Life, 1889-02-28 · page 7 of 22
Life — February 28, 1889 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 121: "The Five Senses" and "Its Moral Effect" **Right panel** ("The Five Senses"): A humorous series of illustrations showing a baby encountering everyday objects—a glass, a plate, food—labeled to represent sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. This is straightforward satirical instruction on infant sensory development. **Left panel** ("Mademoiselle Directoire"): A fashion illustration mocking the "Directoire" style (high-waisted, low-cut gowns popular around 1910-1920), showing an elegantly dressed woman. The accompanying poem by Edith Sessions Tupper satirizes this fashionable look as absurd. **Bottom panel** ("Its Moral Effect"): A dialogue between Uncle George and Charley about hair length, humorously suggesting maternal authority over children's grooming. The page satirizes contemporary fashion trends and parental discipline through gentle humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE: THE FIVE SENSES. MADEMOISELLE DIREC- TOIRE. ING I the Tosca hat and gown The nez retroussé, charming frown, The dainty glove, correct and chic ; The eyes demure and glancing down, A sight to set agog the town— The girl that twirls a walking-stick! The coat-tails flapping lore .nd wide, The jaunty waistcoat tuck _nside, And peeping forth the lace mouchoir ; Ah, some may smile and some deride— I sing with wonder and with pride, La Demoiselie Directoire ! A picture she, none can dispute, From stunning hat to little boot, Enough to move the dead or quick ; Before this vision I am mute— SMe I yield my homage—I salute The girl that twirls a walking-stick. \ \ Edith Sessions Tupper. ITS MORAL EFFECT. Uncle George: DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE SUCH LONG HAIR ? ' Charley: No, I'D RATHER HAVE IT SHORT MYSELF, RUT MAMMA wajXTS ME TO LOOK LIKE ONE OF THOSE D——D CHERUBS. | TOUCH. comicbooks.com