Life, 1896-12-03 · page 9 of 26
Life — December 3, 1896 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Content Analysis This page presents a serialized short story by J.A. Mitchell titled "Life," featuring narrative text and an illustration of two women in period dress (appearing to be late 19th/early 20th century). The story concerns a romantic encounter—a man urges a woman to marry him, she demurs, and they separate. The narrative then describes the woman's terrifying experience in darkness (likely a garden at night), where she encounters a mysterious male figure who offers comfort and embrace. The illustration shows two elegantly-dressed women in conversation, though the specific dramatic moment depicted relates to the story's romantic tension rather than any political satire. The decorative apple with wings at the page's foot suggests themes of temptation or forbidden fruit, reinforcing the story's romantic/moral dimensions. This appears to be purely literary entertainment rather than political commentary or satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LIFE: “Why? How many did you eat?” She hesitated, then compromised with truth, and answered, as she looked calmly into his eyes, ‘One He finished the apple, then looked up with a smile. ** Now are you satisfied ?" “Yes, partly. You have givena praof of your sin- cerity, but you cannot expect me to fall in love at such very short notice and with the first man I meet.” “Why not? You can't do better, no matter how long you wait;" and he added with asmile, ‘lam your only chance.” ‘A tempting assortment to pick from, but I must have time to consider. We never met before, and I know nothing whatever about you.” This style of conversation was evidently beginning to an- noy the suitor; but she could not resist having a little more fun with him, and replied, with exasperating sweetness: ‘But I don’t ask you to marry me. I should certainly be rather hasty, to say the least, if I presented myself to LECT A PRE: ITENT AGAIN?" wuy 2?” LECTED CNE EVERY YEAR. WH 419 the first person I encountered, when others are surely coming later.” “Other women may come, too,” he retorted. “Then you can have one;" with which reply she arose and walked away. He remained seated upon the grass, also pretending to be more offended than he and thus came the first lovers’ quarrel, similar in motive, execution and result to the unnumbered millions that have followed since. There was a sense of triumph in all this, and a pleasant excitement, as the apples had taught her the importance of not yielding too easily. Of time she took no thought, until in sudden terror she realized what was going on about her, It had all been so gradual as to escape her notice ; but now the trees, the sky, and all the flowers began to lose their color, and those at a distance dis- appeared entirely. They had vanished and ceased to exist. At least, so it seemed to one of her brief experi- ence, and there was no one to explain. In place of the blue sky with its shining clouds, there came, enveloping all things, a solid mass of threatening black, through which myriads of little eyes were glit- tering with a cold, unearthly light. She trod on un- familiar things, and they tickled the soles of her tender, inexperienced feet. Twigs and branches and mysterious things seemed to reach out and touch her, like wicked fingers, and she shrunk and grew weaker with every step. She dared not call aloud, for he might be far away, and these other things would hear her voice and might eat her up. At last, sinking to the ground, she wept from fear, for whatever existed was surely coming toan end. Crouching at the mercy of unknown things, with hope and courage gone, the approaching footsteps of some invisible creature brought a climax to her terror. But this terror changed toan overwhelming happiness as she recognized the outline of a human form. With a joyful cry she ran toward him. The trembling figure found a welcome refuge in the encircling arms, and the encircling arms were exceeding glad to hold her. The next morning as they were finishing a simple but beatific breakfast, a dignified messenger, with wings and snowy draperies, appeared before them and gave official notice that they must quit the garden. The apples had opened two pairs of eyes, and the youth marched out with head erect and a smiling fa-e, for he knew he carried with him the flower of th: universe, the only one of her kind. As for that loveless garden, nobody knows where it is. And:nobody cares. J. A, Mitchell, comicbooks.com