Life, 1889-11-14 · page 5 of 16
Life — November 14, 1889 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 271 This page contains three satirical pieces: 1. **"The Song of an Absent-Minded Minstrel"**: A poem lamenting a musician's failed romantic pursuit. The accompanying illustration shows a man serenading a woman, who appears indifferent or dismissive. 2. **"A Distinction"**: A brief joke contrasting a clergyman's stated $3,000 salary with his actual $1,200 pay—satirizing the gap between appearance and financial reality. 3. **Lower illustrations and dialogues**: Include commentary on labor movements (Prince Murat refusing American marriage for low wages), a traveler's observation, and a horseback exchange between "Mr. Camberback" and "Miss Walker" about riding abilities—typical turn-of-the-century social humor about class and courtship customs. The final line ("Man is the only animal that draws a salary") offers cynical social commentary on human nature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE THE SONG OF AN ABSENT-MINDED MINSTREL, HAT the deuce can I have done to Cause her Ladyship to smart? When I thought I'd just begun to Captivate my Lady’s heart. ~ All for ber I've sat from one to Five a. st. full many a time, Grinding out a sonnet none too Choice perhaps in point of rhyme. = ™ HEN when I could not have penned a ‘Nother line to save my soul, All for her I've sung a tender Love song or a barcarolle. On this very night I played for Full an hour beneath her sill On my lute, and was repaid for My devotion —simply ni// What's the reason of this seeming Coldness on my Lady's part? Has some other cuss been scheming To estrange my Lady's heart? Has some cad been alienating Her affections from myself— Undone all my wecks of waiting With a pocketful of pelf? [Uncidental music. If he has and hasn't made his Will by now he might as well, Ere he finds himself in Hades, Region better known as— “RECKON NEITHER OF US COULDN'T FILL DAT POSITION, Wittium! Let's TRY WHERE DEY KEEPS SMALLER SIZE Well! What an ass I am—/"ve got it! That is why she scems to frown, Cannot think how I forgot it— Why, my Lady's out of town! 0. H. A DISTINCTION, gs Wit is your salary, Dr. Stiggins ?” “My salary,” said the clergyman slowly, “is $3,000, But my pay is about $1,200," HE labor movement is spreading. Prince Murat has struck against being husband to an Ameri- can girl when the job brought only $10,000 a year. EXAMINE : State who was the author of the phrase “What's in a name?” and illustrate its meaning. CANDIDATE: Bacon. Tony Pastor's isn't a swell theatre, x ze, HAT struck you most in the equatorial re- gions?" asked a gentleman of a traveler, Mr, Cumberback : ISN'T THAT MiSs WALKER? THEY SAY SHE'S SUCH A JOLLY GIRL—I SHOULD LIKE TO MEET HER. AMfiss Stonewall: YOUR CHANCES ARE PRETTY GOOD AS SHE DOESN'T RIDE MUCH BETTER THAN YOU DO AND YOU MAY BE THROWN TO- MAN is the only animal that draws a salary. OTHER, “cc * The sun,” was the reply.