Life, 1899-03-25 · page 3 of 32
Life — March 25, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
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# "Penelope" - Life Magazine, March 25, 1899 This page presents a romantic poem titled "Penelope" with accompanying illustrations of a young woman in a town setting. The poem is credited to Theodosia Pickering Garrison. The satire here appears gentle rather than political. The text ironically contrasts the speaker's idealized view of "fair Penelope"—whom he watches adoringly from afar, noting her beauty and grace—with her apparent indifference to him and his "Sabbath hose." The final lines reveal the joke: she "heedeth not my sighs or rhymes" and his life is "out of tune," yet he hopes for future companionship. This is sentimental, humorous verse about unrequited love rather than political commentary—typical of Life's lighter, literary content from this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NoumBer Manca 28, 852. 1899, Penelope. HE walks demurely through the town OS When April days are sweet ; The sun shines on her lilac gown And dances at her feet, And every blossom on the way Has cunning eyes to see How well she matches with tho day, ‘This fair Penelope. I wateh hor from my window ledge; I dog her where sho goes; Yot loiter bashful at the hedge Despite my Sabbath hose. For ab! she flouts mo high and low— The town folk laugh in glee— Sure, lass, thy heart in mail should go, And not in dimity. I sco hor on tho deacon’s walks Through box-lined pathways go; Sho strolls among the hollybocks That blossom row on row. All crimson-clad, they fluunt and swell Above her furbelows, As might about some city belle A galaxy of beaux. Sho heedeth not my sighs or rhymes; My life is out of tuno; What care I for the Easter chimes, The white Lent-lilies’ bloom? Ah, prithee, sweet, next Eastertide I may walk forth with thee; Just thou and I, and Lovo beside— A goodly company, Theodosia Pickering Garrison,