Life, 1927-05-19 · page 27 of 42
Life — May 19, 1927 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces from *Life* magazine (A.D. 1885/1895): **Top section**: A parody of Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan," a famous Victorian society play. The satire mocks the pretentious dialogue and melodramatic plot conventions of upper-class drama—characters speak in absurdly philosophical non-sequiturs ("Life is like a pack of cards"), and shocking revelations (a noblewoman was once a tightrope walker) interrupt drawing-room conversations. The humor targets Victorian theatrical clichés and social hypocrisy. **Bottom section**: Two separate short jokes. One mocks the absurdity of Victorian parental wishful thinking (parents hoping their daughter's knock-knees won't be noticed when she grows up). The other references a Chicago gathering about diet/nutrition, joking that attendance was so large the newspaper's report overstated the crowd. The cartoons reflect *Life*'s role as satirical commentary on contemporary culture, theatrical trends, and middle-class social anxieties.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Importance of Being Lady Windermere’s Fan (The End of a Victorian Society Drama.) por> DARMLEY (rising and go- ing over to the mantelpiece): And I trust, Lady Marblehurst, that Lady Windermere is better? Lapy Marsre tT: Better for worse, and therefore worse, for being better. Life is like that. Lorv Barpertey (rising and climbing inside the fireplace): Life is like a pack of cards—and the last trump is Gabriel's. Berry: Gabriel Mintbottom? He plays wretchedly. Lavy Manrnreuurst (paling): Oh, do you know Gabriel Mintbot- tom? Berry: Can knows any one? Lavy Marsrenuvrst (turning blue): What. ..do you mean? Brrty (taking a Japanese parasol out of her sleeve—and why not?): Do you recognize this? Lorp Darmury: Good heavens The tightrope walker at the Alham- bra! Lavy Marsrenurst (weeping silently): I...was...that tightrope walker. (Servant enters.) Tie Servant: Meddem, Lady Dolly and L Polly, the Siamese twins, have separated! (All are stunned by this news. For a moment no one speaks.) any one say one Queen: 1AM NOTIN A GOOD MOOD TO-DAY. 1 HAVE HEARD RUMORS OP YOUR BAD coNDUCT AND, FURTHERMORE, MY BREAKPAST DIS- AGREED WITH ME. Prince (quietly): 1 avsune rts COURAGE. Lorp Barnerey (significantly, to Darmley): Darmley — you heard what has happened? Shall we—er —join the ladies? Tue Curtain Cotvapses Henry William Hanemann. FOOL and his around Chicago. money stroll A Large Attendance T must have been a fat folks’ meet, On the reporter’s showing; For when the crowd was all com- plete To hear that talk on “What to Eat,” The paper said that e Sous HetnJr ARTIST and ENGRAVER, The Father: 17's 4 prty OUR LITTLE CLARISSA 18 KNOCK-KNEED. The Mother: aut How FORTUNATE THAT IT WILL NEVER BE OBVIOUS WHEN SHE Grows uP! comicbooks.com