Life, 1887-06-16 · page 7 of 16
Life — June 16, 1887 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 335 This page presents "His Reflections," a poem by Mark Mallows accompanied by an illustration. The text satirizes a young man's indecisive romantic musings about a woman—debating whether to pursue her seriously or remain emotionally detached. The illustration shows a couple in an ornate interior setting, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century, with decorative cherubs and flourishes surrounding them. The woman appears engaged while the man seems preoccupied or distracted. The satire targets masculine ambivalence in courtship: the speaker boasts of friendship while secretly fearing commitment, worrying the woman might "handicap" him as months pass. The poem mocks this vacillation as foolish, suggesting nature will ultimately decide the matter. The overall message critiques male indecision in romantic relationships—a common theme in period humor magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ERE HIS REFLECTIONS. OFTLY the firelight glows Warm on her face, and shows, Very distinctly, those Down-drooping lashes. So far away she seems From me, that all my dreams Follow the flick'ring gleams Falling in ashes. ‘Though we're the best of friends, There, she declares, it ends ; Thinking it all depends On her, capricious : But if she handicaps Me in this way, perhaps I, as the months elapse, May grow seditious, Calm, she discriminates "Twixt ‘‘ friends" and ‘‘ intimates ;"” So, differentiates ’Twixt me and Towser ! Towser (she says) is yoo, Easily understood, Ever (if sleepy) would Wish to arouse her. What's to be done with such Frivolous people? Much Humored, she beats the Dutch And rules each german : Praed’s verses are divine. Dixit, (She laughs at mine !) Oh, but she'd make a fine Text for a sermon ! Should a sedate young man Dance to a maiden’s fan Who holds him lighter than Last summer's swallows ? Hardly. Yet she the wool Over my eyes can pull. Here I sit—like a fool— Toasting marshmallows ! If, as the days go past, Men come to think, at last, ‘That with assurance vast Nature endows her : If this divinity Finds no affinity In her vicinity, Why—she'll have ‘Towser. Mark Mallow. comicbooks.com