Life — August 24, 1916 — page 23: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical illustrations about Victorian-era social customs and family relationships. The top scene shows a couple dancing, with commentary on their "light" behavior. The left side depicts a seaside scene with period figures and handwritten notes referencing family relationships and 1843. The bottom illustration, captioned "The family album as a stimulant before dinner," shows a couple reviewing photographs together. The woman says "She favors you," suggesting the album viewing was meant to improve mood and conversation before dining. The overall satire critiques Victorian social rituals—how families used formal activities like album-viewing as prescribed etiquette to stimulate proper behavior and mood before social occasions. The page title "Of Olden Days—Why Not the Manners?" suggests nostalgia for or ironic commentary on past genteel traditions.