Life, 1898-05-26 · page 7 of 24
Life — May 26, 1898 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 439 This page features satirical caricatures of literary and theatrical figures, labeled with their names. The left side shows **Charles Dudley Warner and Richard Harding Davis** in a back-to-back pose, with accompanying verse mocking their self-regard as literary figures destined for bookshelves. The upper right depicts **John Kendrick Bangs and Stephen Crane** in exaggerated poses, apparently satirizing their public personas or dramatic tendencies. Below them, **Frances Hodgson Burnett and Bret Harte** are caricatured in period dress, though the specific satirical point is unclear without additional context. The page appears to lampoon contemporary writers' pretensions to literary importance and their public self-presentation, a common theme in Life's satirical commentary on cultural figures of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
For plenty of trouble I take, I'm not a new woman—I ride no “bike: ” Yor public notice I never strike, And yet, to be frank, I'd really like To walk and to win that cake! Dr. Weir Mitene Then I'm the celebrity, madame, for you! With Me as your partner we'll subdue All others who have that cake in view— Just see my grandiloquent stalk! AFR iS ) Chances Duprey Warxex axp Ricuanrp Hanpine Davis. Doctor Oliver Wendell Holmes was well— Atleast I have heard some people so tell, But Doctor Weir Mitchell doth him excel— Why, goodness, we'll win in a walk! He dictates intereews to himself’ for the pa- pers ashe leads his woutering partner to their place. Cuantes DepLey Wanse! I'm a very thoughtful man— As any person can Observe in Harper's advertising pages; And my library of Warner Now of course will fill a corner In the bookshelves of all literary sages! Ricuarb Harpixe Davis: 1am thoughtful, too, I guess, Though I'm open to confess -LIFE: That the critics think me somewhat effer- vescent! But, Charles Dudley, let us team, And we'll make these others seem Asif their claims were less than evanescent! The editorial sage nods, ant they pass along, cach carrying i an ostentations manner the current wumber of Harper's Magazine. Frances Hopeson Buryett axp Bret Harte, comicbooks.com