Life, 1883-10-04 · page 3 of 16
Life — October 4, 1883 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Progress" - A Social Commentary on Romance and Class This satirical cartoon depicts four women in an interior setting, illustrating a dialogue about courtship standards. The "Elder Sister" criticizes "Geraldine" for snubbing "Harry Hardlines," a poor but respectable young man without money or family connections. The accompanying poem "A Son Succeeds" mocks this attitude, suggesting that modern women prioritize wealth and social status over genuine character and love. The satire critiques what the author views as shallow, materialistic values in courtship—the elevation of financial "progress" over emotional connection. The title "Progress" is ironic: the poem questions whether this represents actual social advancement or moral decline. It's a commentary on Gilded Age values, where marriage had become transactional rather than romantic.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mo fearon te, vi a td la PROGRESS. Elder Sister: G®RALDINE, WHY DID YOU TAKE SO MUCH TROUBLE TO SNUB THAT HANDSOME, MANLY YOUNG FELLOW WE JUST MET? Geraldine: O, THAT's Harry Harpiines. Hk HASN'T A CENT TO HIS NAME, AND HE'S GOT A MOTHER TO SUPPORT ; AND THAT SORT OF THING IS N'T GooD FORM, YOU KNOW, NOW-A-DAYS. “A SON SUCCES.” “Laugh if you like—the boy in me, The boy that was revived, to see.”—Dorson, LAvucH if you like—the boy in me, The boy that was revived, to see ; But I grow young at the thought when she Of old was mine. For her—* Diadle /" What was her name ? Have I forgotten it? Fie, for shame ! For her ‘t was first I longed for fame, In olden time. On her neck first my kisses pressed ; To her eyes first my muse addressed ; She was the first by whom caressed In sweetest fashion I learned to whisper woman’s praise In well-worn forms and tender phrase ; And she forgot my youthful days, And showed compassion, Her cheeks—in a lily, a berry red ; Her eyes where Love and Beauty wed. Ah, Beauty is Youth’s guide, ’t is said— So let it be: For not to love, is not to pray ; Who never loved was never gay, Nor lived a life in a single day, Like you and me. You might have given at least a sign That she took his gold, as well as mine— But come, old fellow, drink your wine ; Then to the play ! I'll join your toast with just a sigh— It's alway better to laugh than cry ; And if, as you say, he loved her—why, “A son suceds 1" By the author of ‘* Better things than this,” etc., etc, comicbooks.com