Life, 1896-11-26 · page 10 of 24
Life — November 26, 1896 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains an illustrated story or serialized fiction, not political satire. The image shows three people with bicycles in an outdoor setting with trees. The caption reads: "I FELL OFF MY TANDEM YESTERDAY." "HURT YOURSELF?" "NO. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS UNDER ME." The humor is a genteel romantic joke typical of early 20th-century magazine fiction—playing on the gallantry of a husband protecting his wife from injury during a bicycle accident. The accompanying text describes a romantic encounter between two characters beneath an apple tree, discussing marriage, beauty, and youth. This is domestic fiction with light humor rather than political commentary or social satire. The bicycle and period clothing suggest an Edwardian-era setting.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ay Beneath a certain apple-tree he paused a moment, and told her this was the forbidden fruit; that of all else in the garden they could take what they wished, but if they tasted this there would be a serious punish- ment. Then, continuing their walk, he brought her to a quiet nook by a river's bank, and there, surprised and delighted, she gazed upon a fresh young face siniling back at her from the water. “Why, how lovely! I am not at all like you, and my hair is beautiful —simply beautiful!” Then she began to arrange this hair in different fashions, trying new ef- fects, he watching her like a creature ELL OFF MY TANDEM YESTERDAY.” “WURT YOURSELF?" “NO, FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE beneath a spell. At last, turning toward him, a little color in her cheeks, she inquired with a smile of various meanings, ‘‘ How many men did you say there are in the world?” “One.” “That's a great many, isn’t it?” ‘You think one is a great many?” “Tt seems so just now.” He laughed and strolled away. She called after him, ‘* And I will let you know when you are needed.” Aftera while, when tired of her own face and of re-arranging her hair, she looked about for other pleasures, The world was young, and so was she, and there were fresh surprises on every side—in the colors and per- WAS UNDER MF.” fumes of the flowers, in the clouds, the birds, and the whispering tree: For a happy period, no one kno how long, she played about, until at last, throwing herself upon a shady bank to rest a little, she recognized in the branches above her head the apples of the forbidden tree. But she was a good girl—so far—and resisted a temptation—quite a strong temptation, just to know how it tasted. As thus she lay, a languor came stealing through her brain ; her eyelids shut out the light; her senses seemed to float away, and then—all was as nothing. (To be concluded in next number.) comicbooks.com