Life, 1886-03-04 · page 6 of 16
Life — March 4, 1886 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 132 The cartoon titled "HIS LACK OF CHIVALRY CONQUERED HIM" depicts a domestic scene where a man appears to be confronted by a woman, likely his wife. The accompanying text describes the man running from his home in "vulgar merriment" after driving a ball into the yard—suggesting he prioritized sports over household responsibilities or family obligations. The satire targets masculine behavior and lack of chivalry. The narrative criticizes the man for choosing leisure activities over domestic duties and respectful conduct toward women. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about gender roles and male irresponsibility in marriage. The phrase "lack of chivalry" suggests the satire promotes traditional ideals of gentlemanly behavior toward women, even while mocking this man's failure to meet such standards.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE: HIS LACK OF CHIVALRY CONQUERED HIM. me. I ran for my life, and leaping over a stone wall at the back of the barn, almost landed upon the crouching figure of Abe Jolly. He had a pitchfork in his hand and pretended to be very sorry for our mishap, and drove the bul! back out of the yard. But his inborn lack of chivalry conquered him when he saw Miss Persymon in the old bed-quilt, and he ex- ploded into one of his guffaws and disappeared across the field writhing in vulgar merriment. The ladies have not recovered from their fright suffi- ciently for me to say if the slide will be continued. Very respectfully, oy eee y Algernon McGump. And those other ones—the married— How they chin it! What a glory they take in it! In the never-ending clanging And the banging And the whanging Of their tongues. How she beats it at your head Until you wish that you were dead, Dead, dead, dead. Till it shakes the very house, Till it echoes in the yard. Oh, the resonance and clangor ! You 'd give anything to bang her On the head with something hard. But hark! There are two Or more together ; and their voices Getting thinner, getting higher Higher, higher, Till they form a surging river; And the rafters sway and quiver— And your head is rent and reeling With the rushing, swelling ocean of Discordance that is pealing, Pealing, pealing On the palpitating air. In the stillness of the dawn they begin, And they chin, chin, chin, With an ever-growing din Until far into the night, THE MUSIC OF THE TONGUES. AY AIDENS' tongues; how they rattle ! What a never-ending battle With the silence of the air! They have neither shame nor fear, Nor the sign of an idea ; But they tell you all about it, They will scream it, They will shout it, In the flapping And the clapping Of their tongues. They are demons, They are ghouls, They are little human fools, Fools, fools, fools ; Heavens, how they chin! And their voices, are n’t they thin? How they rasp and how they harrow As they pierce your very marrow Like a knife! And you tremble when you feel, As-your brain begins to reel, That she might have been Your wife. When the clinging And the clanging And the bling, blang, whanging Of their voice is at rest ; For they sleep. LOVE AND REASON. R. HOWELLS has made reparation to journalism for the vulgarity of Bartley Hubbard. In “Indian Summer” (Ticknor & Co.) he has portrayed a most delight- ful Mugwump editor, who is a refined and intelligent gentle- man. The pleasure of meeting such a character in fiction is akin to one’s memory of the elder Newcome. You are in the atmosphere of delicate courtesy and kindliness which is some- thing more than simple “‘ good form.” ‘ This character of Co/vil/e is a most artistic and deft piec of literary work. The light touch which makes cynicism gently humorous and human foibles almost lovable is never wanting. His persiflage is a bright and sunshiny veil for his sorrows. He is forever tinkling the lighter bells of speech, but their tone is pure and clear. They ring sincerity every time. comicbooks.com