Life, 1897-03-25 · page 3 of 24
Life — March 25, 1897 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine, Vol. XXIX, No. 744 This page contains two pieces of satirical social commentary: **"Taking No Chances"** (top illustration): Two women discuss a man's suicide. One explains he refused her, fearing she might change her mind—a darkly humorous jab at women's perceived fickleness in romance and marriage. **"A Toast"** and **"Three Women's Souls"**: These verses mock European geopolitical ambitions and examine women's marital motivations. "A Toast" satirizes Turkish and Greek conflicts while praising larger territorial gains for Europe. "Three Women's Souls" presents an allegory where three women seeking happiness enter Death's kingdom—one married for position, one for money, one for love—all disappointed. The satire critiques materialistic marriage while questioning whether romantic love provides genuine fulfillment either. The overall theme: social hypocrisy surrounding marriage, wealth, and women's limited agency.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NUMBER 744 TAKING NO CHANCES. “IT'S VERY STRANGE HE CoMM| “PEKHAPS HE WAS AFRAID Y A TOAST. LLUSTRIOUS Greece! Here's health to you, Who dares the Turk to brave, While greater Powers to keep the peace Would leave poor Crete a slave. Let loose the dogs of war, and when The battle’s din sball cease, Here's hoping Europe's map will show A larger spot of Greece. Charles S. Carter. THREE WOMEN’S SOULS. HREE women’s souls knocked at the door of the Kingdom of Death, wherein reigns happiness. ‘* Let us in!" they cried. ** What would ye here?” asked the warden. ** Happiness!” they cried with one breath, “Did ye not find it on earth?” he asked, Alas, no!" they sighed together. “And why?” His eyes questioned the first, TED sUIC! you MIGHT CHAN YOUR MIND.” “‘T married for social position,” she answered, ‘* and 1 envied the wealthy all my days. How could I be happy?" “And you?” he asked the second. “IT married for money, But what is all the wealth of the world without social position? Happiness!" She sighed bitterly. The warden barred the way. ‘' Ye cannot enter,” he said; ‘* happiness is here, but ye could not find it.” He turned to the third. She had shrunk far away from the other two, “I—I married for love,” she said. ‘I know all the fierce pain and the agony of it. It grew like a flower, watered by my tears. It tore my heart, and bruised my soul, but I cherished it. Now I have lost it.” The warden held the gate open for her. ** You may in,” he said. she cried. "he said, ‘but happiness—” She turned away sobbing, and the gate clanged shut. Esther Powel. comicbooks.com