Life, 1891-03-12 · page 9 of 14
Life — March 12, 1891 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page from *Life* magazine contains satirical sketches labeled "The Evolution of the Sinner" and "Saint and Sinner." The left side shows decorative vignettes depicting what appears to be the progression or different states of a sinful character, though the specific illustrations are stylized and somewhat unclear in detail. The right side presents a poem about a woman noticing an angel in church, followed by "Her Thoughts"—a humorous internal monologue where the character's mind wanders during the sermon to mundane concerns: fashion ("those horrid aisles"), choir boys, and gossip about Clara's engagement and the cost of a hat. The satire mocks the gap between outward religious piety and actual human preoccupations, particularly women's social vanity during church services.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i w i o < a oO w xr - uw ° z 2 - 2 3 fo) > wi wl x - SAINT AND SINNER. ALF hidden in the pew, she sits, A truant sunbeam softly fits Across her modest, saintelike face, As tf the angels thought to trace Upon those features that they love An Easter blessing from above. Demure, with modest eyes downcast My angel sits, Ah, [would fast For forty days for just one look From those “et exes bent on the book; And if she'd give me three or four, Td be content to cat no more. : Her Tuovauts. Those horrid aisles (that dress #s brown), I wish those people would sit down. Now where could she have got that fan? Oh, I suppose some silly man. Dear, dear, that choir boy has a cold. How that man stares! He's really bold My bonnet! Can it have a crook ? I wish I'd taken one more look. Umph! Who és that with the Pratts? What sights they are in those new hats. There's Percy—won't he be enraged When Clara tells him she’s engaged. My! What a fright Bess is in blue; Tt cost her ninety dollars, too; Well, I paid eighty (what a muss! But then, pa a/ways makes a fuss) Oh, my ! there's Smithy—such a face ! (Those horrid psalms! I've lost my place). L hope his sermon won't be long: The poor, dear fellow isn’t strong. Why, there is Fred! Dear me, what nex: ? T hope I won't forget the text, Tom Masson. AS OTHERS SEE US. NGLISHMAN (fo Fatr American Tourtst): \Well, | suppose none of this Swiss scenery will compare with your Niagara ? FAIR AMERICAN (with some embarrass- ment): \'ve never seen Niagara. ENGLISHMAN : Ah, pardon me; I thought that you were a married woman. NE of the happiest moments of a young man’s life is when he notices for the first time that his moustache has grown so long that he wets it when he drinks. ALWays ON TimeE—His forelock. comicbooks.com