Life, 1926-10-07 · page 16 of 44
Life — October 7, 1926 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical humor page from Life magazine (dated 1894-1895) featuring various social commentary vignettes: **Upper left illustration** shows Fifth Avenue congestion, mocking the wealthy's ostentatious carriages and the citizen-led traffic reform movement of 1894. **"A Poem of Society"** satirizes upper-class social pretension, listing society names while questioning whether a "grand success" funeral would be fashionable—mocking their hollow values. **Lower cartoons** include domestic humor: a woman unable to discipline her swearing three-year-old, a lady who assaulted someone on the street, and a joke about husbands' company reputation. The overall tone ridicules 1890s aristocratic vanity, traffic problems, parenting struggles, and marital dynamics—everyday upper-class absurdities presented as social satire typical of Life's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Tired “IT stant be glad when Dewey gets back,” said one inside newspaper man to the other. “Why so?” inquired his companion, “Because,” replied the first speaker, “I have been writing interviews with him for months, and I need the rest.” July, 1899. - Catching “Ai, mon ami! Is it that you are well, n'est ce pas? Je suis heureux.” “For Heaven's sake, old fellow, I'm no Frenchman!" “Pardonnez moi. I've been reading ‘Trilby, and I can't help it, hein!” 1895. San ‘ane Fifth Avenue on a Pleasant Afternoon DYED ee THE CONTINUAL PRESENCE ON THIS AVENUE OF HEAVY TRUCKS WITOSE WEIGUT Ix the fiftieth year of its se AND SIZE ENAULES THEM TO SMASIE EVERYTH! WITHE WHICH THEY COME IN age, of scarlet fever: Child of CONTACT, 18 A SEMIOUS J STAN: ‘ re : Patti's hair. Wight: va rye PUDLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS WHO IAVE STARTE yEMEN 3 1890. rect To Nave ¥ evi, Wave Life's west wisuts, — aivacy $9" ton A Poem of Society "Twas a rather stupid party Axp I really think it likely ‘That the Dame Von Twiller gave That in future we shall see Last evening, and the atmos- A funeral made as ph TUANIN’ HOXtst Phere suggested quite the graves As a fashionable tes AND RESPECKART! And yet it can’t be doubted If only in some m . That "twas said most everywhere But just how, I do not know— To be a grand success, because We can induce those brilliant folk: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Le Grand Mrs. 1. Townsend Burden, Mr, and Mrs. Henry, Le Grand Mrs. I. Townsend Burden, Cannon, Mr. and Mrs. J. Borden Harri- Cani Mr. and Mrs, J. Borden’ Harri- Mrs. Fred Neilson, man, Mrs. Bred Nelleon, tees; Mrs. Burke-Roche, Mrs. Fernindo Yana Mrs: hive Nerenndy: Ve Mrs. Charles F. Haveme ‘Seward Webb, Mrs. 3 ve Mra, Wi'ge Mrs. Paran Steven M R. Cruger, Mrs. Paran S Mrs. i \ tian K, Vanderbilt Mrs. George J. : William Ko WS Mrs. Henry Sioane, jenry Clews, d lenry Sloane, Mrs. Henry Clews, Mrs: Williim D._ Sloane, d “rederick W. Vanderbilt, Mrs. William D. Sioa: Mrs. Frederick W. Vanderbilt, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stevens, Harriman, Jr, and and Mrs. Albert Stevens, Mrs. Oliver Harriman, Jr. and Mrs. Duncan Elliot, Mr. Ward McAllister Mrs, Duncan Elliot, Mr. Ward McAllister Were there. Strange! N ma'am,” sighed Mrs. McGinnis, to the church visitor, “I can't seem to keep Johnny from swearing, nohow. He's only three, and you wouldn't believe the things he'll say. Here, Johnny, go. swear for the lady.” DECORATION FOR A BOWLING ALLEY. TAKEN WITIE A LITTLE sate 1891. ‘T894. 1894 Faxst Great Scott! - You a lady killer? ME REIANE Maxx Yes. Why, a lady on the street ran up to-day, kissed me and then cried because I was not her husband. 189}. Couxt Baronanvst (replacing pin in Miss Vandergilt’s hair): Lere! ‘Lat ees all right. Next! 1894. A maw is known by Mamma: on, do LET ME TAKE MY NAP IN PEACE! WIIAT DO YOU WANT Now? the company his wife Baby: 1 WANT 4 DINK 0? WATER, 1893. keeps. 1890. aw awror wax comicbooks.com