Life, 1888-02-16 · page 7 of 20
Life — February 16, 1888 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 91 This page contains three separate humor pieces rather than a unified political cartoon: **"His One Infirmity"** depicts a dialogue between Grafton and Miss Clara about a man named Gagley who has good social habits except for wearing a turn-down collar (apparently considered improper formal attire at the time). The satire mocks trivial social pretensions. **"A Real Valentine"** is sentimental poetry about love and Cupid, not political satire. **"He Was in Charge"** and **"It Was"** are brief joke exchanges about funerals and curriculum length—genteel humor with no political content. The accompanying illustrations show period-appropriate domestic and social scenes. This page represents Life's lighter satirical content focused on social manners and courtship rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
91 LITERARY NOTES. R. HOWELLS has left Buf- falo, and is reported to be about to settle in New York. My. Howells, doubtless, found life in Buffalo too exciting. * * * HE Messrs. Harper are mod- est and not prone to self- adulation ; but we are informed that there was considerable satis- faction manifested in the sanc- tum when Mr. Warner tele- graped from Hartford that he had secured a new joke for the May issue of the Drawer. * * * LOCAL magazine will short- ly publish some letters of Edgar Allan Poe to his landlady, which are said to be very interest- ing, as showing the state of Poe’s purse during Jackson's adminis- tration. * * * HE publication of series of letters has been so success- fully tried by the magazines, that nearly all the newspapers of the land are looking over their back files with a view to the republi- cation of the Blaine letters during the coming summer, should Mr. Blaine decide to ‘‘accelerate his footsteps for the Presidency,” as they say in Boston. HIS ONE INFIRMITY. Grafton; AWFULLY CLEVER FELLOW, GAGLEY. HE MIGHT SHINE IN SOCIETY IF IT WASN'T FOR HIS ONE INFIRMITY, Miss Clara: Wy, | ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS VERY CORRECT IN HIS HABITS. Grafton ; OH, YES, HE IS ALL THAT, YOU KNOW; BUT HIS NECK’S SO DEUCEDLY SHORT THAT HE ALWAYS HAS TO WEAR A TURN-DOWN COLLAR. I knew just what that message meant ; I donned my coat and hat and went, And set before her Cupid’s woes In plain and much embarrassed prose ; Whereat she kissed with tenderness The rascal’s eyes, and told me “Yes.” Idle Idyller, A REAL VALENTINE. SENT my love a valentine O'erwritten with a wish of mine, Which I had put in tender phrase By twisting it in many ways. The rhyme, like others of its kind, Was all of Cupid painted blind : The silly things the rascal said Were meant to turn my sweetheart’s head, And make her think ’twas time to give Encouragement to me to live. HE WAS IN CHARGE. [SSestve. PARTY: Whose funeral is this? IRISH UNDERTAKER: Not long from this an answer came Signed by that portion of her name Which I had never dared to speak Lest I should suffer on the cheek. Mine, sor. Wrote she: ‘Were Jan oculist, I'd have young Cupid's two eyes kissed ; I'd take the bandage off that he The object of his love might see; Then, if he really loves her well, He'll go to her himself and tell.” IT WAS. NGLISHMAN (¢o Freshman): And is your curriculum large and extended ? FRESH: Large -and extended? Well, I should say it was. It’s four laps to the mile. “She twined herself around the strong, resolute man as the slender vine clings to the mighty oak for protection and support.”—Popular Novel. comicbooks.com