Life, 1893-11-23 · page 17 of 26
Life — November 23, 1893 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Love's Fire"** (left): A sentimental poem by Nathan Haskell Dole, paired with a classical artwork depicting cherubs and figures in romantic abandon. The poem uses fire as a metaphor for young love's intensity and inevitable decline—passion kindles easily but burns out when novelty fades, leaving only cold ashes. This reflects Victorian-era cynicism about romance's fleeting nature. **"A Practical Tragedian"** (right): A brief joke about an aspiring actor who claims success despite his acting career. The punchline: his brother sells eggs while he acts—implying the egg sales (not acting) actually generate their income. This satirizes struggling theatrical performers who must rely on other work to survive, mocking both the impracticality of stage careers and false claims of success. **"Idols of the Hour"** (bottom): A brief theater review praising soprano Madame Materna's performance in Wagner's *Tristan and Isolde* and conductor Damrosch's orchestra, suggesting their cultural prominence at the time.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
337 LOVE'S FIRE. wr a glowing fire Young Love kindles With the fuel Of desire! When ‘tis fairly started How he tends it ! When it dwindles How at first he mends it! Is he tender-hearted ? Nay, he's cruel : For at last When the novelty is past. Weary grown Of the dying embers, He no more remembers That the fire was once his own, Lets the flashes Fade in ashes Gray and cold! Young Love soon grows old— And that ends it. Nathan Haskell Dole. A PRACTICAL TRAGEDIAN. OUTTOWN: Adopted the stage as a profession, have you? How are you doing? SONOROUS EARSPLITTER (¢ragedian): First rate. Making money. “Wha—?” “Fact. You see my brother and I are in partnership.” “ What good does that do?” “He sells eggs and I act.” IDOLS OF THE HOUR. was the re-appearance of Madame Materna and her magnificent rendering of the finale from Tristan and Isolde. The orchestra were in fine form. It is to be hoped the remainder of Mr. Damrosch’s programmes will prove as rich and varied. A BROAD Comic, comicbooks.com