Life, 1889-01-10 · page 7 of 16
Life — January 10, 1889 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 21 The page contains three distinct humorous pieces: 1. **"In Wreaths of Smoke"** (Rondeau by Frank Newbold Holman): A nostalgic poem lamenting how time passes and youthful faces fade, metaphorically "wreathed in smoke." 2. **"Presence of Mind"**: A brief comedic dialogue where Uncle Abner makes a racially offensive joke, apparently referencing hair texture and Irish ancestry. The humor relies on period stereotypes now considered deeply offensive. 3. **"In the Music Room, Sunday Evening"**: A domestic comedy sketch where a family debates hymn selections, with Georgie mishearing "Shall We Gather at the River?" as "Shall We Go in Swimming?"—a simple, innocent mix-up joke. The three illustrations show Victorian-era domestic and social scenes typical of Life magazine's satirical content from this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IN WREATHS OF SMOKE. RONDEAU. N wreaths of smoke, blown waywardwise, Faces of olden days uprise, And in his dreamy revery They haunt the smoker's brain, and he Breathes for the past regretful sighs. Mem’ries of maids, with azure eyes, In dewy dells, neath June’s soft skies, Faces that more he'll only see In wreaths of smoke. Eheu, eheu! how fast Time flies— How youthtime passion droops and dies, And all the countless visions flee ! How worn would all those faces be Were they not swathed in soft disguise In wreaths of smoke ! Frank Newton Holman, IN THE MUSIC ROOM, SUNDAY EVENING. AMMA (at the piano): Now, Georgie, what shall we sing—something for Sunday, you know? GEORGIE (after thought): Let’s sing “Shall we go in swimming.” MamMaA: Why, Georgie, there’s no such hymn as that! GERTIE: I guess, mamma, he means “ Shall we Gather at the River?” HE humorist who said the Potomac was running for Congress was little familiar with popular Congressional beverages. OULD the visions of delirium tremens properly be termed spirit pictures ? PRESENCE OF MIND. NCLE ABNER (as the freak’s cloak accidentally drops from his head): Bless my soul, Harriet, this is a swindle! This isn't a Zulu turning white—he’s got red hair! THE FREAK (with presence of mind): Oi do be a greater wondher than that, sor; Oi’m a descindant av wan av the Oirish kings who is afther turnin’ black. ie Madam (to applicant): WHERE WAS YOUR LAST PLACE? Applicant: AT THE HOSSPITTEL, MEM. Madam: WERE YOU A NURSE THERE? Applicant : No, MEM; I WAS A SMALL-POX PATIENT. comicbooks.com