Life, 1898-10-27 · page 5 of 20
Life — October 27, 1898 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "My Lady of the Veil" - Life Magazine Page 325 This page presents a humorous short story rather than a political cartoon. The narrative, told by a character named "I," describes a dining experience at an upscale French restaurant where the narrator encounters an acquaintance named Kitty. The story satirizes French restaurant pretension and social affectation. The humor centers on Kitty's affected behavior—her "expressive eyebrows" and theatrical mannerisms—which the narrator finds ridiculous. The piece mocks both her attempts at sophistication and the pompous service at "Old Pierre's" restaurant, particularly through anecdotes about Pierre's son's exaggerated behavior and his dramatic napkin-folding. The satire targets upper-class dining culture and the absurdity of theatrical affectation among wealthy Americans attempting Continental sophistication.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“oe ITTY,” said I, ‘I had a queer experience to-day.” “Yes?” said Kitty. “ You got home to dinner on time.” Now, that was unkind I splashed my soup upon the immaculate cloth for revenge. Kitty abhors spots on her table linen. “No,” said I, ‘‘it wasn't that. In ™me, promptoess approaches tragedy; this was downright comedy.” Kitty raised her eyebrows, She has very expressive eyebrows. No doubt near association with her eyes has taught them a thing or two. “Something funny happened to me, too,” she said. “TL spoke first,” I objected, hurriedly. “‘Well, gracious goodness! Why don't you tell it, then?” “Give me time.” “You'd squander it,” said Kitty. There are certain remarks of Kitty's which I ignore. “It was this way,” I began. ‘* You know the quaint French restaurant in “The low high-roller took bis leave.” My Lady of the Veil. which I take my luncheon? Yes you do. Old Pierre's, opposite the Post Office, Well, I took my accustomed seat there to-day, fourth table back, facing the windows, and ordered my modest repast. Old Picrre has a son who has fierce moustachcs and waits upon me. He has done so for ages. Each day the son of Pierre says, ‘ Bon jour, monsieur,’ a3 he places my chair and pokes me in back of my knees with it til they unhinge and deposit me with a jerk in my seat, The son of Pierre then remarks that ‘To-day monsieur vili haf une cotelette au naturel et une salade, ces eet not?’ And I say that it is, And then Pierre's son runs away with little chicken-steps until he has overcome half the distance to the kitchen, when suddenly he wheels like a wind-dodged kite and chicken-steps hurriedly back. Again before me, he strokes the napkin upon his arm depre- catingly, as if it were to blame for his oversight, and suggests that ‘Monsieur vill haf petit pois avec, n'est ce pas?’ J nod, the son of Pierre gives his mous- taches a ferocious yank, says ‘ Certain- ment/* and skims away. And it's just as apt to be a softshell crab he returns with as achop. The son of Pierre has a hideous memory. ‘To-day, things were quite the same, and I was idly speculating upon what my chop would turn out to be when the door opened and @ woman entered, and took a seat facing me at the table in my row, nearest the window. She wore an exceedingly heavy veil, and that, and the light at her back. combined to render her features absolutely void tome But she had a remarkably pretty figure, and was well gowned.” “Thank you,” said Kitty, making me 8 little bow. “Why do you thank me?” “For so carefully noting the virtues of my sex. I had been led to believe you were sadly deficient in that line towards all other women but myself.” Kitty’used fine irony. I laughed a hollow. before-breakfast comicbooks.com