Life, 1894-10-18 · page 3 of 16
Life — October 18, 1894 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXIV, Number 616) This page contains humorous dialogue and illustrations rather than political satire. The main content is titled "Interrupted Bliss," a comedic conversation between characters named Penelope and Dickey about a failed marriage proposal. The humor centers on Dickey's disastrous romantic attempt: he took his new mare "Angostura B." driving, lost consciousness (fainting), and proposed while semi-conscious. Penelope questions whether he was even aware of proposing. The joke plays on the absurdity of an accidental, unconscious proposal and its illegitimacy as a marriage commitment. A separate section titled "Precise" mocks a woman's obsession with punctuality, with illustrations of period characters. The cartoons are lighthearted domestic humor rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XxIV. ° | | f 3 e NUMBER 616. PENELOPE: That's not surprising. Dickey: Well, I took my new mare Angostura B., 2:16, just bought her—didn’t know anything about her—didn't want to know anything about anyone except Nellie. O, Nellie—Nellie was sweeter than cambric tea. Got out into the suburbs, drove with one hand—got out of the suburbs, put my arm on the back of her seat. She didn’t faint, but I came near it. Recovered myself by a tremendous effort of my will—first time I ever used it. Got out into the country, made a heroic effort—proposed and was accepted. Fainted, sure, this time. When I came to I had both my arms around her waist, head on her shoulder, and a pin stick- ing into my ear. Lines were. around whip and Angostura B, was doing 2:14. She said (Nellie I mean), “O, Dickey, you fainted.” I said, “ If I was fainting, let me faint again.” PENELOPE: So you are going to marry her after all. Dickey: No. Just after I had fainted again, Angostura B. ran into the Empire State express or vice versa. Nellie is not as pretty as she was, so it is declared off. PENELOPE: And you were not killed ? Dickey: Not exactly. I ought to have been. The doctors said I would have had concussion of the brain—if I = had had any brain. I'm awfully sorry because I can’t collect HP SSIONS iS ” my life insurance, don’t you know. But I proposed to her i ‘ anyhow, Tom Hall. PRECISE. i I NEVER heard such a girl for preaching punctuality,” said Maude. “It's a positive mania with her,” replied Mamie,“ Yester- day she had the clocks taken out of her stockings because some one told her they were fast.” OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. 1809—1894, HOUGH empty is the laurel'd throne Where long on earth he sat, He reigns in some far spirit zone A kindly Autocrat ! INTERRUPTED BLISS. rner We ENELOPE: Dickey, did you propose to her? effecs Dickey (solemnly): O, yaas. ELOPE (sighing): Well, 1 lose a pound of candy— but how did it happen ? Dickey: Well, I took her out driving, y'know. PENELOPE (critically): Not a convenient arrangement. Dickey: No, y’know—but the best I could do—my mind wouldn’t work very well yesterday. © Guess 1 MUST NAVE LosT MY NERVE.” Igners. |S comicbooks.com