Life, 1888-12-06 · page 3 of 16
Life — December 6, 1888 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine, December 6, 1888 This page contains three separate satirical pieces: 1. **"The Witch's Daughter"** - A fairy tale poem about Caramella, a beautiful girl born to a wicked witch. The narrative describes how princes pursue her despite her mother's evil reputation, ultimately marrying her. The satire appears to comment on how physical beauty can overcome social stigma or questionable family background. 2. **"Beauty's Mecca"** - A brief dialogue mocking women's social aspirations, with a Belle lamenting she wasn't born English, suggesting contemporary anxieties about class and national identity. 3. **Shorter humor pieces** - Including "A Great Inducement," "Energy Superfluous," and "Another Wonder," which appear to be typical Victorian-era comedic anecdotes about everyday life and human nature. The overall page reflects *Life* magazine's satirical approach to social commentary and domestic humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Votume XII. No, 310. A FAIRY TALE. NCE there lived a wicked witch, In a dark and dreadful wood ; She had hair as black as pitch, And her teeth were far from good. In the corners of her eyes Mr. Crow had set his feet; And, indeed, tho’ she was wise, You could scarcely call her sweet. With this dire and dreadful dame Lived the loveliest of girls— Caramella was her name. She, of course, had teeth like pearls, Golden hair and eyes of blue, Not to mention cheeks of pink— In short, as like the witch as dew Is to stylographic ink, All around the country side, Stormy nights, the wicked witch On her flying broom would ride, Feared alike by poor and rich. DECEMBER 6TH, 1888. Where'er she cast her evil eye Children would be seized with fits ; Corn would rot and cows run dry (Even watchmen lost their wits). , But the lovely Damozel, Caramella, strange to say, Wrought an even greater Spell, Tho’ in quite another way. Princes worshipped at her shrine Till, alas! her ma they saw; Even princes draw the line Ata witch for mother-in-law. First among hes lovers fine Was the good Prince Shandigaff ; To the rest as pearls to swine, Or September wheat to chaff. He would wed her any day Were her ma more comme il faut ; “ Hang it—she’s a witch !" he'd say, ‘* That is quite too awfully low.” So he pined away instead In some horrid torrid clime; But he hastened back to wed Caramella—just in time. The witch, he'd learned, was one fine day Of her tricks forever cured In the good old-fashioned way (And was heavily insured). O. H. BEAUTY’S MECCA. ELLE (third season, languidly): Oh dear, 1 wish I had been born an English peeress! ANOTHER BELLE ( first season): Why, sweetest—because you are tired of trying to become one ? A GREAT INDUCEMENT. ! A ISS BROWN: Why, what's the matter, Mr. Paulus; ycu look fatigued—hard work ? Mr. PauLus: No, not that exactly; but I went to church’ three times last Sunday — at different churches — and _ ‘twas the same old thing at all three. Miss BRown: Why don’t you come over to our church ? TRI { We have good music, comfortable pews, and not cone word \ ( by about Robert Elsmere. SiS cy SUPERFLI “N ENERGY SUPERFLUOUS. a CUSTOMER (to grocer’s boy): You don't seem to be a very energetic little boy. Don't you feel well? Boy: Yes, I feel all right, but the boss is out to lunch! ANOTHER WONDER, ‘WILLIAM CROSSCUT, OF THIS CITY, WHO WAS NINETY YEARS OLD ON HIS LAST BIRTHDAY, HAS JUST COMMENCED CUTTING A NEW SET OF TEETH.” comicbooks.com