Life, 1890-03-27 · page 8 of 20
Life — March 27, 1890 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 182 This page contains three distinct satirical pieces about courtship and marriage rejection: 1. **"Grandmamma's Fan"** (poem by Edith Sessions Tupper): A nostalgic poem about an elderly woman's decorative fan, contrasting her youthful beauty with present age. 2. **"The Easiest Way to Reject Him"**: A dialogue where Miss Barrows rejects a suitor's marriage proposal by noting she'll accept his hand only if it comes with financial security (checks), not sentiment. The satire mocks both fortune-hunting and romantic pretense. 3. **Two illustrations** labeled "Before" and "After" depicting courtship scenarios in Chicago, showing contrasting male propositions—one gallant, one desperate—satirizing different social classes' approaches to romance. The overall theme critiques Victorian-era courtship conventions and financial motivations underlying marriage proposals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Pale Youth (to dusky brother): WOULDN'T I BE A FOOL TO FIGHT WID YOU ANYHOW; IF I GAVE YOU A BLACK EYE IT WOULDN'T SHOW! THE EASIEST WAY TO REJECT HIM. ISS BARROWS, I offer you my hand. I have long loved you. 1—" “Say no more, Mr. Bulliondollar. If it is the hand you write checks with you offer me, I accept with pleasure.” GRANDMAMMA’S FAN. 1 VORY sticks and painted face, Bits of yellow, tattered lace, Tiny mirror set in place, Beauty sadly marred by age, But a treasure 1'll engage When the minuet was the rage. I Fancy I can see her now— Powdered locks above her brow, Sweeping courtesy, mincing bow ; Such a dainty, graceful maid— One hand holds her stiff brocade, Other yields the coquette’s aid. mt, O'er her little head well curled Spreads the silken toy unfurled. Now it’s shut—anon it’s twirled To conceal a stolen glance, Or a crimson blush perchance, As she treads the stately dance. Iv. Ghostly, fleeting vision fair, Flashing eyes and powdered hair, Marble shoulders glancing bare— Time rolls backward for a space, O'er this faded silk and lace Gleams the witch’ry of thy face. Edith Sessions Tupper. (Before) CHICAGO. “Say, YOUNG FELLER, I WANT THAT FAIR.” (After.) “ PLEASE PITY THE DESTITUTE AND AID ME IN MY. DISTRESS,” comicbooks.com