Life, 1891-03-19 · page 13 of 14
Life — March 19, 1891 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several unrelated humorous pieces typical of Life's satirical format: **"An Observant Miss"** jokes about a woman rejecting marriage despite loving her suitor, claiming matrimony would destroy their happiness—satirizing the paradox of romantic love versus married life. **"A Painted Red Letter Day"** presents an Irish stereotype joke where a father explains St. Patrick's Day to his son by claiming it's when snakes return to Irishmen, playing on the Saint Patrick legend of driving snakes from Ireland. **"An Ally of Tolstoi"** features a brief exchange between a poet (claiming poets are born, not made) and a woman (arguing this discourages marriage)—likely mocking pretentious artistic philosophy. **"The Actors' Own Traveler"** contrasts theatrical exaggeration ("high tragedy") with realistic performance, satirizing different acting styles. The page also includes George Birdseye's sentimental poem "A Glass of Wine" celebrating wine's sensory pleasures. The illustrations support each piece's humorous point.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
-LIFE: “*Cousin GEORGE, WHAT DOES THAT CALENDAR SAY ABOUT A CHILD BORN ON THE FouRTH OF JULY—MY BIRTHDAY 2?” “IT SAYS A CHILD BORN ON THIS DAY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN It's A HUMBUG, “What! AND pipy'r THE Duke oF PosToBITs JILT You LAST SUMMER?” I HAVEN'T BEEN, YOU KNOW.” reached by the other actors in the play. The piece is fairly well rendered, and will probably improve with every per- formance. A GLASS OF WINE. GLASS of wine all pleasures known condenses, For it alone appeals to all the senses ; We touch the dainty curves of Venice glass, See the gold-gleaming nectar’s bubbles pass ; The ravishing aroma now we smell, Then hear glass touching glass like bell on bell ; Taste, dearest ecstacy, arrives at last, Combining all those pleasures that were past. Health to the Vine! May we no more repine! All sorrow's solace is a glass of wine. George Birdseye. AN ALLY OF TOLSTOI. (@ poet): Poets are born, not made, SHE: Don't say that. You will discourage matri- H mony. 177 AN OBSERVANT MISS. “< Wy don’t you and Charlie get married?” “We are too fond of each other. Why should we destroy our happiness ?" A (PAINTED) RED LETTER DAY. OMMY: Pa, what is St. Patrick's day ? Papa: It's the day all the snakes come back to the Irishmen, my son. Faraway (high tragedy): MAYST THOU CALL THAT? PRITHEE, FRIEND WALKER, WHAT. Walker (low comedy): Twis?) Wuy, THIS 18 WHAT T cALL “Tne Actors’ OWN TRAVELER.” I'LL SHOW YoU HOW IT WoRKs, Au revoir, FARAWAY, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE REALISM! comicbooks.com