Life, 1887-05-26 · page 7 of 18
Life — May 26, 1887 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 291 This page contains literary and humorous content rather than political cartoons. The main features are: **"A Fleeting Fancy"** — a poem by Carlyle Smith about admiring a young woman in church, with romantic but somewhat self-aware humor about the speaker's fleeting infatuation. **The illustration** shows two men conversing near classical columns, with a caption referencing "lost tribes" and asking "Why the devil aren't you in Newark?" and "Why the devil aren't you in Jerusalem?" — appearing to be ethnic or religious humor typical of early 20th-century American satire. **"The Modern Cupid"** and **"What's in a Name?"** are brief comic dialogues playing on wordplay and romantic themes. The page demonstrates Life magazine's mix of sentimental poetry, visual humor, and conversational comedy rather than sharp political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LIFE: the Bath—which the Indian declined from natural scruples, not understanding the idiomatic significance of the decoration. On the whole the day passed off pleasantly, and there were no disturbances other than a slight misunderstanding between the Prince of Wales and a young Sioux brave, in which the | Prince's baldness served him in good stead. It is rumored that the National Gallery of London has offered one of the Indians a large salary if he will annex | himself to the Turner Gallery, and exhibit the sunset that he | The | trustees of the Gallery claim to have internal evidence that the | wears on the small of his back when he goes to war. painting is by the hand of the master, and that it must be had at any cost. It seems to me that this affords the United States a chance to settle the fishery question by swapping off the artistic brave | for justice—and the only way to get justice from the English Government is to pay for it. Her Majesty's desire to see these untutored savages in \ their native lair may induce her to visit New York next sea- son, in which case she will probably be under the manage- ment of D’Oyly Carte. Carlyle Smith. A FLEETING FANCY. HE maid in the pew that’s before me Is daintily dressed, and her face Has attractions that surely don’t bore me To gaze on. I envy the lace That circles her neck. What a grace Characterizes this maiden so fair, Who sits in the pew that’s before me, From her heels to her hair ! Her waist is so tapering, slender ! Her arms might be christened divine ; If I knew who the maid was I'd send her A message from St. Valentine, Of neat inexpensive design, To tell her how greatly I love This maid in the pew that’s before me, This beautiful dove! “Let us pray,” says the pastor, and kneeling, The maid bows her bonnet so prim, As softly the organ is pealing ‘The last dying chords of the hymn, When I'm totally stunned by the shim- Mering shine of a boot ‘neath the pew ; ’Tis the foot of that maiden before me— Fugaces eheu ! The vision of beauty has faded, Oh, would that the boot would fade too ! It fairly makes Pegasus jaded To think of that gigantic shoe ‘That reached back to me under the pew. ’Twas a horrible shock to me when I saw that this vision before me Wore gentleman's size No. 10. Mr.— (one of the lost tribes, although a Presbyterian): HELLO! WHY THE DEVIL AREN’T YOU IN NEWARK? Mr. S. (from Newark): WHY THE DEVIL AREN’T YOU IN JERU- SALEM ? THE MODERN CUPID. HEY say that Love is blind. Ah me! Perchance 'tis so. And yet, I think Tis golden blinders that he wears, And Love looks at us through the chink. WHAT'S IN A NAME? UTCHER (¢o customer, who has ordered some meat sent): What name, please? CUSTOMER: Welch. BUTCHER: Thanks! All right, Mr. Walsh. CUSTOMER (slowly but firmly): W-e-|-c-h. BUTCHER: Thanks! All right, Mr. Walsh. ISRAEL] asserts that there is no education like ad- versity. How about a University education, me Lud? comicbooks.com