Life, 1906-02-08 · page 18 of 24
Life — February 8, 1906 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several comic sketches satirizing early 20th-century social life: **"Starting for the Play"** depicts a couple's chaotic preparation for the theater—a series of domestic complaints and fussy adjustments that humorously capture middle-class anxiety about appearing proper in public. **"Life's Weather Forecast"** is a brief visual joke about a woman's changing appearance. **"Inopportune Enthusiasm"** mocks pretension: a Frenchman applauds a Spanish comedy vigorously to appear cultured, though he admits he doesn't understand French—satirizing false sophistication. **"A Matter of Orthography"** is the longest piece, humorously contrasting a boarding-school daughter's affected spelling ("Grayce," "Mayme," "Albyrt") with her father's matching response in equally tortured orthography ("Wyllyam," "Lyllye," "Fredde"). The joke targets affectation among the newly genteel middle class. Minor pieces mock drunkenness and pretension. The page exemplifies *Life* magazine's role satirizing contemporary manners and social climbing among American middle-class readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
STARTING FOR THE PLAY. ALL LIGHTWEIGTS. Grace, the cab is waiting. The clergyman preached a r exhaustive ser We are deuced fate. mon from the text, “Thou art weighed in the balance You are never read and found wanting, Jove! It's after After the congregation had listened about an hour Darn this beastly collar some began to get weary and went out; others fol (Buttonhole’s immense). lowed, greatly to the annoyance of the minister. Soon Shines like cellule another person started, whereupon the preacher stopped Laundries have c. his sermon and sail Opera glasses? Have That's right, pentlemen; 2s fast 23 you sre Wear your heavy wrap. weighed, pass out."—New York World. Well, then, wear the other Tlow those gloves do ga Fix them in the carriage Come, dear, never mind. Don’t stop. Stick a pin in, There's no fault to fi Yes, I kissed the baby you do look nice! What's that? O, your flowers? They are on the ice. Try to hurry, dearic Darn it. Pardon me. You should hold your train up Yes, I have she key Jane will guard the silver Everything's all right. , Grace, you must hurry Yes, I fixed the Leave the windows It’s not going to rain Everlasting fussing Gors against the gr What? Your powder eh: ©, you goosie, don’t! Put it in my pocket??? No, my dear, 1 won't You look simply stunning What's up now? O, hang! CLEAR AND cote. (At this point the hall door Closes with a bang.) ‘S WEATHER FORECAST. INOPPORTUNE ENTHUSIASM, A CAVALRYMAN was one da Faiexo (ot @ French play): Why did you applaud tously “cleaning down” his r raw-boned steed so vigorously when that comedia ale his speech An infantryman sauntered up, and, with his hands before the curtai behind his back, leisurely inspected the operation. Sraiccixs (confidently): So that folks would “Halloa, John!" said the cavalryman. “Think think I understood French you'd like to be in the cavalry?” Frienp: We said the “Oh, yes," said the infantryman; “but only as be taken by an understudy "Exchange. Tit-Bits. foreign countries in the Postal Union, $1.04.a year extra. Single current copies, elope. 1 cents, Back numbers, after three months from date of publication, Live: is for sale by all Newsdealers in Great Britain. ‘The International News A MATTER OF ORTHOGRAPHY. After a few weeks at boarding school Alice wrote home as follows . Dear Father: Though I was homesick at firs. now that I am getting acquainted, I like the schoo very much. Last evening Grayce and Kathryn (my roommates) and I had a nice little chafing-dish part nd we invited three other girls, Mayme and Carrye th Kent. I hope you are all well at home. I can’t write any more now, for I have 3 lot of studying to do. With lots of love to al Your affectionate daughter, ALYSS. To which she received the following reply My Dear Daughter Alyss: I was glad to te ceive your letter and to know that you are enjoying pele Jaymes came the other day, bring. ch and Albyrt with him. Your brother, Henrie, was delighted, for he has been lonely without you, I have bought a new gray horse whose name is Lyllye. Me matches nicely with old Fredde. Witt much love from us all, Iam, your affectionate father, WYLLYAM JONES. The next letter from the absent daughter was ned “Mice."—IMWoman's Home Com AFTER THE BEER NIGHT, Stupext ulties): Bebeg pp . shir, st are you ac (Irie) quainted wis zish nei Passeacy pu want? “Can you tte far ’t ish to the nexsht lamp posht?"—Fliege ¢ te “Youxc man.” began the dignified gentleman ia black dress, “have you fully considered the future? Have you made provisions for the hereafter? Is it rot time—" “Pardon me one moment ; but are you a minis a life ne" — Milwaukee Sex tinel OLD FRIENDS THe Wire: What luck? Tite Messaxo Ceearily): None whatever. Tur Wire: Were there no servants nce office? Tux Hvspaxp ( 11 worked for ALL THE RESPECT OUE. Goovreitow: Say what you will, we Americ admire commercial i ty. We all bow to hone cys Yes, bow to it and pass on.—B. Transcript AN uie by any other name doesn't sound haif « New Orleans Picayune. « Live is published every Thursday, $5.00 a year in advance. Postage to Yo contribution will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and ads The illustrations in Live ave copyrighted, and are not to be reproduced. Company, Hream's Building, Chancery Lace, Londoa, E. C., England, AGENTS, Prompt notification should be sent by subscribers of any chance of addres WILSON That's All! ni club or dealer's. SURBRUG-Importer Cigarette of Quality AROMATIC DELICACY— MILDNESS — PURITY