Life, 1883-12-27 · page 3 of 17
Life — December 27, 1883 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis The main cartoon, titled "Exercise in Emphasis," depicts a social scene where Mr. Montgomery Mountjoy Abrahams boasts to Mr. William Stanley Harcourt about a woman's physical prowess—specifically that "Van Reticule girl" is strong enough to knock him down. Harcourt responds that he knows her "well enough." The humor appears satirical: Abrahams is using exaggerated language ("emphasis") to impress Harcourt with gossip about a woman's strength, which was unusual for the era. The joke likely mocks both male pretension and shifting social attitudes toward women's independence or athleticism. The page also contains poetry dedicated "To Fleurette" and brief satirical notes about advertising and book sales, typical of *Life* magazine's mixed editorial content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
S S2Ss EXERCISE IN EMPHASIS. ENOUGH TO KNOCK ME DOWN TO HER? Mr. William Stanley Harcourt: Yes, 1 KNow her WELL ENOUGH. TO FLEURETTE. (VILLANELLE.) W!ItH Queen Marie Antoinette Were you not a shepherdess In the olden days, Fleurette ? Like a Sevres statuette In a flowered “ Watteau " dress With Queen Marie Antoinette ? Moving through the minuet With a lively gracefulness, In the olden days, Fleurette ? Just a little arch coquette Waiting ere you answered “ Yes,” With Queen Marie Antoinette, Mr. Montgomery Mountjoy Abrahams: 1 say, BILLY, DO YOU KNOW THAT VAN RETICULE GIRL WELL Just to see your lover fret, Thinking that you loved him less In the olden days, Fleurette ? There are things you cannot forget, They were learned sq well—confess, With Queen Marie Antoinette In the olden days, Fleuretter Sypney HERBERT. Mvp St. CLair.—Your question as to how fame is ob- tained received. Any advertising agent will give you wholesale rates. Two heads are better than one—in a drum. BOOKSELLERS now speak of the ‘‘ Lives of Ben Butler.” as “* Fall goods.” Tne best muzzle for a savage bulldog is the muzzle of your six- foot Remington rifle. comicbooks.com