Life, 1887-05-12 · page 5 of 16
Life — May 12, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 261 This page contains two separate pieces: **Top section:** A poem "To J.S. of Dale" praising a gentle poet, followed by "Religious to the Last"—a brief anecdote about Mr. Nevermile comforting Mrs. Spriggins during an earthquake by citing religion as refuge. **Bottom cartoon:** "Uncrowned Martyrdom" depicts a woman in bed with a minor injury (broken slippers), while another woman attends her. The humor relies on the contrast between "martyrdom" and a trivial domestic mishap—satirizing how women (or people generally) dramatize minor ailments or inconveniences as major suffering. The cartoon critiques performative victimhood or exaggeration of personal troubles as entertainment. The page's overall tone is gently mocking of human nature's tendency toward melodrama.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TO “J. S. OF DALE.” ON READING ‘IN A GARRET.” POET, with a soul so gentle, Laughter mingling with your tears, Your singing bringeth back the springtime, And hopes that faded with the years ! And so we pause amid our striving, List’ning to your tender strain ‘That teaches us to bide in patience— Youth and love shall come again ! RELIGIOUS TO THE LAST. “a ACK from Cannes, eh?” said Mr. Neversmile to Mrs. Spriggins as he seated himself beside her. “Oh yes, indeed; I couldn’t stand the gyrations of the ground.” “You were in the earthquake, then?” “Indeed I was. . And do you know I was so frightened Wert, CLaHANCE, WHAT AH YOU GWAN TO BE WHEN YoU An that I got right down on my knees and said my Cataclysm as fast as I could. Religion is a great refuge, Mr. Neversmile.” Gwown?” “Wuy, I’M GOING TO BE A MAN—WHyY DIDN’T you ?” UNCROWNED MARTYRDOM. “On, MARY DEAR, WHAT'S THE MATTER? ARE YOU SICK ?” ‘No, ONLY BREAKING IN A PAIR OF SLIPPERS." comicbooks.com