Life, 1883-08-23 · page 5 of 16
Life — August 23, 1883 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine presents a satirical poem titled "Regrets" and "His Reply." The illustration shows a social gathering, likely on a ship's deck (given the nautical railings and water visible). Miss Gushington, described as a young widow of considerable fortune, complains to a Young Widower about her mourning costume—she's worn it for fourteen years and seen "three days" of mourning for each of multiple husbands. The Young Widower's reply, credited to W. H. Howells, mocks her theatrical sentimentality. He dismisses her poetic declarations of grief as insincere affectation, suggesting her repeated mourning periods are performative rather than genuine. The satire targets wealthy widows who appeared to adopt mourning as fashionable social performance rather than authentic grief—a commentary on Gilded Age excess and social pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
REGRETS. Miss Gushington (to young widow whose husband has left a large fortune): THAT 1S THE FOURTEENTH MOURNING COSTUME I HAVE SEEN YOU WEAR IN THREE DAYS, AND EACH LOVELIER AND MORE BECOMING THAN THE OTHER. Young Widow: Ow! My DEAR, I HAVE FORTY—BUT SUCH A BOTHER AS THEY WERE TO HAVE MADE! AT ONE TIME I ALMOST WISHED THAT POOR, DEAR GEORGE HAD N'T DIED ! HIS REPLY. I like not a cheap effervescent ; The froth on the beer aan We give to the young adolescent, “ Methinks the lady doth protest too much.” Reserving the clear. Do you hear? Do n't wince, I am gaily protesting, Not really severe ; As the spring springing violets and daisies, All times are for mocking and jesting, With you though I fear. Could I think them sincere— Do you hear? Do you hear? W. H. Howe ts. There is something diffusely sardonic, A breath like a jeer, “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows In your letter, True love is laconic, is true enough, but people who effect country board A thing to revere— “within easy reach of the city” find that strange Do you hear ? bedfellows more frequently acquaint a man with misery. I AM deluged with poetical phrases ; Would hold them as dear comicbooks.com