Life, 1895-02-07 · page 7 of 16
Life — February 7, 1895 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 87 This page features two photographs of **Mark S. Twain** (1862-1910), the famous American writer and humorist. The accompanying article discusses Twain's appearance and current activities, noting he's "exploring the headwaters of the Saskatchewan" and that "all scientific Europe is eagerly awaiting the result of his researches." The text also includes a satirical dialogue between characters named Penelope and The Bishop, debating whether the difference between "salvation and perdition" is merely "a single syllable"—a play on words mocking religious doctrine. The page satirizes both Twain's celebrity status and contemporary medical science (referencing a failed appendicitis operation case), while the dialogue mocks theological hair-splitting, typical of Life magazine's irreverent social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mark S. Twain. FROM AN INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN WHEN A PILOT ON THE MISSISSIPPI. foregone conclusion, but as his views on the Woman Suffrage question were a little behind the times he was defeated by a small majority. The last three months of that year he devoted to literary pursuits, writing and publishing, among other things, the Century Dictionary. His first intention was to publish it asa serial in one of the magazines, but better counsels prevailed, and he issued it in book form, Mr. Twain's versatility is well known, the only field that his pen has not invaded being that of humor. We have no doubt that if Mr. Twain should attempt it he could produce some really humorous literature. In appearance Mr. Twain is perhapsa little bit too sve/te, but in the sensuous languor of his eyes and the rich redness of his lips one sees the true poetic temperament betrayed. His hair is a bright bay, and his ears are situated on either side of his head. Mr. Twain is now exploring the head- waters of the Saskatchewan, and all scientific Europe 1s eagerly awaiting the result of his researches. NELOPE: Well, Bishop, after all, there's only a difference of a single syllable between salvation and _perdition. THE Bishop: Why, my dear young lady, how can you say that! PENELOPE: It’s merely a question of eternal bliss or eternai blisters. xs | peaTH f [ wannanr- \ ; Natural and to be expected, doctors that the patient would have had no chance of living without an operation.” This is indeed a surprise. And how unlike a doctor! From what we know of these gentlemen we should expect them “Our diagnosis was wrong. NUMBER 978403214. HE other day we read of another operation for ap- pendicitis in which the victim failed to recover. This was particularly if the real trouble lay in his lungs or brain. No up-to-date doctor can afford to fail in detecting a clear case of appendicitis occasionally. In this case we are informed that “it is the opinion of the The operation may have been a mistake and he Mark S. Twain, FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN GALILEE IN 1869, signed the suburbs. might have recov- ered without it.” HY is it that physicians who are supposed towork on scientific lines are so liable to go off at half cock ? It appears now that anti-toxine, their latest fad, dying of diphtheria. It has had a dan- gerous little life but will soon be lying in the ash barrel with Koch's. Lymph, Brown-Sequard’s Elixir and similar wonders. IGGS: There are very few poor men in the Senate, nowada: Du there are plenty of mighty poor Sena- tors, F God made the country, and man the town, the devil must have de- comicbooks.com