Life, 1884-01-31 · page 3 of 18
Life — January 31, 1884 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "Cruel" and "Angele" **The Cartoon "Cruel":** This sketch depicts a domestic scene where Mrs. Belweather confronts a woman (Effie) about her husband, Mr. B. The satire targets class assumptions and marriage for money: Effie admits she married "for money, and that was all you got"—implying Mr. B. is wealthy but undesirable. Mrs. Belweather's shock that Effie didn't know her own husband satirizes marriages of convenience among the wealthy, where couples may be strangers despite legal union. The humor lies in the brutal honesty about transactional marriage. **"Angele":** This appears to be a sentimental poem by John Moran celebrating feminine beauty and classical ideals, referencing *La Bordelaise* (likely a wine or cultural reference). It contrasts sharply with the cynical marriage satire above.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CRUEL. Effie (to Mrs. Belweather, who has just been speaking of Mr. B.): Way, Mrs. BELWEATHER, I THOUGHT YOU HADN'T ANY HUSBAND ! Mrs. B.: Wuy, oF course I nave, Errig. Do you MEAN TO SAY YOU DON’T KNOW MR. BELWEATHER? Effie: Yes, BUT“I DID N’T SUPPOSE HE WAS YOUR HUSBAND. I THOUGHT YOU HADN'T ANY. PAPA SAID YOU MARRIED FOR MONEY, AND THAT WAS ALL YOU GOT. ANGELE. 6¢ A. DAUGHTER of the gods !" you say ; Gods strong in youth and fire were they ; Instinct with grace to stir the blood And deathless surely, since they could Transmit to us of later days The beauty of Za Bordelatse. Clear-blooded, supple-limbed and straight, Robust and riante and elate ; Like some fresh breath of strong sea-rir, Like some rose tropic-warm <s rare, Exalts the sense, enthralls the gaze, The beauty of La Bordelais. Through glad Thessalian olive groves A Dryad, as I fancy, roves ; I seem to see a Menad dance Upon the sea-washed cliffs of France, And dream-born homage bids me raise A pean to La Bordelaise. Too feeble is our Saxon speech ; The grand Greek words with ferce could reach All hearts of such as worship well. “ Boone rérua “Hpa” fell On ears that would not hear dispraise Of queens like La Belle Bordelaise ! Joun Moran,