Life, 1895-01-10 · page 5 of 14
Life — January 10, 1895 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Joy of the Year" Analysis This is a decorative, non-satirical poem celebrating the four seasons and the full year itself. The page features allegorical female figures representing Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter arranged vertically around ornamental borders with cherubs and harvest imagery. The verses praise each season's pleasures—springtime's promise, summer's roses and bees, autumn's harvest and wine, winter's stars and frost—culminating in a final stanza celebrating "all of the twelve month's bliss." Credited to "N.E.D." (the author's initials), this appears to be sentimental Victorian-era verse rather than political satire. It's purely celebratory and decorative, using classical allegorical imagery popular in Life magazine's aesthetic content during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| EYENR JOY of the Springtide! Joy of a year new born To life's heartbeat, From the far blown breath of a Southern morn With promise sweet. Joy of the Summer! All the wealth of the rose, And each nectarous peer Sipped by the bee, where the day breeze blows, Or far or near. Joy of the Autumn! Crowning the year’s delight With a crimson crest Of harvest garlands, dripping the beaded light Of October wine new-pressed. Joy of the Winter! Glint of gleaming star— Drifts whitening the night, Darting athwart the cold chaste air Their passionate light. Joy of the Year! All of the twelve month's bliss— Heartbeat, honey, October wine And frosty passion—all are mine, And the year forgot! All in Eurydice’s kiss ! N. E. D. comicbooks.com