Life, 1894-05-24 · page 5 of 16
Life — May 24, 1894 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 333 **Left cartoon ("Our Boy"):** A judge and another man discuss oaths. The caption quotes the second figure claiming he doesn't know how oaths work but assures the judge it will be "sort of a second nature"—satirizing casual, careless swearing-in of witnesses, suggesting incompetence or indifference to legal procedures. **Right image ("A Mystery"):** A fashionably dressed woman in an elegant dark gown with puffy sleeves, labeled "211 Union Sq., N.Y." The accompanying poem is titled "Dainty maid" and expresses romantic bewilderment about her identity, suggesting she's an unidentified woman the author admires but cannot identify—playing on the trope of mysterious feminine beauty. Both pieces use humor to comment on social confusion and uncertainty.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Do YOU KNOW THE NATURE OF AN OATH?” ‘Dox’ KNOW HOW IT IS WID MOST FOLKS, JEDGE, BUT WID ME, RECKON IT'S SORT OF A SECOND NATURE.” OUR BOY. HE figure of Lire at the top of this week’s cover is from the statue by Mr. Martiny that will, in another week or two, survey the passing crowd from his niche over the entrance to our new building. It is one of the most artistic figures that this distinguished sculptor has created. Although more than twice the size of life, it is a graceful, easy pose, with spirit and vitality in every line. This figure is a fitting climax to the originality and exquisite taste that Messrs. Carrére and Hastings have lavished upon the building. AN INFERENCE ONLY. O you believe in the Transmigration of Souls?” asked Mizer. “Yes, Don't you?” said Hicks. “Sometimes. What do you suppose I was before I became aman? “Oh, [don't know. A sponge, I guess.” FREE OIL FOR THE PUBLIC. EAR me!" cried Mrs. Binks, “the oil is all gone, and we can’t light our lamps.” mea tin pail,” said Binks. * I'll go out and stand under the elevated railroad and get you some in a minute.” | a is reported that the Yale students are about to petition for optional prayers and compulsory baseball. A MYSTERY. git UNION SQ’R., N.Y. AINTY maid, fair maid, your name I fain would know, For every time I see your face more sorrowful I grow. When you were dropped upon the pave and I came walking by, I took you up and looked at you with far from eager eye. But this soon changed to interest, and then to something more, Until at last I have to own, a woman I adore Whose voice I've never heard, whose hand I've never pressed, To whom I've never compliment nor gallant speech addressed. And then I sought the photo man and told to him my tale, But tears, entreaties, gold galore, did not with him avail To wrest from him the secret that haunts me day and night— The name to go with the sweet face that’s ever in my sight. It may be Doris, Phyllis, Iolanthe, Mary Jane, But I'm strongly of opinion it’s something like Elaine ; And when it comes to surnames I'm ready to affirm It’s not a name like Boggs or Grimes to make my fancy squirm. Rose-like, by any other name you'd still be dear to me, For with the Scottish poe:, Burns, I certainly agree That guineas are not purer from the guinea stamp they bear, And I'm sure that you are lovely whatever name you wear. Metcalfe. comicbooks.com