Life, 1902-06-12 · page 20 of 20
Life — June 12, 1902 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1902 *Life* magazine cartoon satirizes suburban property disputes and neighborly dishonesty. The joke depicts two neighbors discussing gardening: the first suspects the second of planting seeds from his own garden, but the second defensively claims the seeds are "inside"—implying they're his own seeds, not stolen ones. The satire mocks the tension between suburban residents over property boundaries and shared resources. The humor lies in the second neighbor's transparent lie: his suspicious behavior and evasive response suggest he's actually planting the first neighbor's seeds despite denying it. This reflects early 1900s anxieties about suburban living, where close proximity to neighbors created friction over gardens, fences, and property lines. The page is primarily advertisements for wines, ale, garters, and cigars—typical 1902 luxury goods marketing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
June 12, 1902 SUBURBAN AMENITIES, First Neighbour; MA.Lo, YOU LOOK BUSY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Second Neighbour ; PLANTING 8OME OP MY SEEDS, THAT'S ALL, First Neighbour (suspiciously): °M, THOCUHT IT LOOKED A8 IP YOU WERE PLANTING ONE OF MY DENS, Sccond Neighbour; WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, TH SEEDS ARK INSIDE. —Moonshine. RHINE AND MOSELLE WINES Send for our little brochure containing the legend of Leiden’s «BERNCASTELER DOCTOR” One of the finest wines in the famous MOSELLE VALLEY The attention of Lire’s readers is directed to these Moselle wines. We think they are not appreciated here as highly as they should be. Booklet of all our wines sent upon request C. H. ARNOLD & CO. AGENTS FOR U. S. 427 South William St. NEW YORK It Holds the Hose Neatly, BRIGHTON Silk Garter FOR MEN Bee that the word Brighton Ison the clasps and on the box. 2cta. @ pair at oll dealers, or by mail PIONEER SUSPENDER CO. 718 Market St. Phitada. Order a supply of Evans’ Ale for your country house Sultable for all occasions—an always ready entertainer Your Dealer When a firm undertakes to bring before the public a much better article than any others, they must expect to receive strong opposition from those who are exploiting inferior qualities. Such is our experience with Old Crow Rye which is the best possible quality, and is daily gaining in sales and popularity. Gold Medal awarded at Paris, 1900. HB. KIRK & G0, “4° Pure Habana Segars— Always Mild And Aromatic Made in the old-fashioned honest way of Pure Habana Tobacco delightfully blended Look for the Bull Dog on each Box J°hn W. Merriam & Co. The Roycroft Segar Shop, which is “At the Sign of the Bull Dog” NEW YORK: comicbooks.com