Life, 1883-04-05 · page 7 of 16
Life — April 5, 1883 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 161 The main cartoon, titled "Open to Question," depicts a man and woman examining a portrait. The accompanying text references Mrs. Pigment, a "well-known lady amateur" painter, and suggests ambiguity about whether a portrait she painted resembles someone named Jack Pyrites or possibly Belinda Pyrites. The satire mocks amateur artists and portrait painting—specifically questioning whether Mrs. Pigment's work actually captures a likeness or merely suggests one. The joke appears to hinge on the portrait's poor quality or unflattering appearance, making it unclear whom it actually depicts. This critiques both pretentious amateur art and the social pretensions of wealthy dilettantes who dabble in painting.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A QUANDARY. ERY charming is Eileen, Very dignified her mien ; She of beauty is the queen, Many think, Juno eyes of china blue, Wavy hair the sun glints through, Cheeks that emulate the hue Of the pink. Very dainty is Louise, But as wayward as the breeze ; Prone to torment and to tease— Just for fun, Domineering in her ways Caring naught for blame or praise, Finding life all sunny days— Happy one! Difficult to choose between Beautiful, reserved Eileen, And Louise, if less serene, Quite as fair, Captivating are they both : Nota whit would I be loth To the two of them my troth To declare. But whereas a person sins, Who, himself not being twins, Maidens twain at one time wins, This I'll do! For the time I will withhold Declarationsall too bold ;— Since (if truth must needs be told) Eilcen’s only three years old, Louise two, J. Cueever Goopwin, 'G'GESTIVE. OPEN TO QUESTION. Mrs. Pigment, the well-known lady amateur, in the portrait she painted of Jack Pyrites unhappily gave that worthy the appearance of having been out late the night before. Keenig said to Belinda Pyrites when she showed it to hin—N'xo, N'NOT A P" Which, perhaps, ts why old PERF’F’FECT LIKENESS : B'BUT SUGGESTIVE ; V’VERY SUG- . AND THIS L’L’LADY WHO D'DID IT—T'T’TELL ME; IS SHE A F'FRIEND OF THE F’F'FAMILY—OR—AN ENEMY ? IMPROBABLE. WE do not credit the report that the inscription on the coffin plate of the late Postmaster Gen- eral ended with the legend, “ Buy the National Repub- lican, for three cents.” Mr. Frank Hatton, although the details of his late chief's interment were doubtless under his personal control, has far too keen asense of propriety to adver- tise his newspaper in a way so obviously improper. AWFULLY SAD. “Wuy so gloomy this morning, Jacob?” “ Ah, my poor leetle Penjamin Levi—he is tead!" “Dead? You surprise me. How did it happen?” “Vell you see, my leetle Penjamin he vas at der synagogue to say his brayers, and a poy put in his het at der toor and gries, ‘Job Lot!’ and leetle Penjamin —he vas gilt in der grush.” D. T. FABULA NARRATUR, as the man said who told the “snake ” story. JUDKIN’S BOY ON FROGS. F RoGs is the people's friend, but they can’t fly. Onc’t they was tadpoles about as big as lickerish drops, and after a while legs growed out on 'em. Oh, let us love the frog—he looks so sorry! Frogs can swim better’n little boys, and they don’t haf to hold their nose when they dive, neither! Onc’t I had a pet frog; and the cars run over him. It jist squashed him! Bet he never knowed what hurt him! Onc’t they was a rich lady swallered one—when he was little, you know; and he growed up in her, and it didn’t kill him at all! And you could hear him holler in her bosom. It was a tree toad ; and so every time he’d go “per-r-r-r-r-r!"" w'y then the grand lady she’d know it was going to rain, and make her little boy run and put the tub out under the spout. Wasn’t that a butiful frog ! Great feature in Chinese theatrical performances— Chin-Chin. comicbooks.com