Life, 1891-06-04 · page 6 of 16
Life — June 4, 1891 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page combines two unrelated items: an advertisement and a short story. **"Our Farm"** section advertises a Fresh Air Work initiative for children, promoting a Connecticut estate available for lease or purchase near Ridgefield. The accompanying illustration shows a pastoral farmhouse scene with a church in the distance—an idealized rural retreat for urban children. **"Her Hero Husband"** is a sentimental narrative about Mrs. McFlibbert visiting a grocer on Memorial Day. Upon seeing patriotic flag displays, she becomes emotional, confessing to Mr. Peck that her own husband was a soldier who died heroically at Gettysburg. The story trades in Civil War nostalgia and domestic sentimentality popular in early 20th-century magazines. Neither content is satirical; this represents typical *Life* magazine editorial and advertising fare from this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OUR FARM. Fe’ those who are interested in our Fresh Air Work for the Children we have good news, A friend of the use has given us ata very low figure, a two years’ lease of an estate at Branchville, Connecticut, with privilege of renewal for another five years, or of purchase, if we prefer. Branch- ville is a little village in the town of Ridgefield, about two hours from New York. This estate consists of fourteen acres of land, with a large barn and outbuildings, all in excellent repair. There is an orchard near the house, and a picturesque and inviting brook winds leisurely through the property. Branchville is high among the hills, and the fresh, bracing air gives more of a change to New York children than our New Jersey village was able to offer. The drainage is perfect. Early in April we began the construction of a two story frame outbuilding to serve as dining-room and kitchen, with bed- rooms overhead. We have already accommodations for nearly two hundred children—with no squeezing. We shall tell you more of it later. In the mean time, at the request of several thousands of immature citizens who would like to see the country, LIFE will favor you with his favorite song : ‘The more money you give the more children we send. Balance on October 9, 189. $63 04 | T..E. Desmond, Mazador, Received since Oct. 9, 1390 In memory of E Crocker, San Francisco In memoriam The neers Wrist Cub Fines Proceeds of Childret G held at 170 W. soth St by Master Arthur Gotthoid Master Theodore Hahne- man and Master Marland W. Rollins Proceeds of a Fair gotten up by Louis, Harry, Oak- ley and Christopher. Gratitude Total. » $249 29 HER HERO HUSBAND. $49 10 00 $66 75 HE widow McFlibbert went into Mr. Peck’s grocery store on the 29th of May to make some purchases. Mr. Peck had been hanging out flags in honor of the approaching Memorial Day, and the sight of the national emblems awakened in Mrs. McFlibbert's breast many tender recollections, Putting her handkerchief to her eyes, she sobbed : “O Mr. Peck, the sight of those flags always makes me cry.” “ Why?" asked the grocer. “ They make me think of my dear, brave hero husband.” “ He was a soldier, was he ? “Yes; a brave and true soldier who died on the battle- field. You knew my dear Dennis, didn’t you, Mr. Shotoff ? Mrs. McFlibbert directed this question to a man who was sitting on the end of the counter and listening to the con- versation. “O yes; which he was kille “Yes; he died likea hero at Gettysburg,” added the widow, between sobs. I knew him well. I fought in the same battle in comicbooks.com