Life, 1885-12-17 · page 3 of 18
Life — December 17, 1885 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "An Invocation (Sonnet)" Analysis This page features a satirical sonnet addressing an "elevator boy"—likely a modern servant or bellhop figure, depicted in the illustrations. The poem mockingly invokes this lowly worker as if he were a classical muse or sprite, using grandiose language ("bard unsung," "saga's love untold") to humorously elevate his mundane status. The satire targets both the pretentiousness of modern urban life and the absurdity of social hierarchies. By treating an elevator operator with mock-heroic reverence, the poem ridicules either excessive formality toward service workers or, conversely, the workers' own self-importance. The accompanying "Small Items from Abroad" section contains political jabs at contemporary issues: European politics, Irish voting behavior, and American partisan conflicts—typical satirical fodder for *Life* magazine's readership.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Y bard unsung, by saga’s love untold, Softly thou sinkest from the realms of space To soar again, nor find a resting-place, Though one should beckon thee and bid thee hold. Descend, sweet sprite! nor be forever cold To my appeals ; show me thy jocund face, Thy easy attitudes of airy grace, Thy lazy limbs bedecked in blue and gold. Descend, and waft me with thee; make me know That bliss unspeakable, that perfect joy That must be thine, when, leaving men below To swear, thou mock’st them, and with laughter coy Floatest to floors where they are fain to go, Thou gay, light-hearted elevator boy! SMALL ITEMS FROM ABROAD. HILE the Constantinople Conference was in session a few days ago, a sneak-thief crept into the hall and stole the sfatus guo ante off the hat-rack. The growing popularity of poker in Europe indicates that hereafter there will be more anée and less status about the status guo ante. THe French are beginning to harbor a dim, protoplasmic suspicion that Tonquin is loaded. THE Greeks are threatening to annex a neutral watermelon | patch on their northern frontier. THE Sultan contemplates giving General Lew Wallace a curry-comb and a pair of boots on his next birthday. ROBERT BROWNING is making arrangements to have some of his poems translated into English. IN Ireland the Pope's Encyclical Letter is construed as enjoining the faithful to vote the Democratic ticket. THE Queen's sons-in-law have not collided with any | embryonic egg-nogg for three weeks. THE recent English elections are exerting an admoni-Tory influence. (All rights reserved ; copyrighted.) F. A. Macon, ONE-LEGGED Union soldier in Rhode Island has the rheumatism in his wooden leg, and the New York 77- dune will probably attribute it toa Democratic administration. comicbooks.com