Life, 1888-07-19 · page 7 of 14
Life — July 19, 1888 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 35 This page contains several short humorous pieces typical of Life's satirical format: **"A Ballad"** is a romantic poem with accompanying silhouette illustration about a youth and maiden meeting at night—standard sentimental Victorian fare that Life likely presents ironically. **"Good Both Ways"** is a brief dialogue joke about Browning (likely poet Robert Browning) that appears to play on ambiguous phrasing. **"A Weather Expert"** satirizes overconfident forecasting, with a stranger insisting he'll predict summer heat based on a Dogskill Mountains hotel card—mocking dubious expertise. **"Not a Bad Idea"** critiques Philadelphia's tonsorial artists for decorating ceilings with "scriptural subjects" and hiring lecturers, suggesting viewers waste time "gazing vacantly aloft" instead of paying attention—social commentary on pretentious self-improvement in public spaces.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE™ And all along the way there are fragments of fanciful writ- ing like this: “ How rare it is that any one in this life falls in with a companion who exactly touches that recondite vein of gold, deep within, narrow and subterranean, running as the slenderest filament under the acres and acres of superficial life and ordinary relations of one! So nice is the tread of our companion's foot upon that buried seam of Heaven, it is like a fairy touch, the touch of a fairy’s most delicately pointed slipper! Dear, welcome fairy! To discover to me that I have such a streak of strength in me, after all! Come, I do not want to do without you.” Droch. A BALLAD. \ <THE shades of night were falling fast, iT As from the tennis grounds there passed A youth who bore his head with pride, Because, there, walking by his side, Was Imogene. His step was light, his eye was bright, His heart was thumping at the sight That lit his soul with love's bright beams, And fired his brain with glorious dreams Of Imogene. In cottage homes they saw the light Of household fires gleam warm and bright ; But while the silvery moonlight shone, He much preferred it out alone With Imogene. ** Beware the pass,” the old man said, “Tis dark within the woods ahead.” He answered boldly, ‘* Never fear, For dark is light when she is near, My Imogene!” “Oh, stay,” the maiden said ; ‘inside The parlor door is open wide.” He spoke no word ; his eyes aglow Were to his comrade whispering low, “Dear Imogene.” He sat him down beside his love, And spooned until papa above Grew weary, and a step o'erhead Gave rise to sudden, anxious dread In Imogene. “Beware the baseball bat of pine— Beware my papa’s number nine !"" ‘This was the maiden's last good-night ; He answered as he shot from sight, “Dear Imogene !""" AN IMPORTANT FEATURE. &s G FORGE.” said the happy bride, “ papa has placed a check among the wedding presents.” “Ts that so?" whispered George, anxiously. notice if it's certified?” “Did you 35 GOOD BOTH WAYS. ISS BUNKER (reading Browning): Isn't Browning delicious, Penelope ? Miss WALDO: Perfectly divine! Miss BUNKER: How do you think he is the more charm- ing, backward or forward ? A WEATHER EXPERT. PASSENGER (fo stranger): So you think we are to have a hot summer, sir, STRANGER (founding the seat): Think? I don’t think anything about it—I now so! The whole country, sir, will sizzle until snow flies! PASSENGER: You seem to be positive. STRANGER: Positive? Why, I am as sure of it as 1 am that I run the finest hotel in the Dogskill Mountains! Put that card in your pocket; it may save your life! NOT A BAD IDEA. WE ARE TOLD THAT IN PHILADELPHIA THE TONSORIAL ARTISTS NAVE THEIR CEILINGS DECORATED WITH SCRIPTURAL SUBJECTS, THE FIGURES BEING PROPERLY CLOTHED, OF COURSE, AND HAVE A FIRST-CLASS LECTURER TO EXPOUND; SO THAT THE MOMENTS FOR+ MERLY WASTED IN GAZING VACANTLY ALOFT, ARE NOW PASSED IN THE MOST AGREEABLE MANNER. comicbooks.com