Life, 1895-08-15 · page 7 of 14
Life — August 15, 1895 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 103 This page contains **"An Old Story,"** a romantic poem illustrated with classical engravings. The narrative depicts a maid and mermaid on a beach exchanging compliments—the maid praising the mermaid's hair, the mermaid responding that the maid's feet are unremarkable. The poem concludes with the moon personified as an old gossip, commenting on "a woman's tongue." The satire targets **polite society courtship rituals** of the era, mocking the insincere flattery and social pretense exchanged between suitors. By setting the scene with a mermaid (supernatural) and having celestial bodies judge their behavior, the author ridicules how artificial and performative romantic interactions had become among the genteel classes. Below is an unrelated practical advice column about camping.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MAID and a mermaid sat on the beach As the day was turning to night, And paid pretty compliments each to each, As the rules of polite society teach, Tho’ each thought the other a fright. **I do so admire your lovely hair,” Said the maid, with a smile most sweet ; “I'm sure it must be your fondest care, “It's soft and it falls right down—well there— **T almost said, to your feet" “Oh! do not distress yourself, I pray,” The mermaid at once replied. “+ I'm not in the least bit sensitive ; they— “mean your feet, aren't they in your way?” And the mermaid laughed aside. ~ The maid sprang up, and her eyes were bright, She was dressed in a gown from France. *O! isn’t the ocean divine to-night ? “And the waves, O ! aren't they feathery light ! “My! Don't you just long for a danc And the ocean jeered at the maid ashore, While the mermaid downward flung. And the moon came up (as it has before) And said, ‘* Dear me, it’s the old uproar, “And all o' a woman's tongue.” N. P. Babcock. The only excuse for them is that they are easy on the bottom RS. BRAYNE (0f Boston): You have Kindergartens of a fine canoe, But for wading rapids, and tramping over in New York. I suppose? jagged stones, there is nothing quite so useless. MRS. JENKINS: Certainly. But you wouldn't think of If you can put an extra half pound in your pack, squeeze sending Waldo to a Kindergarten ? “ Pony Tracks" into your outfit; it will make a rainy day in MRS. BRAYNE: I thought he might secure a position as camp seem short and pleasant. Droch. teacher. comicbooks.com