Life, 1895-05-02 · page 3 of 18
Life — May 2, 1895 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXV, Number 644) The illustration shows a romantic scene with a well-dressed couple at a piano. The caption reads: "He (a practical economist): DARLING, DO YOU RETURN MY LOVE. 'WELL, IT'S THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE EVER GIVEN ME THAT I CAN RETURN!'" This is domestic humor satirizing economic inequality within marriage. The joke targets a "practical economist" husband who apparently gives his wife nothing of material value—only emotional gestures. Her retort suggests financial stinginess, implying he won't even provide her gifts or money she could hypothetically return. The accompanying story, "The Doctor's Tale," describes a physician's experience restoring sight to a poor blind woman, ultimately revealing her ingratitude. Both items appear designed for gentle domestic comedy rather than sharp political satire.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XxV. -LIFE: NUE He (a practical economist): DARLING, DO YOU RETURN MY LOVE. “WELL, IT's THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE EVER GIVEN ME THAT I CAN RETURN!” THE DOCTOR'S TALE. T was while I was practicing at Asheville, N. C., a few years ago. One morning there came into my office an old fellow who had the appearance of a mountaineer. He was accompanied by his wife, who was totally blind from cataract. . The old fellow said that if I would cure her, or manage to give her just a little sight, he would pay me one hundred dollars. id he, “The ole woman's been blind for over twelve years and ain't of no use to herself nor nobody else, so if you will go ahead and fix her up so’s she can see again and be of some use to me, why, I will give you the money.” | agreed to take the case; not without some trepidation, as a fellow-physician had already operated upon one of the eyes with bad results. In the course of time, however, | managed to restore the old lady's sight, so that she could see and read quite well and then, after a reasonable lapse of time, I presented the bill. “1 ain't agoing to pay you nothin’ on that bill.” “ Why?" T asked. . What is the matter?” id he, “it's just here. I told you, you will remember, that if you would fix. up the old woman so that she would be of some use to me that I would pay you ; but she ain't no more use now than she was before, or as much, for she used to do some work before she could see ; but now, she don’t do nothing but sit around the house and read novels.”