Life, 1895-04-11 · page 6 of 26
Life — April 11, 1895 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 232 This page contains two distinct pieces: **"The Kisses in the Grass"** (main story with illustration): A romantic narrative about a young man named Love collecting scientific specimens who encounters a girl. The story plays on the double meaning of his name—their interaction becomes flirtatious despite his ostensible scientific purpose. The illustration shows a couple in an intimate moment. **"A Query"** (poem on right): A satirical poem critiquing wealthy churchgoers. It mocks the ostentatious nature of wealthy church attendance ("millionaires and heiresses"), questions whether such performative worship serves genuine spiritual purpose, and suggests the "Social Sharp" and "Social Goats" (upper-class attendees) may lack authentic faith. The satire targets class-based religiosity rather than faith itself. Neither piece references specific political events or figures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
232 THE KISSES IN THE GRASS. HE scientists are constantly assuring us of the inde- structibility of matter and force It was the top of the morning. The sun had just gath- ered up the dew.“ Most favorable weather,” Love reflected as he finished weaving himself a little basket of fragrant grass, and set out leisurely across the fields. He looked right and left with bright trained eyes for kisses in the grass. Sometimes he passed one without seeing it at first, but then he went back for it. As he walked he saw a girl strolling along and stopping to pick up things and put them in a box that was strapped from her shoulder. as fond of company, so he hur- ried a little to join the girl. She looked up at him as she knelt searching for scientific specimens, and she smiled a little, involuntarily, for Love cuts an odd figure when he is out on business. Then she noticed his basket and took him seriously. * What are you collecting?” she asked. * What are you?” asked Love. “Lam collecting economic fungi to exchange with other scientists,” Love She: ISN'T THERE SOMETHING BURNING HERE? “IT IS MY HEART, DARL “On, DEAR Me! I coutp LIKE THAT!" NEVER LIVE WITH A HEART - LIFE: put it into his basket. “What was that?" she asked eagerly. Love lifted the cover of the basket a little to let her look, and while she was peering in and seeing nothing, he kissed her lightly on the cheek. She did not seem to notice him, but she saw what he had in the basket. ‘ Where did you get them all?” she asked. “People are so careless with them,” he explained, “I have to come out every day and collect them, or they would all get scattered and lost and people would forget about them,” “ But doesn’t it take you a great deal of time?” she asked. “ Indeed it does,” replied Love.“ It leaves me almost no time for study, But this is the way I earn my living. It would be easier if | had some one to-help me.” “ Why, I should be glad to help you,” said the girl, “if it ‘¢ not for my studies. “Oh, please help me,” said Love,“ and then I will help you with your studies afterwards.” “Oh, you are so good,” said the girl, and at that moment they both saw a kiss in front of them, and hurried to put it in Love's basket. “We shall get on this way,” cried Love, gaily. * You see them as quickly as 1." And they went on hand in hand across the fields, and they did not notice that the girl had dropped her collecting box, but then the scien- tists say that nothing is lost. Marguerite Tracy. A QUERY. WENT to church,— a wealthy church up town— Where millionaires and heiresses are living— In tight frock coat, und rustling Paris = gown They enter it for worship and thanksgiving— To hear the anthems—witness the processionals— All well performed by really skilled professionals. Strangers are not encouraged to attend ; With ceremony scant the ushers treat them. old the Social Sheep are penned Ere any shepherd has the time to seat them, ‘The Social Goats—who then in space contributed Among the Sheep—are haughtily distributed. service is performed with grand effect, h elocution’s art the Gospel’s read, And invitation cards to the elect Are sent before Communion’s he'd, ‘tis said. In short, the company supplies a ticket-— Best Pullman service to St. Peter's wicket. I musing left. If in the great unknown The powers command all angel hosts adore them, What will ¢4ey do, who have accustomed grown, To having it all done so nicely for them ? Will they who have no worshipping facility Employ some seraph harpist of ability ?