Life, 1892-05-19 · page 12 of 18
Life — May 19, 1892 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page contains several satirical pieces typical of early American humor magazines: **"Rondeau: Behind Her Fan"** — A romantic poem mocking Victorian courtship conventions, where a suitor is reduced to yearning glimpses of a woman concealed behind a decorative fan. **"Multum in Parvo"** — A small-town newspaper satire reporting that a justice of the peace now demands payment *before* performing marriages. The joke: a groom named "Alkali Cronk" married "Dorky Partlow" beat the justice nearly to death when asked to pay later, claiming future happiness wouldn't justify the fee—a darkly comic commentary on rural rough justice and questionable marriages. **"One of the Advantages of the Cigarette"** — Two cartoon panels showing men smoking on a bench while avoiding conversation; the "advantage" is apparently that cigarettes excuse social awkwardness. A subtle social commentary. **"The Concert"** — An elephant cartoon showing it suffers physical pain standing upright for entertainment—depicting animals as unwilling performers in circuses, with the dialogue implying resignation to mistreatment. The page reflects turn-of-century American satirical humor targeting rural life, courtship customs, and animal exploitation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LIFE: RONDEAU. ‘* Behind Her Fan.” EHIND her fan all painted o'er With shepherds’ maids and Loves galore, Her chin was lost ‘mid, While I, scarce knowing what I did, Glanced, now at her, then at the floor. her laces I felt that I could kneel before Even the very flowers she wore, Or but the glove of softest kid, e Behind her fan, oN I longed, at once, to seek the door, And to remain and venture more, I wondered if she'd tell, if bid,— Whether a smile or yawn she hid, Behind her fan ! MULTUM IN PARVO. TH editor of the Hawville C/arton made the following personal an- nouncement in a recent issue of that paper : We wish it distinctly understood that hereafter in our capacity as Justice of the Peace we will perform no marriage ceremonies without the fee, in cash or its equivalent, strictly in advance. We were driven to this decision by an unpleasant incident which happened last week. After we had joined Alkali Cronk to Miss Dorky Partlow, the groom proposed that he defer pay- ment for one week, at the end of which time he would return and pay us in proportion to his happiness. We cheerfully assented, expecting to receive a good fat fee. Instead, however, Mr. Cronk came back upon the following morning and mauled us almost to death. Hence, we insist upon payment in advance. Country produce, hoop-poles, old bones, pelts or soft soap taken same as cash, ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE CIGARETTE. The attention of our readers is called to the fact that we paint the most artistic signs in town, cut hair in the latest style, pull teeth without pain, break horses thoroughly, and have a good line of brooms and liver pads of our own make for sale. Do not forget the church social at our resi- “Yes, RATHER, BUT I SUPPOSE I'LL HAVE TO STAND IT FOR THE CONCERT.” THE CONCERT. comicbooks.com