Life, 1896-12-05 · page 10 of 34
Life — December 5, 1896 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 446 This page contains three separate pieces of satirical content: 1. **"Christmas Morning in the North-Land"** (top illustration): A winter holiday scene with figures gathered around what appears to be a hearth or fire, depicting domestic Christmas celebration. 2. **"To a Sprig of Mistletoe"** (left column): A poem by T.M. addressing the tradition of kissing under mistletoe, humorously exploring romantic dynamics and the social awkwardness of the custom. 3. **"A Platonic Affair"** (center): A story by Harriet Caryl Cox about two people who claim to be "just friends" while clearly experiencing romantic tension—satirizing the social pretense around opposite-sex friendships in this era. 4. **"All She Needed," "Classified"** (right side): Brief humorous vignettes with accompanying illustrations mocking dating customs and social conventions. The overall theme concerns courtship, romance, and the social rituals surrounding them.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WETS H UNS > LIFE: SS: = CHRISTMAS MORNING IN THE NORTH-LAND. TO A SPRIG OF MISTLETOE. Your health, sweet sprig of mis- tletoe ! What subtle force compelled you To charm her kisses from her—so— As o'er her head I held you? Enough to know you have the power Love's tortuous way to soften. Here's to you in this Christmas hour— And may I hold you often ! __ 7. M. A PLATONIC AFFAIR. HE world called them lovers, but they were simply friends, so she as- serted, and surely she ought to know. “It is so nice," she said, looking into his eyes with platonic frankness—‘‘it is so nice to feel that we are really friends, just fgood comrades, you know, who enjoy the same things, and who do not spoil it all by falling in love.” ksThere was a world of scorn on the word as it‘fell {rom her lips. And she looked very pretty. “Yes, he assented, not meeting the glance of the blue eyes, ‘it certainly is very convenient in many ways, For in- stance—" His eyes returned from an intent survey of the costly bric-A-brac. He studied the fair face, and noted the rosy flush slowly mounting to the white brow, with its softly curling hair. “If 1 were in love with you I should be desperately jealous, and that would be uncomfortable, don’t you know. As it is"—a furtive glance at the averted face and a shrug of his shoulders—"' not being in love with each other, but only friends, it doesn't matter. I can come here and enjoy your society,for you're rather bright, and deucedly pretty, you know; but I don’t have tofeel that I can't goand make love to the next pretty girl I meet. It must be tiresome to be tied to just one, and run the risk of being overhauled if you look at any one else—don't you think 2” A low murmur of assent, but her eyes were now fastened on a convenient pic- ture opposite. “Yes, you're awfully nice, asa friend,” he said reflectively, then continued with brutal frankness, ‘Lut somehow I don't think I'd ever fall in love with you.” And then they talked of other things, And when he had gone, she stood look- ing down at the petals of the rose her ruthless hands had torn to pieces. There were tears in her big, blue eyes, and one fell and nestled among the white petals, They were only friends. Yet the world called them lovers. Wise old world ! Harriet Caryt Cox. ALL SHE NEEDED. OW much mistletoe would you like, Miss?” “Oh, just enough to be seen with the naked e CLASSIFIED. &¢ NCLE Julius, what is appre- ciation?” “Appreciation? Well —it is a queer old thing something like malaria;— people always get it away from home.” Hin Hii i} i i WW ez