Life, 1883-05-31 · page 5 of 16
Life — May 31, 1883 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page from *Life* magazine depicts a comedic domestic scene titled "Forebodings," set two days before a wedding. A couple examines expensive wedding gifts, with the woman remarking that the quantity of presents surprises her—noting they only know 299 married people, implying most gifts come from relatives rather than friends. The humor targets Victorian-era wedding customs and anxieties about modest incomes. The man's worried expression ("Counts salesclerk and thinks in despair of future demands on a small income") satirizes the financial burden expensive gift-giving and wedding obligations placed on middle-class couples. The lower section congratulates Professor Backus's appointment and mentions theatrical news about Salmi Morse—content typical of *Life's* mix of social commentary and entertainment updates.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- LUMA FOREBODINGS. Time—Two days before the wedding. Scene—Parlor. He: AND IS DEAR JOSIE SINGLE AND PRETTY? She: YES, INDEED. WHY? He: OH, NOTHING. Fond couple opening boxes and packages contain: She: Ou, ARTHUR, SEE WHAT DEAR JOSIE HAS SENT US ww presents, 3 IT LOOKS VERY EXPENSIVE AND MAKES THE 299TH. On-y I AM SURPRISED TO SEE HOW. FEW married PEOPLE YOU KNOW. (Counts salteellars and thinks in despair of future demands on a small income. SALVE, BACKUS! VALE, BIRCH! WE TENDER out hearty congratulations to Professor Backus up- on his election to the Presidency of Packer Institute. His many years’ service in the San Francisco Minstrels entitle him to a with- drawal from public life, and he carries to his new field of labor the sympathy and best will of this community. For several years past Professor Backus has held the chair of Spheri- cal Cachinnation at Vassar, and the result has been noted with pride by every graduate. It is to be lamented that New York will never know him more, for with his departure the most remarkable Othello of the century has quitted the stage. In this connection we learn with pain that Professor Backus’ twin brother, Professor Birch, is consider- ing a call to the chair of Calisthenics and Moral Philosophy at Vassar. He will either accept this or play Romeo to Susan B, Anthony's Judiel next season, under the management of Salmi Morse, In either case he has our best wishes and bles: Tu birdlet on the treeling Now carols forth his notelet, ‘The boy that hath no feeling Ties tin cans to the goatlet, What then? The spring is here, In palace and in hutlet ; The goat doth get upon his ear, And gives that boy a but-let, —Harvard Crimson. Sauat Morse having been granted a license for his theatre, he will now produce his play entitled ‘A Bustle Among Petticoats.” If it skirts on the vulgar,it should be suppressed by the pelisse.— Norristown Herald. |. eacatiedamniaaataaeaasepims tacoma iaaaiidapiiiaeaiianiii ime emia al comicbooks.com