Life, 1883-12-06 · page 6 of 16
Life — December 6, 1883 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 288 The main cartoon depicts a ragged figure in winter clothing standing in snow beside a bare tree. The handwritten caption beneath references "Sasonnes Change" and winter hardship—the figure appears to be a destitute person enduring harsh weather. The accompanying poem "A Winter Serenade" by Roland King sardonically describes singing beneath someone's window during freezing conditions, establishing a contrast between romantic tradition and poverty's grim reality. Below this, the page contains satirical definitions and jibes typical of Life's humor format, including wordplay on legal professions, religion, and trade. The dominant satirical point: the irony of performing romantic gestures while suffering deprivation—mocking both sentimental traditions and the social invisibility of poverty during harsh seasons.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A WINTER SERENADE. J "M awfully bold, For it’s very cold To be singing under your winder ; O the wind doth blow, And in drifting snow I am singing to you, Belinda ! But I greatly fear That you do not hear, And I wish that I knew the reason. Does my voice seem lost Amid all the frost, And can I be crowding the season ? But I see the trouble— Your window is double! And I might as well serenade Nero ! So homeward I ‘Il slink, ‘And hot ginger drink, For it ’s ten degrees below zero ! Roxanp Kine, Wuat is the difference’ between a lawyer and an Irish agitator? A lawyer makes money with other people’s quarrels, and an agitator heer’ ere | Socekl fast hee pipes wife Amel y° Lliomber with ys Bole will ah?e a callS Hye Gl for resin ani for C9" Co tet serottch$ our makes quarrels with other people’s money. A Man with a Naturat Bent.--A hunchback. Fonp oF “ Put-up Jors."—An architect. Tue RELIGION OF THE Cross.—To grumble. Tue Pincu or Poverty.—Snuff. of F* £399? Is Peruvian bark as bad as its bite? Sout your = And Gadd)s worse resem: OC ° A Goop NAME FoR A SLEEPY GAME.— & ure Co be pper are sur Le ED “ Nap.” A Stow TraveE.—Pottery. “You can let your hair grow,” she said, “Many a bigger fool than you has been judged clever from the mere length of his locks. But better still, that you should shine by reflected glory—you shall be my hus- and. Jack was so overwhelmed by the magnanimity of this proposal, that he carefully spread out his handker- chief on the carpet and sinking upon it with one knee, reverentially raised Diana’s hand to his lips, and rising he took his farewell, well satisfied with his success in’ love-making and the propitious manner in which Chance had abetted him. Cuapter III. N the “ Literary News,” two months later, appeared the following paragraph : ““On Thursday last was married Miss Diana Blue- stock, great grand-daughter of Johns Bluestock, who made the greatest speech ever pronounced on the im- portation of foreign putties ; grand-daughter to Johns Bluestock, 2d, the author of the Memoirs of the preced- ing gentleman; and daughter to Johns Bluestock, 3d, the author of Supplementary Chapters. Miss Bluestock was married to a Mr. John Sympleton, @ nincompoop.” And in the “ Financial Gazette,” of the same date, this paragraph : “On Thursday last were joined in wedlock, a bank account of $250,000, the half of the Scarecrow Gold Mine, Limited; 500 shares in the N. Pacific R. R.; 100 shares in the Evergreen Street Paving and Steam Heating Company, and numerous other investments, all of which property is attached to the body of Mr. John Sympleton, to the person of Miss Diana Blue- stock, a young lady of no figure whatsoever.” L. Van Neck. comicbooks.com