Life, 1896-09-03 · page 10 of 18
Life — September 3, 1896 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains a short story titled "An International Complication" with an accompanying illustration. The sketch shows two people in conversation—a woman in elaborate dress with feathered hat and a man in dark suit—depicting what appears to be a romantic or social confrontation scene. The text references characters named Sandy, Cabby, Fanny Ashe, Billy, and Jack Oliver in a narrative about lunch arrangements, jealousy, and social maneuvering among the upper class. The dialogue suggests romantic entanglement and social intrigue typical of early 20th-century satirical fiction in *Life*. The illustration's caption—"Since the Day You Became Engaged to Billy"—indicates the scene depicts tension arising from an engagement. This represents *Life*'s satirization of aristocratic romantic complications and social pretension rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE: AN INTERNATIONAL COMPLICATION. OLD on there, Cabby!" shouted I stick through the little hatchwa: and I poked my ‘at the top of the hansom, “Where the devil are you going?” said Sandy, as we pulled up to the curb and I threw back the apron. “I'm going to lunch at Del's,” said 1. “Lunch at Del's! Why it isn’t an hour since we break- fasted,” burst ou , ina bewildered way. “T know,” rejoined I, ‘‘but I'm hungry again.” This in a tone that Sandy has come to know means finality ; for I couldn't stop to explain that I had caught a glimpse of Fanny Ashe, sitting in the window eating luncheon with that blackguard Seixas. “SINCE THE DAY “You are not going up to the track then?” said Sandy. ‘*No, I'll dine with you at the club, though, to-night at seven.” And I stepped to the sidewalk. “Oh,very well,” replied Sandy resignedly, ‘if you won't come you won't. But I’m hanged if I see why. One moment you are all for the races and a jolly afternoon, and the next you are popping off to a lone lunch at Del's. I suppose Polly Ransom is sitting at the window,” he added as a parting shot. “That's where you suppose wrong,” said I. I'll see you to-night.” “Do you want anything ‘on?'" yelled Sandy, leaning far out. **So long; I turned back for a moment. ‘Yes, if you can get a decent price about Firefly, put me on 20—five each way,” I said. Sandy's red head disappeared, and a second later the hansom bowled on up the avenue. “He guessed the window but not the person, luckily,” I thought, as I handed the boy my hat and stick. They hadn't seen me as I passed on the street ; nor did they now as I entered the big red room, so busily engaged were they with one another. I was almost standing over them before she looked up with a start. “ Jack Oliver ! where on earth did you come from?” There was a rush of crimson from cheek to temple, and a nervous laugh, that I pretended not to notice, as I took her YOU BECAME ENGAGED TO BILLY.” little jeweled hand. It may have been imagination, but I thought it quivered tremulously as it lay in mine for a second. “Oh, I just dropped in for a bite,” I said carelessly. “ How are you, Seixas?" and I nodded to her companion, who was watching me with his beady little eyes that twinkled maliciously as I drew up a chair and sat down. ‘May I sit here?" I went on airily, picking up a carte du jour and glancing through it. “Is our permission necessary?” he said with an attempt at sarcasm. “That of Mrs. Ashe is,” I replied with a suavity that I didn’t feel, for I was mentally cursing the impertinence of Ccomicbooks.com