Life, 1886-07-29 · page 11 of 16
Life — July 29, 1886 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Life" Magazine, September 1886 This page features satirical social commentary typical of *Life* magazine's humor. The main content is a humorous letter sequence mocking the fickleness of wealthy Newport society romance. "Virgil O'Doup" (a satirical name) writes increasingly formal letters to "Mary," progressing from passionate courtship to cold dismissal after she shows interest in "Chawles Jenkins" (an Anglicized spelling mocking pretentious society types). The punchline: by September, Virgil has already moved on, inviting Mary to *his* wedding to Miss Smith—revealing the shallow, mercenary nature of high-society matchmaking. Below, a brief joke mocks struggling authors' powerlessness against editors, followed by a small cartoon labeled "IDYL" depicting a nursemaid and children at the beach—likely satirizing Victorian parenting where nurses handle childcare while society folk pursue leisure. The satire targets wealthy Newport's romance, social climbing, and the absurd priorities of the leisure class.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: Newport, July 13, 1886. DEAR MARY: Excuse the informality, but something in your eyes last evening told me, or seemed to tell mea secret. May I not call to-night and ascertain whether I was mistaken. Yours always, ViraiL O'D. Newport, July 14, 1886. My Own DarLinc: I was not mistaken, after all. I cannot tell you how happy I am, I snatch time to write you these few lines, assuring you of my undying affection. Forever thine, VirGIL. Newport, August 1, 1886. DEAR Mary : Of course you know that I respect your mother and all that, but you can hardly expect me to love all your attachments. Yours always, VirGIL O'D. New York, August 15, 1886. Dear Miss MARY: After the cool way you treated me last evening I can hardly believe that the same relations exist between us. Will you not write and set my misgivings at rest. Very truly your friend, ‘VirGIL O'Doup. Newport, August 24, 1886. Miss MARY: After our reconciliation I fondly hoped there would be no more trouble, but the marked preference you showed that English dude, 67 Chawles Jenkins, at the hop last night, makes me doubt whether you have any regard for me at all. Yours truly, VirGiL O'Doup. Newport, August 27, 1886. Dear Miss BROWN: Your letter received. in the matter. I shall be governed entirely by your wishes Very truly yours, VirGIL O'Doup, Newport, September 1, 1886. Miss BRown: Invitation to your marriage to Mr. Charles Jenkins received. I shall be delighted to witness the ceremony. Sorry that you will not be here to attend my marriage to Miss Smith, Very respectfully, Virci. O’Doup. Watker Kennedy. A CONSOLING THOUGHT. OUNG AUTHOR: Those editors have men of talent completely at their mercy. Here ’s my poem declined by a man who is clearly incapable of literary appreciation, and yet I have no means of retaliating. SYMPATHETIC FRIEND: Oh, my dear fellow! Think how bored he must have been as he read it. AID TO EARLY RISING—The lark-spur. Maiden of two Summers: COME TO THE BEACH WIV US, ToMMY. Blasé man of the World: CAN'T, MY NURSE IS SHELLING PEAS, comicbooks.com