Life, 1895-09-12 · page 12 of 16
Life — September 12, 1895 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 172 This page contains multiple satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century Life magazine humor: **"The Power of Music"** presents romantic, flowery verse (in affected archaic English) praising a woman named Polly's musical performance—satirizing overwrought sentimental poetry about female accomplishment. **"His One Fear"** is a brief joke about divorce: Merritt suggests his friend go West for a divorce, but the friend (Cobwigger) fears he'd foolishly remarry—mocking male anxiety about marriage and divorce. **"Greater Depths"** jokes darkly about salvation, with a woman saying her husband was saved from "a worse place" than a watery grave—likely implying Hell or married life itself. **"Mrs. Norris"** references the proverb "the pace that kills," playing on dangerous driving. **"Doings in the Deep"** is a whimsical underwater illustration featuring mermaids and sea creatures in fantastical scenarios—pure imaginative humor without apparent satirical intent. The page mixes romantic parody, domestic comedy, and absurdist fantasy typical of Life's miscellaneous humor format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
172 Y* POWER OF MUSICK. HEN Polly deigns to Sing and Playe My Hearte doth dance a Rounde- laye. So soft Her touche uponne ye Keyes. Ye waye she threads wth tuneful ease, Her Fingers trippe an Elfin dance Like little Faye inne gaie Ro- mance ; Whyle dympled Elbowes from Her Sleeves Peepe out as daintylie She weaves A Melodic, whose Echo seemes Ye subtil sorcerie of Dreames. I know nott by what Wizard arte Y Magick slippes intoe ye Hearte. Harold Van Santvoord. HIS ONE FEAR, } ERRITT: Under the circumstances, why don’t you go West and get a divorce? CoBWIGGER: Because, if I had a divorce, I might be fool enough to marry again. Ls : ! “MUCH CRY AND LITTLE Woot.” GREATER DEPTHS. H": And did he tell you he saved me from a watery grave ? SHE: He said he saved you from a worse place than that. RS. NORRIS: What a pace old Dr. Green drives at. Mr. Norris: Ah,yes; “the pace that kills.” DOINGS IN THE DEEP.