USE? I HAVE TOO MANY EXPENSIVE TASTES AS IT 18.” The Sad Part. RS. HATTERSON: What! You've had fourteen cooks in three months! Mrs. Cattrerson: Yes. And I didn’t please any of them. comicbooks.com