Life, 1884-10-23 · page 11 of 16
Life — October 23, 1884 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 235: Content Analysis This page contains **two distinct pieces**: **Upper section—"Dorothy" poem by Walter Clarke:** A romantic verse about a young man pursuing Dorothy, who playfully resists commitment while flirting with others. The humor lies in her witty deflections—she tells him "kissing goes by favor" and later suggests he ask another man (Tom Dorkins) to be his best man. It's light romantic satire on courtship and female autonomy. **Lower section—Political dialogue:** A conversation featuring Rev. Mr. Thankful Smith criticizing political figures. Smith denounces "Professor Brick" supporting "Jinnle Butler" (likely James G. Blaine, referenced as "the Plumed"), calling the campaign a circus. He also scolds Cy Whiffles for wasting money on beer. The dialectal speech ("fo'teen dollahs," "'Splain dem lettahs") suggests satirizing rural or working-class political commentary, likely mocking both campaign enthusiasm and foolish spending during what appears to be an 1880s election cycle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DOROTHY. HEN Dorothy was twenty-four, I was, I must confess, But twenty, yet for this 1 swore I loved her none the less. What though some saucy maiden teased, Or ancient one cried “ Shame !” Might I not marry as I pleased, If Shakespeare did the same? Although I know she favored me, For so she oft had said, This would she have no other see, Nor promise me to wed. Indeed I took her much to task For flirting. “ Very true,” She answered, smiling. “ Thus I mask My preference for you.” And then I fancied—hateful thought ! Some other might obtain The kiss that I myself had sought A thousand times in vain, My arguments upon this head, She found of little savor ; “ You jealous child, you know,” she said, “That kissing goes by favor!” One day I met her, face to face, With Dorkins, arm in arm. So like it was to an embrace, I viewed them with alarm. She saw me; started; giggled; blushed ; Then, pointing with her fan, “ There's Tom; he's fond of me,” she gushed ; “ Ask him to be best man!” WALTER CLARKE. Mr. JOHNSON seemed to be grateful for this advice, and the Rev. Mr. SMITH continued : “ Professor BRICK, 4e's whooping fo’ Butler. Now dat's wussern de jams. Wen Jinnle Butler's Presdent, pigs ‘ll fly 'n we ‘ll shoot sassengers on de wing. Dis yar campaign am _a suckus, 'n de ole Jinnle is de Fat Woman in de side | show. Hit am some fun fer her ter get ten cents fo’ ebry suckah dat pays ter peep in, but hit am wanity ter ‘spose de crowd am goin’ ter forgit de clown 'n peanuts, ‘n yellin’ in de big tent, ‘n hit am humiliatin’ ter know dat de baboon wif de red seat in he trousers am drawin’ de bess 'n costin’ de least. Wen BRICK gits an offiss outen de ole Jinnle’s ‘lection I Il set up de beer fo’ de Club fo’ two yars runnin’.” The Professor shifted somewhat uneasily in his chair but said nothing. “Now dar’s Cy WHIFFLES,” continued the Rev. Mr. | THANKFUL SMITH in atone which chilled CYANIDE to the marrow,—" Cy hez went ‘n gone 'n blowed in fo'teen dol- lahs fo’ beer on the strength ob —— what ? Mr. WHIFFLES coughed but made no reply. “ He blowed in dat fo'teen dollahs agin —” “’Rah for Blaine an’ ""—— here the door opened, and Mr. TOOTER WILLIAMS and a Seventh Avenue swell entered together. “ Wot's dat ?” inquired the Rev. Mr. SMITH with asperity. “ Blaine—de Plumed—” “ Toot,” said the Rev. Mr. THANKFUL SMITH, “drap on dat right hyar. ‘Splain dem lettahs.” “ Blaine am de mos’ mag—" “’Splain dem lettahs.” comicbooks.com