Life, 1883-10-25 · page 10 of 16
Life — October 25, 1883 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 208 **Top Cartoon: "A Rondo of Ye Hie Wynde"** This whimsical illustrated poem (signed M.E.W.) depicts wind as a mischievous character lifting a woman's skirt while she walks with a gentleman. The archaic spelling ("ye," "yt") mimics old-fashioned verse. The satire targets the awkwardness of Victorian-era social encounters—the wind plays a "naughty prank" that embarrasses the lady ("alle Redd") while the gentleman struggles with "peevish Wordes." It's gentle humor about propriety disrupted by nature. **"Some Dental Reflections"** Pun-based jokes about dentists, playing on double meanings ("down in the mouth," "filling," "holler from filling a cavity"). **"American Aristocracy No. VII"** This essay mocks social class distinctions as arbitrary and superficial. The argument: humans create hierarchy based on trivial differences (clothing, diet, appearance) rather than merit. Even monkeys would develop "aristocracy" based purely on looking different—a pink monkey with a blue tail would be envied not for superiority but simply for distinction. The satire suggests class pretension lacks rational foundation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A RONDO OF YE HIE WYNDE. E Wanton Wynd¢ y* biteth Cold Y® most unseemlie Sport® and Boldt Dothe lift A greavous Dust yt flyes Y® Mistresse Marjorie her Eyes, Soe She maie not y¢ Path beholde. Yett inne y® Waie (yt wyndinge ly¢) Ye Gallant sorely Try4 lykewise Wh peevish Wordes, wolde Gyb® & Scolde Ye Wanton Wynd¢. Ye Frolick Breeze y$ Plighte espy® & dothe a Naughtie Prank devyse,— Yt Mistresse Marjorie y* Roll Intoe y¢ Gallant's Sie & Folde, Whyle She, alle Redd, eraytes, wh Sighes, Ye Wanton Wynd®! M. E. W. SOME DENTAL REFLECTIONS. HE dentist is the only man who is happiest when he is down in the mouth. What makes the dentist happy is the thought that his profession like oatmeal is filling at the price. The good dentist like the woodcock is known by the length of his bill. No man but the dentist can produce a “ holler” by filling a cavity. The plumber is first cousin to the dentist. “Dentist ” does not mean one who makes dents, but applies rather to the man who discovers dents, where no one else ever suspected them. In a tight place.—A cork. Harp pressed.—Cider apples. Sine die.—S. J. T On the tapis. rhe carpet tack, Sure pop.—Good champagne. Tue most unkindest cut of all.—A two-spot. J. J. J. AMERICAN ARISTO No. VIL. “ Your gentleman is polite custom's slave, But fools and knaves are free."—Semiramis. Act II1. RACY. AN naturally aspires to distinction, If there were no clothes, no language, no physical differences of form or feature, and no gradations of strength, mental, moral or mus- cular, there would still be fashion. One set of men would wear their hair flowing, and affect a diet of cocoanuts, and another set would use curl papers and confine themselves to bananas. The cocoanut clique would probably look down on the banana coterie, for the trees they frequented for dinner would be higher —and thus we would still have an aristocracy. A pink monkey with a blue tail would undoubtedly excite the wildest envy in monkeys attired in the usual brown, Not that he would be a better monkey, or a wiser or a more agile, but merely because he would be different. He certainly would not be an agreeable monkey to look at, as numerous convivial gen- tlemen who have seen him will testify. Nevertheless, he would be among monkeys what fe aristocrat is among men ; all the