Life, 1883-07-19 · page 5 of 16
Life — July 19, 1883 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "Pastoral Innocence" The cartoon depicts a couple in a rural setting with the caption "Pastoral Innocence." The accompanying text reveals the satire's target: a character named Harry Hunter who has financial troubles—he's "just brought matters to a point" where creditors would be satisfied if he married someone wealthy. The joke mocks the gap between romantic ideals and economic reality. The couple appears to gaze at their reflection in a pool, but the caption sarcastically suggests they should see "what an impossibility to expect of any man"—implying that marrying for love while in debt is naive or foolish. The cartoon satirizes both naive romanticism and the mercenary nature of marriage among the financially desperate in the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PASTORAL INNOCENCE. Harry Hunter (who has just brought matters to a point and whose creditors would be so happy tf they could do linting starlight bea ’ as On and ae 8 Pnbingistanenepeams And a whippoorwill is singing Mystic speech of elfin sprite, Where a woodbine’s arms are clinging ‘Through the awesome hush of night, Round a stump. Lisps, “O list !” likewise): Wuar! Watt SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE ARE MARRIED! OH! HOW CAN YOU ASK SUCH A THING? : WHAT AN IMPOSSIBILITY TO EXPECT OF ANY MAN. IN THE GLOAMING. Now a dusky bat flops thither, HEN the earth lies steeped in dreams, And a beetle hies him hither With a thum: O, this night! Howe'er I crave it, j And I hear the whisperous murmur, Though I try, I cannot save it, As the lullabies of summer Or bring back Softly croon, Bat or beetle, owl or moon, While the owl hoots his reflections, Unless in a grim cartoon In lugubrious inflections, On a plaque. To the moon. Rosatine E. Jones. All the night creatures uncanny Sally forth from nook and cranny, Ir PATIENTS would tell their doctors the whole truth a great Bosk and fen, many druggists would be hard up.—Grip. For their nightly reconnoiter, Yes, and if doctors told their patients the whole Where the somber shadows loiter truth fifty per cent. of the druggists would shut up In the glen. altogether. |