Life, 1895-08-01 · page 7 of 14
Life — August 1, 1895 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 71 This page contains a satirical sketch and accompanying story titled "Nerving Himself Up." The illustration shows two figures: a man in formal attire (pinstriped suit and bow tie) standing nervously, and a woman seated wearing an elaborate hat with feathers and a fur-collared coat. The narrative describes the man's anxious attempt to propose marriage. He seeks advice on how to approach the woman, wanting to "meet a man who will argue politics with me" and desiring "a formidable man." The humor derives from the man's evident nervousness about proposing to this apparently fashionable, strong-willed woman—a reversal of typical gender dynamics of the era. The satire mocks both masculine anxiety about courtship and the emerging "modern woman" figure of early 20th-century society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“CAN'T GUI “You navi NERVING HIMSELF UP. THE Major came softly down from his room on the floor above and opened my door with an expression of deep anxiety on his face. “Can you tell me,” he said, “of a dentist that hurts? I want to suffer pain." “ Real, genuine pain?” I enquired calmly, for I was too much used to the Major's eccentricities to be surprised. “Yes, sir,” he replied, beginning to pace the floor rapidly. ‘I want a man that will hurt. I propose to have several teeth out, That's one of the things I thought of. But there are others. Yes, others,” he continued, his face flushing with emotion. ** For instance, I would like to meet a man who will argue politics with me. I want a formidable man, I want to get him mad. If he calls me out so much the better. I must have excitement. Can you suggest anything ?" “Why, yes," I responded carelessly. ‘You might take a ride in a hospital ambulance. Why not take a poem into an editor I know ? or I-can get you a ticket to the afternoon session of a young woman's emancipation club, Is that enough ?” “+ As far as it goes,” replied the Major, increasing his pace. “1 must be aroused, I tell you. Nothing is too dangerous for me to attempt. Oh, for one of the battles that I have been in! Give me those tickets. I must see that dentist at once and arrange fora couple of hours of agony. I want to call a man out before supper. I must—" “But why 2” Linterrupted. “Tell me why.” “Young man,” said the Major, impressively, stopping suddenly and facing me, “I will tell you. Iam in love with the dearest, sweetest, most angelic piece of widowhood that ever drew breath, I have sworn to propose to her at eleven-thirty to-morrow morning by the clock, and I've got to do something to lead up to it.” 7 | ‘omicbooks-com