Life, 1889-01-03 · page 3 of 16
Life — January 3, 1889 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Latin Quarter" - Life Magazine This poem by Arthur Mark Cummings celebrates bohemian student life in Paris's Latin Quarter, the historic neighborhood associated with intellectual and artistic culture. The illustrations depict romanticized scenes: students lounging outdoors, attending theater performances (references to "Bernhardt's rage" suggest Sarah Bernhardt, the famous actress), and enjoying café culture at "Bullier's." The piece nostalgically recalls youthful pleasures—picnics, literary discoveries, romantic encounters, and theatrical capers—contrasting carefree student days with adult melancholy. It's not primarily political satire but rather sentimental commentary on lost youth and the contrast between bohemian freedom and ordinary adulthood, reflecting American fascination with Paris as a cultural ideal during the late 19th/early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE- THE LATIN QUARTER. OYS of the days that are ended, J Sweetness of fruits that are gone— When the dance and the kiss and the song were blended With the learning of old Sorbonne / The drone of the musty professor, The scratch of the rusty pen, ‘The ‘‘crib” that made its happy possessor Lord of his fellow-men. The bliss of prowling around The book-stalls ; and oh, the day When my quaint and rare Bocace I found On the Quai de Malaguais! Swift little boats on the river, Picnics at old Saint Cloud ; To lie and see the great trees quiver, With the sunlight sifting through— To lie in contented mood, While Marie and gay Zephine Unpacked our lunch and arrayed the food On our lowly table of green. The gallery-god’s high place, Where we shuddered at Bernhardt’s rage, Or held our breath while Judic’s fair grace Came drifting across the stage. Capers at Bullier’s When the Thursday evening came ; The whirl of the waltz and the thrilling gaze That kindled the heart to flame. Suppers all /éte-d-téte, With a face demure and fair To lend delight to the frugal plate, And sweeten the ordinazre. The parting pangs, and the tears In Estelle’s dark, shining eyes When our dream wa over—alas, the years Since we spoke those fond good-byes ! Bitter-sweet days that are ended, Phantoms of joys that gre gone— When the dance and the kiss and the song were blended With the learning of old Sorbonne / Arthur Mark Cummings, comicbooks.com