Life, 1893-06-22 · page 13 of 14
Life — June 22, 1893 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Lady Colin Campbell's claim that kissing damages women's complexions. The left section mocks various American regional types (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, etc.) all debating whether to kiss despite complexion concerns—each characterized by period stereotypes about their social pretensions and speech patterns. The main cartoon shows a man recounting romantic misfortune: he proposed by mail to an heiress, she accepted by telegram, but a transmission error made it a refusal. When he went west and returned, her father had failed financially and she'd married a poor man. The joke's dark twist: he recovered her dowry amount from the telegraph company but lost it when she sued him for breach of promise. The bottom verses continue the complexion theme across American cities, joking that women everywhere prioritize kissing over skin care—making Campbell's warning seem impractical against romantic desire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
POKER TERMS. hie et Oe Gee MAKING GOOD. , | LADY COLIN CAMP- BELL SAYS KISSING INJURES THE COMPLEXION. HE Boston girl arises, Transcendentally sedate. And taking off her glasses Says: ‘*T guess I’ll osculate.” The comme il faut New Yorker, With a radiant high-bred smile And blush, says ; '* My complexion’s Got to stand it for a while.” s ‘The Philadelphia maiden, THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE. With a Quaker quibbling coo, Prepares her lips to pucker In the quiet drab “* Oo, 00." “TL SHALL NEVER BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN MUCH ROMANCE IN YOUR LIFE, Mr. Bono.” ‘ “WELL, THERE HAS. I PROPOSED TO AN HEIRESS BY MAIL, SHE ACCEPTED The regal Baltimorean ; Me GF TELEGRAM, WHICH AN ERROR OF TRANSMISSION MADE AlRErusAL.’ 1 WewT Stoops to conquer with her wit : West, WHEN I RETURNED HER FATHER HAD FAILED AND SHE HAD MARRIED A ** Just look at my complexion ! POOR MAN. I RECOVERED THE AMOUNT OF HER DOWRY, WITH INTEREST, FROM It isn’t spoiled a bit THE TELEGRAPH COMPANY, BUT LOST IT ALL WHEN SHE SUED ME FOR BREACH ‘The Washingtonian damsel, Such a dear cosmopolite, With a blash remarks: ** The lady Isn't altogether right.” The Richmond girl, in whispers ‘The coy St. Louis maiden, —— Like some dreamy music, low, Who's as cute as she is fair, States firmly : ‘* My complexion Announces : '* My complexion Isn't everything, you know.” Isn't in it. See? So there!" The bright Atlanta maiden, The Denver dear-delightful With a pretty, harmless flirt, Inquires : ** Where am I at? Is sure that her complexion You bet that Lady Colin Isn't quite so easy hurt. Is conversing through her hat !”° The famed Kentucky beauty, The far Pacific angel Ina voice as soft and clear Says that she would like to say, As blue-grass skies are, murmurs : She loves a nice complexion “It is my complexion, dear.” If it isn’t built that way. ‘The young Chicago woman And thus in every city— Twitters in her fond delight : Who will say it isn’t so ? “T want a good complexion, Complexions are not in it But the price is out of sight.” If the kisses have to go. comicbooks.com