Life, 1884-09-11 · page 3 of 16
Life — September 11, 1884 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 143 The top cartoon, titled "Wiser Than We Seem," depicts a social comedy about class and literary taste. A woman from Boston (Miss W.) presents Molière's complete works to her friend Ella, expecting praise. Ella responds with surprise that the Boston woman reads such sophisticated French literature, having assumed she lacked such refined interests. The joke satirizes regional stereotypes and superficial social assumptions—people misjudge others' intellectual capacity based on appearance or origin. Below, "Vice Versa" is a confessional poem where the speaker admits to past brutishness (scolding children, cursing) but claims recent moral reformation and "engagement" with life's better aspects. It's a humorous meditation on personal improvement and redemption, mocking self-righteous claims of moral awakening.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WISER THAN WE SEEM. W. (from Boston): MOLLY Eyre? Wee INDEED | Do, I JUST DOTE ON HER! Wuy, ELLA, HOW DELIGHTFUL! HERE IS A COMPLETE SET OF MOLIERE. I NEVER SUPPOSED YOU CARED FOR THAT SORT OF READING. VICE-VERSA. "VE always had an enemy or two about the town With whom I frequently exchanged a most ferocious frown; The little village children who worried me with noise, I've scolded them occasionally, girls as well as boys ; I've stoned the dogs, and caned the cats for nearly twenty years, Evoking language feminine, too fierce for gentle ears ; I've been a brute in many ways, with conscience down to nil, A barbarous, irascible old —— call me what you will ! I make no vain excuses to mitigate my sins; I only say | ‘ve reached the day when good reform begins. | I'm friendly with mine ancient foes and every little child, The dogs and cats I fondle, and address in language mild, I've touched the shore, propitious, where morals make a Start; I 've found the long-lost conscience, and lost the cruel heart, Which flutters just at present like any bird that 's caged,— In short, I've just begun to live,—I 'm what is called “ En- gaged.” THE heated term—Go to blazes ! MEM. FOR THE LEGAL QuipNUNC—Is it lawful for a blind man to sue on a bill made payable at sight ? comicbooks.com