Life, 1898-11-03 · page 3 of 20
Life — November 3, 1898 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Unfolding of a Bud" This is a satirical dialogue between a skeptic (H.) and a believer (M.) about love and marriage. The scene shows a woman being courted, with the caption indicating she's tying a knot in her handkerchief "to remind herself that she is married." The satire mocks romantic idealism: while M. defends love as noble and enduring ("it may be years, long years, but I feel that we shall meet at last"), H. responds cynically that she'll "marry more or less"—suggesting women forget or abandon marriages casually. The "bud unfolding" metaphor undercuts romantic growth, implying instead that female feelings bloom and wilt unpredictably. The piece critiques both sentimental views of love and, implicitly, women's constancy in marriage.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“MRS, PLIRTINGTON OUGHT TO TIE A KNOT IN HER MANDKERCIIEF TO REMIND HERSELP THAT SHE 18 MARKIED." The Unfolding of a Bud. BY A SKEPTIC, 8crxe: Madame Gloss's Finishing School, Cuanacters: Madame Gloss and a Bud. ADAME: We will take up our lesson at Elementary Emancipation. Itis said that every man is a fool in his life some time, How can you determino the particular instant of this particular time? Bop: By cultivating a belief that it is from the time ho is born until the time ho is dead, M.: It {8 maintained by many eminent authorities that love is premeditated igno- ranco of what we don’t believe about some particular person, Does it follow that as acquaintance expands love will recede? B,: Not necessarily, Sometimes a man has moro money than wo think he has, M.: What is tho provailing masculino opinion of woman's intelligence? B.: That a woman's best understanding of wisdom is to play tho fool at the right moment. M.: What {s your resource in this ox- tremity? B.: To play tho right fool at the right moment. M.: What have you observed concerning the dispositions of men? B.: Many men hold strong opinions, strong opinions hold many men, and tho others escape by reading the newspapers. M.: What is chivalry, a8 now recognized by the most ladylike authorities? B.: Chivalry is the privilege of man to walk under a lady's instep without bump- ing his bead, M.: What ideal have you formed of your future mate? B,: Ho will bo handsome, and bravo, and wiso, and witty, and tender, and true, and —and rich, It may be years, long years, but I feel that wo shall moot at last. M.: And what of your life inthe interval? B.: Oh, in the meantime, I presume I shall marry moro or less. comicbooks.com