Life, 1885-03-05 · page 3 of 16
Life — March 5, 1885 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: Life Magazine, Page 129 **The Cartoon:** "The First Arrival" depicts a formally-dressed man arriving at an elegant parlor at "half-past eight," when his invitation read "very informally, at half-past eight." His exclamation—"By Jove, only eleven o'clock! How on earth did I get here so early?"—satirizes social anxiety about punctuality and arriving at parties. The humor lies in the mismatch between his careful timing and actual clock-reading. **The Poem:** "A Peace Offering" by Daniel E. O'Sullivan addresses Justice abstractly, invoking metaphors of blindfolds, Cupid, and moral righteousness. It advocates for Justice to "open wide" her eyes to resolve societal wrongs and "suits"—likely referring to legal disputes or injustices of the era. Together, the page mixes light social comedy with serious philosophical verse about justice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE FIRST ARRIVAL. Hts invitation read “ Very informally, at half-past eight.” By JOVE, ONLY ELEVEN O'CLOCK ! HOw ON EARTH DID I GET HERE SO EARLY? A PEACE OFFERING. HY should Justice stand for ages, Through a world of changing stages, With a bandage like a curtain On the windows of her mind, Weighing out to every mortal, Who comes within her portal, The justice one expects from A Judge who goes it blind ? And just think how Cupid harrows Up one’s feelings with his arrows Shortly then with eyes wide open Into everybody's heart ; Never caring for the morrow ; Never counting up the sorrow That waits upon the innocent Who stops his deadly dart. How can right be fairly moulded, With the wrong one's eyes blind-folded ? Or how can suits be ended And the woes of suitors cease ? Bandage up the eyes of Cupid ; Tie it hard and double loop it; Open wide the eyes of Justice And the world will be at peace. DANIEL E, O'SULLIVAN,