Life, 1892-11-17 · page 6 of 19
Life — November 17, 1892 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 280 This page contains several satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor: **"The Silver Lining"** is a poem mocking romantic poetry about love and heartbreak, suggesting poets exaggerate their suffering for artistic effect. The accompanying sketches show a melancholic poet and a couple in domestic discord. **"Lines to a Gentleman of Bibulous Tendencies"** is a brief rhyming jab at a heavy drinker, sarcastically noting his red nose and suggesting marital problems. **"The Proper Alternative"** discusses a debate over whether the Metropolitan Museum should close on Sundays, arguing it should remain open. This reflects actual cultural tensions of the era between religious observance and public access to institutions. The remaining items—"Not Negotiable," "One Way of Encouraging the Bashful," and "A Skillful Physician"—are brief comedic dialogues common to Life's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SILVER LINING. HEN poets sing of lover's woes, An_ blighted lives and throbs and throes And yearnings—goodness only knows It’s all a pose. Lam a poet too, you know, I too was young once long ago, ‘And wrote such stuff myself, and so I ought to know. I for my stricken heart found balm, In sonnets to Amanda's calm High brow, or Julia's lily palm Or perfect arm. Which, when she scorned, did I resign ‘To flames, and go into decline? Not much ! Enough to dine. When sonnets fetched per line So reader when you read in print A poet's woe—beware and stint Your tears—and take this gentle hint— It is his mint. When Julia's ** fair as flowery mead,” Or when she “' makes his heart strings bleed,” Know then she’s furnishing his feed Or fragrant weed— And even as you read—who knows, Like cannibal that cats his foes, He dines off Julia's ‘‘ Aeart that froze,” Or “cheek of Rose.” 0. H. LINES TO A GENTLEMAN OF BIBULOUS TENDENCIES. OUR nose is red, Your wife is blue, I'd sign the pledge If I were you. THE PROPER ALTERNATIVE. T is said that the Museum has lost at least one bequest through being open on Sunday. Better that it never receive another bequest than that the thousands who now find sweetness and light within its walls be turned aside into the courses that make for bitterness and gloom. More than the single exhibition is put in issue; a principle is at stake If the funds be insufficient, as alleged, to keep the Museum of Art open seven days in the week, far better that it should be closed on Monday or Friday or any other day than the one which society has assigned for its highest usefulness by pro- hibiting labor and providing leisure.— ew York Evening Sun. If the Metropolitan Museum must be closed any day in the week the Evening Sun has undoubtedly suggested the way best to provide for the situation, But President Barker, of the Board of Apportionment, gives the assurance that all the Trustees have to do to get money enough to keep the Museum open seven days a week is to ask the city for it. Once assured that their policy is to be a liberal one, and that this great educational institution is to be conducted for the many and not the few, the Trustees may safely rely upon the generosity of the people of New York, NOT NEGOTIABLE. HYMESTER: True, sir, I have vot much ready money, but I own $30,000 worth of personal property. HER FATHER: In what shape is this property ? RHYMESTER: In manuscript poems. ONE WAY OF ENCOURAGING THE BASHFUL. HE (firmly): We must part forever. HE (in alarm): Why? SHE: I have discovered that I love you. A SKILLFUL PHYSICIAN. R. PULSER: Yes, sir, I have literally snatched men from the grave! STOKES: Is that so; when? Dr. PULSER: When I was a medical student, sir! comicbooks.com