Life, 1895-12-26 · page 47 of 51
Life — December 26, 1895 — page 47: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains primarily book advertisements and a satirical advertisement disguised as the real thing. The left side promotes books by E.W. Townsend, notably "A Daughter of the Tenements" and "Chimmie Fadden"—realistic fiction about working-class urban life ("tenement" refers to poor city housing). These were popular contemporary works. The center advertises "gift books"—expensive, elaborately illustrated volumes typical of wealthy Victorian holiday gift-giving, with titles like works by Walter Scott. The satire lies in **The Halcyon Matrimonial Co.** advertisement: a fake matchmaking service. It mockingly presents absurd client profiles—a wealthy Chicago banker's daughter seeking a European nobleman of specific age parameters, and an "intrepid explorer widower" seeking a woman tough enough for wilderness roughing. The sardonic descriptions ("must climb, shoot, wash, cook, and sleep out of doors") satirize the era's matrimonial agencies and the transactional, class-conscious nature of marriage negotiations among the wealthy. This is *Life* magazine's characteristic social commentary, ridiculing pretension and mercenary marriage practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* By the Author of ““CHIMMIE FADDEN.” A Story that holds your attention."—Droch, in Life. A DAUGHTER or THE TENEMENTS [ily 7, Haute 8 5. By E.W.TOWNSEND. IMlustrated by E. W. KEMBLE. Large 12mo, Cloth, $1.75. BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 63d Edition. Illustrated. CHIMMIE FADDBX, 12mo, Cloth, $1.00. EDWARD W. TOWNSEND gust Edition, CHIMMIE FADDEN EXPLAINS, MAJOR MAX BXPOUNDS. 12mo, Cloth, $1.00, LOVELL, CORYELL & CO., AUTHOD oF *“CHIMMIE FADDEN etc. ILLUSTRATED BY E WKEABLE 310-318 Sixth Avenue, New York. J. B. SPLICER, President, F, YOUNGHUSBAND, Treasurer. NEW GIFT BOOKS. THE CITY OF THE SULTAN Bosphorus. By Clara Erskine Clement. photogravures from photographs. $3.00. ‘A companion to the popular * ITALIA the present volume contributed the “Qu THE CITY OF PARTHENOPE.” S ‘ The new volume of the greatest year’s Salon exhibits, Imperial 8vo, red silk cloth, with palette design, $10.00. ROB ROY—THE BETROTHED and THE TALISMAN. 2 By Sir Walter Scott. Handsome new holiday s. With introduction and notes by Andrew Lang. Handsome | illustrated with etchings and photogravures, on Japanese paper. Each 2 vols., 8vo, cloth. $6.00. ompanion editions to “ Romota,” “Last Days oF Pompett,” ‘“ Rienzt,” “IVANHOE,” KENILWORTH AND HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN.” JULIAN By William Ware. Handsomely printed from new « type, and illustrated with historic scenes. Small 8vo, cloth, gilt top, uniform with our holiday editions of “ ZENOBIA" and “ AURELIAN,” each copy in a box. $2.50. VICTOR HUGO'S LETTERS TO HIS WIFE. They are included in no editions of his writings. Tyanslated by Nathan Haskell Dole. 12mo, cloth, extra, $1.50. Or, Constantinople, « the sentinel of the Handsomely illustrated with Small 8vo, cloth. Elaborate cover. TIES,” to which series the writer of OF THE ADRIATIC” and ** NAPLES: For sale by booksellers generally, or sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price by the publishers. ESTES & LAURIAT, Boston. O. SPOONER, Gen'l Manager. The Halcyon Matrimonial Co. Procures desirable partners for those matrimonially inclined. FULL PARTICULARS WITH BEST REFER. ES REQUIRED, High social position ; father is one of the wealthiest bankers in Chicago. Would accept English, French or Italian nobleman of ancient family and high rank. Duke or Marquis preferred. Must be under 4o or over 7 years of age. Impressive widower and distinguished eaplorer. Seeks lady of wealth and endurance who can rough it in wild countries and is not afraid of exposure. ‘She must climb, shoot, wash, cook, and sleep out of doors when necessary. SCHEDULE OF RATES. For Candidates under 30 years of age, - #30 09! e between 30 and 45, - - Payable at { For Candidates between 45 and 60, 60.00f Nuptials. 7 ‘* “ $75.00 60 ‘100, - 95-00 A preliminary deposit of $25 to be made in all cases. Address all communications to HALCYON MATRIMONIAL CO., 21 West 31st St., N. Y.