Life, 1890-05-22 · page 3 of 18
Life — May 22, 1890 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XV, Number 386) The main illustration depicts a flirtation scene labeled "Do you play, Miss Lakeside?" with a woman from Chicago responding "Don't! I bluffed the governor out of a century last week on a bob-tail." This references card-playing, suggesting the woman is a skilled gambler who recently won substantial money from a state governor. Below are two contrasting poems: "The Growler" (pessimistic about human nature) and "The Happy Man" (content with existence). A small theatrical cartoon labeled "At Liberty" shows a cat, likely punning on an actor being unemployed. The overall page mixes romantic comedy with satirical commentary on gambling, female independence, and social attitudes. The specific governor referenced is unclear without additional context.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XV. He: Do You pLay, MisstLaxestpe ?* She (from Chicago): Don't 1! 1 BLUFFED THE GOVERNOR OU TWO VOICES. THE GROWLER, DO not like to be a man, I'd hate to be a woman; I do not like vile Nature's plan, I'm sorry I am human, I'd hate like time to be a beast, Despise the fish's lot; In fact, I'd care not in the least, If I were not DASE. RADE. lished 185 THE HAPPY MAN. I'm really glad I'm what I am, Though I should never growl, If I'd been born a silent clam, A noisy beast or fowl; Life suits me to a very T, It seems one joyous psalm — I simply overflow with glee, Because—1 am. JK. B. T OF A CENTURY LAST WEEK ON A BOD-TAIL, THEATRICAL TERM—" AT LINERTY.” comicbooks.com