Life, 1893-03-16 · page 13 of 16
Life — March 16, 1893 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects several short humorous pieces typical of early 20th-century American satire: **"Her Reason"** mocks a woman's Lenten piety as superficial—she maintains her appearance and flirtatiousness while claiming religious observance, then admits she only fasted for "a rest." **The poet joke** plays on the Romantic notion that true poets are immortal through their work, contrasting with economic reality. **"Ambiguous"** uses a wife's pointed question to satirize wage inequality—the husband claims fair pay while struggling financially. **Chicago vs. Boston** reflects regional rivalry, with a Bostonian's jealous quip about Chicago being "ahead" (ambitious/progressive) while she already has "a head" (is headstrong). **The Easter bonnet and Reading deal** reference a contemporary railroad scandal affecting the economy, blaming financial mismanagement for middle-class inability to afford luxuries. **Dinah's birthday** presents racist dialect humor (common for the era), depicting a Black servant's shrewd negotiation for gifts by timing her birthday with Easter.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
REASON. sé Y OUR beauteous face is just as fair As when,cre Lent came in, Youbanishedsweets and took to prayer, ‘To keep you free from sin. ** Your golden hair is just as fine As when, six weeks ago, , V You sipped with me a glass H of wine, A}\ And tet me kiss you—so. “There is no change. Your eyes betray Their old-time sparkle now, And fasting has not stol'n away The mischief from your brow, “Tf you are then, no better, dear, Than when last time we kissed. Why have you been so prim—austere ? Just think of what we've missed.” He ceased. She sighed. ** My love,” said she, “T really thought it best To keep this Lent, because, you see, T had to have a rest.” Tom Masson. £*T SAW poor Scribbles the poet this morn- ing and the poor duffer‘hadn’t an over- coat. He'll die of pneumonia, “Not if he is a true poet. They never die.” . He: NO, THE BOSS DOESN'T PAY ME MORE THAN I'M WORTH, She: How iN THE WORLD DO YOU MANAGE TO LIVE ON IT? AMBIGUOUS. HE: How was your speech at the club received the other night? He: When I sat down they said it was the best thing I ever did. THERE ARE SIGNS OF IT. . OU can’t stop the advance of Chicago. She’s bound to get ahead,” said the Chicagoan. “Seems to me she has gota head already,” said the jealous Bostonian. RS. T.: Am I to have an Easter bonnet ? Mr. T.: I'm afraid not, my dear. Mrs. T.: Why? Mr. T. (wearily): Ask those who engineered the Reading deal, my love. INAH (scrubbing the floor): You mus gib me a present to-mor- row, Missus. It’s my birthday. MISTRE: And so your birthday comes on Easter this year, Dinah. “HAVING IT OUT WITH HIM. DinaH: Yesim, I has a birthday ebery Easter. comicbooks.com