Life, 1886-06-10 · page 3 of 18
Life — June 10, 1886 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 325 This page contains primarily literary content rather than political cartoons. The main piece is "Alert," a poem about urban restlessness and chance encounters, illustrated with small decorative drawings of figures in motion. Below are brief satirical definitions and fables: - "Called Upon to Respond" mocks a dinner speaker's empty praise of Gutenberg - "Fables for the Times" includes a decanter hiding in a Prohibition-era asylum and a mule kicking a Chicago drummer - Brief humorous definitions like "High Toned" (a wife) and "Baldheaded" (ballet enthusiast) The content reflects 1920s American life, with clear reference to Prohibition ("filled with whisky was hotly pursued"). The satirical tone targets pretension, politics, and social hypocrisy typical of Life magazine's editorial approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
To-day—you might suppose that Fate Was hot upon my track. I strike a thirteen-minute gait, Then, suddenly, turn back. I cut my friends; I race for blocks ; Peer into every shop, ALERT, UT yesterday, and I could walk The streets with unconcern ; Could loaf and loiter, stop to talk, Or stop and take a turn. Calm-eyed and with unruffled brow 1 trod the thoroughfare, Responsive to the courteous bow, Defiant to the stare. Note horses, street cars, hats and frocks ; Then swear, and sigh, and stop. Yester’ e’en, with high, reposeful feet, I tilted back my chair ; Not beeswax on its cushioned seat, To-day, could keep me there. Yet tis not such a direful chance That has my ways upset— ‘T is that Louise is back from France, And [ 've not seen her yet! CALLED UPON TO RESPOND. T a recent press dinner out West one of the guests present made a speech in which he paid a glowing tribute to the name and fame of the immortal Gutenberg. At the close of the address, which was received with | vociferous applause, the chairman, who had dined well if not wisely, said : “If Mr. (hic) Gutenberg is present we would be (hic) glad to have him make a few remarks.” HIGH TONED—A fife. A JoInT AFFAIR—A fishing-rod. R. MATTHEW ARNOLD says Home Rule will not do, but as Mr. Arnold is not referee his decision is only noticed to be disputed. The parallel which he draws between the situation of Ireland and that of the Southern States after the rebellion is such as to make his friends rejoice that he is on his way to America, and may gain new light upon our constitutional history. BALDHEADED—Fond of the ballet ; addicted to the front row ; contiguous to the bass viol; partial to tights. FABLES FOR THE TIMES. THE DECANTER AND THE PROHIBITIONIST. DECANTER filled with whisky was hotly pursued by a Ward Politician and a Commercial Embassador, but made its escape and took refuge in the pocket of a Pro- | hibitionist, thinking that in such an asylum it would be safe from harm. But after a short nap the Decanter woke up as empty as a gas-pipe, and went away in a starving condition. MoraL: This Fable teaches that a fortress is not neces- sarily impregnable just because the supervising engineer pro- nounces it so. THE FOOLHARDY MULE. MULE one day kicked a Chicago Drummer on the cheek, simply as a brilliant practical joke; but the Drummer coolly walked into a barber’s shop and washed the dirt off his face, while the Mule had to be hauled to a drug- store in an ambulance for medical treatment. MoRAL: This Fable teaches that a daring general in at- tacking the baggage-train of an adversary is liable to stumble upon his reserves ; besides giving a hint as to the true seat of the intellect. A Lone SocieTY—A bachelors’ club. comicbooks.com