Life, 1897-12-30 · page 3 of 21
Life — December 30, 1897 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 575 The main photograph shows a formal society gathering, captioned to identify "Mrs. Pendennix, President of the Astronomical Society" as notably clever. The image depicts what appears to be an indoor social event with formally dressed figures. The "Society" section below reports on upper-class social events: weddings of Miss Bibble Oldpoint and Miss Sloone Chittam, gifts received (pearls, silver dollars), and the Lottensurle Sures' European travel plans. It notes Charley Forjoband testing a new horse team. The page concludes with a satirical quote: "In these days, culture consists in knowing what not to remember"—a commentary on selective memory and pretense among the social elite. The decorative cherub illustration labeled "A New Year's Celebration" provides visual relief.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
He: THAT 18 MRS, PENDENNIS, PRESIDENT OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, AND SHE'S EXASPERATINGLY CLEVER. “YES, BUT HOW CONSOLINGLY COLY!"* Society. HE weddings of the week, including those of Miss , Blabbie Oldpoint to Mr, Freddie Goodcatch, and Miss nie Chinne to Mr. J. Fatuous Chump, were impres- sive affairs, Mrs. Goodcatch was the recipient of bun- dreds of beautiful gifts, including a quart of pearls from her mother, a barrel of silver dollars from her father, and a corner lot on Madison Avenue from her infant sister. Mr. and Mrs. Lottsmore Stile are in Europe, and will not returh until they come back. Charley Fourinhand tried his new team on Thursday. With him on the coach were B. Trowsers Van Guzzle, Heritage Doolittle and F, Tayleurs Dummy. N these days, culture consists in knowing what not to remember, A NEW YEAR" CELEBRATION.