Life, 1889-07-25 · page 5 of 16
Life — July 25, 1889 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 47 This page contains three distinct humor pieces: **"The Wail of the Accepted"** is a poem about romantic disappointment. A young woman meets a man at Narragansett Pier expecting inheritance from her "Uncle John," but discovers she's poor. She then laments that her wealthy aunt rejected her proposal—apparently the woman proposed to the aunt, seeking security. **"A Pointer"** is a brief comedic dialogue where Bessie explains that only wealthy actors exist in summer, implying poverty and theater don't mix. **"Inventor" section** jokes about a "bald head" fly-paper invention, suggesting satirizing dubious patent claims. The accompanying sketches show period-appropriate domestic scenes. The humor relies on class anxiety and romantic/financial desperation typical of early 20th-century American satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: THE WAIL OF THE ACCEPTED. E met at Narragansett Pier— The modest sum I went upon Was all my legacy from dear Old impecunious Uncle John ; And she was taken”by her aunt— Oh, luckless day and hour in which They met me, cursed with fortune scant, “And thought, no doubt, that I was rich ! . * . ONSTANT my heart to her alone— Oh, why is it her wealthy aunt Has seven children of her own? But—give her up? I can't—I can’t ! Oh, fatal Narragansett Pier! Oh, fatal stroll beside the sea! Oh, fatal word I joyed to hear !— Why did she not say ‘* No" to me? My salary is very small, And even that is not secure. Why did I speak to her at all When we are both so deadly poor? Oh, little did I dream the scrape My fleeting wealth would lead into! We are engaged—there’s no escape. What shall I do? What shall I do? Charles Prescott Shermon, A POINTER. ESSIE: I'm sure that hand- some fellow who flirted with me yesterday is an actor. JENNIE: Has he any money? BEssiE: Lots of it. Why? JENNIE: Because anyone who has money in the middle of summer can’t be an actor. NVENTOR: I would like to get you interested in my im- proved fly-paper. Aj CaPpiTatisr: What makes you think it will be successful ? INVENTOR: Because it's gotten up in imitation of a bald head. HE note of the Prima Donna is negotiable only when en- dorsed by the public. AT THE CATSKILLS. Girl (who has received orders to wake boarder very early so that he can enjoy the sight): IF YOU PLEAS SIR, IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE SUN RISE you MUST GET uP Now! AZ a Boarder (who has been sitting up late with a fiw Sriends); OW, BOTHER THE SUNRISE! LeT ME KNOW WHEN IT sets! PEOPLE will complain about the price of ice, and then let half of it melt away on the side- walk, There seems to be more satisfaction in growling than in keeping cool. comicbooks.com