Life, 1884-10-23 · page 3 of 16
Life — October 23, 1884 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine features a sentimental narrative piece titled "An October Idyl" about a woman named Jack who has accepted a marriage proposal. The accompanying illustration shows a couple by a tree near a rural cottage. Below this narrative is a poem titled "She Sprained Her Knee," which humorously describes a woman's mishap and the various remedies attempted to heal her injury. The poem uses Victorian sentimentality ironically—presenting the sprained knee as a quasi-tragic event worthy of elaborate consolation. The section labeled "Envoy" continues the joke, with a character lamenting that his heart is "more completely wrecked" than ever since witnessing her injury. A final line advertises "A Fake Exchange—Five cents for an Elevated ticket," suggesting a separate satirical item (details unclear from this excerpt).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
William \ AN OCTOBER IDYL. SHE HAS FINALLY UTTERED THAT DELIGHTFUL “ YES,” AND JACK IS SUPREMELY HAPPY. IT IS OUR DUTY TO ADD, HOWEVER, THAT SHE IS A VIRGINIAN AND IS ALREADY ENGAGED TO TWO OTHER FELLOWS, HARRY AND WILLIAM. AS WILLIAM IS THE ONLY ONE WHOSE INCOME IS IN HARMONY WITH HER IDEAS OF LIFE, OUR FRIEND JACK WILL SOON DISCOVER FOR HIMSELF WHETHER “'T IS BETTER TO HAVE LOVED AND LOST THAN NEVER TO HAVE LOVED AT ALL SHE SPRAINED HER KNEE. OST cheerful of a cheerful crew, Bright as the sky with cloud unflecked, She rivaled with her cheek's clear hue The brilliant wing her hat that decked. The thing you least of all expect,— That is the thing that is to be: Nor seer, nor prophet could have recked That she should jump and sprain her knee. Not doctor's learning could undo The luckless fall's unkind effect. Of sinew strained or parted thew By time alone the pain is checked. Not all the prayers of every sect, Nor tears enough to make a sea, Could ever yet missteps correct, Or mend at once a once sprained knee. The Scriptures say—I know it's true— That upon Heaven's own sweet elect Patience has still her work to do, What 's good already to perfect. And that 's the reason, I suspect, Why Fate’s inevitable decree Should all the rest of us reject And choose out her to sprain her knee. Envoy. I judge from symptoms | detect Her mishap has come home to me; My heart is more completely wrecked Than ever, since she sprained her knee. A Fare EXCHANGE— Five cents for an Elevated comicbooks.com