Life, 1897-02-11 · page 3 of 20
Life — February 11, 1897 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page (Volume XXIX, Number 738) This page contains three separate humorous pieces: 1. **"His Dreadful Revenge"** – A dialogue-based cartoon mocking class pretensions. A wealthy man proposes to a widow solely to gain access to her step-daughter, suggesting shallow motivations among the rich. 2. **"Alley Kid"** – Satire on poverty. A street boy asks a woman to buy him a Valentine, noting they cost only one cent—highlighting economic disparity and children's deprivation in urban areas. 3. **"Whither Away?"** – A poem (attributed to Clinton Scollard) about a boy named Robin, apparently addressing romantic idealization versus reality. The accompanying small illustrations depict working-class children and street scenes. Overall, the page satirizes class divisions, poverty, and sentimental romanticism in turn-of-the-century America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HIS DREADFUL REVENGE. RIVVET: Did you hear of the dreadful revenge Frothingham took on Miss Dimling when she refused his proposal ? Dicer: What was it? ‘* He proposed to her mother, as Mrs. Dim- won't let a man ep-daughter.” ing was a widow, and now I come to the house to see his s NE sensations that is denied to the the indescribable thrill the man feels when he buys some:hing he can't afford. [NEEEY KID: Say, miss, would you please help a fellow buy a valentine for his best gurl? most enough to get it with. **How much do the valentines cost, little hoy?” “One cent. AGISTRATE WENTWORTH, of Harlem, who thinks that half the boys in New York are dishonest, takes an optimistic view. Any chism will tell bim that all boysahat xet far enough along to be born are bad, and that comparatively few \\ of them ever experience regener- \ \e __ of the rich is poor V'ze got HEREDITY. “WHERE HO THE STUBSON CHILDREN GET THEIR SPLENDID elYSstQuEs 2” WELL, A GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER ON THE MOTHER'S SIDE WAS CALLED VERY HANDSOME WHITHER AWAY? HITHER away, Robin, whither away, Hasting so fleet at the dawn of the day? nd yet do you go W Scarce is the sun up, Merrily, verily, over the snow ! Why thus abroad at the morn-br Whither away, Robin, whither, ak, 1 pray? Never the toss of a word in reply, Only a tlash from a beaming brown eye, Only a gleam and a slip of a smile As he swings buoyantly onward the while. Ha! my young gallam, ‘tis Valentine's Day ! Whither away, Rebin, whither away? Gloria lives at the bend in the street; Gloria's pretty and Gloria's sweet! Sooth! it were sad if the First on this morning another than thee! So, though you're dumb, sir, I venture to say “Tis thither away, Robin, thither away! maiden should see Clinton Scollard. tw swavow OF THE LAW. comicbooks.com