Life, 1895-02-14 · page 9 of 18
Life — February 14, 1895 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 105 The main illustration depicts "St. Valentine, the International Hero"—a satirical heavenly scene with cupids and cherubs surrounding a central religious/regal figure, likely mocking the commercialization of Valentine's Day and romantic sentimentality. Below are three separate humorous anecdotes: 1. **"Her Divinity"**: A joke about a woman worshipping her boyfriend despite his flaws. 2. **"Going to a fashionable dentist's"**: A brief exchange satirizing the pretentious language used in upper-class medical visits. 3. **"Pleasant Tidings"**: A longer piece praising Mr. and Mrs. I. Townsend Burden's charitable dinner party, celebrating their generosity toward less fortunate guests during winter. The page appears aimed at satirizing both romantic excess and class attitudes, while also celebrating genuine charitable impulses among the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ST. VALENTINE, THE INTERNATIONAL HERO. HER DIVINITY. HE worships him—'tis not Because he is a saint ; Oh, no—her heart he's got Because he ain't ! $€OING toa fashionable dentist's, eh?” “Yes, to get my tooth pulled. Where are you going?” “ Going to a fashionable physician's to get my leg pulled.” © 7 OHN, do you know much about the Astors?” “Alittle. Why?” “Tread something in the paper about ‘the Astor tramp.” Which one of the family is he?” EGGAR: Have you any old clothes to give away ? HOUSEHOLDER: to sell.” No; but I have a new suit I'd like PLEASANT TIDINGS. N these wintry days, when the papers are full of melancholy items, the news is brought to us like a ray of sunshine in the heart, that Mr. and Mrs. I. Townsend Bur- den, of No. 5 Madison Square, North, gave a dinner party last night. America is a large country, and there are lots of people in it. Most of them have kind hearts. Itis safe to believe they heard this news with joy. A few millions may have asked “Who are Mr. and Mrs. I. Townsend Burden?” but that did not destroy their pleasure in the thought that these deserving people not only had a good dinner themselves, but were in a condition, financially and otherwise, to give pleasure to others. comicbooks.com