Life, 1899-07-20 · page 3 of 20
Life — July 20, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 43 The page contains two satirical pieces: **"A Ballad of Regret"** (poem by Carolyn Wells): A woman laments dyeing her hair red to follow fashion, regretting the decision since it damaged her tresses and attracted unwanted attention. **"A Fellow Feeling"** (dialogue): A humorous exchange between a cloakroom attendant and patron about borrowing money—the attendant sympathizes because he too borrowed a hundred pounds from his wife, whom he's now keeping away for a month to avoid repayment demands. **The cartoon** (captioned "Uncle Sam: That Declaration Needs Revising") depicts Uncle Sam as a skeletal figure, mocking the Declaration of Independence. The boxed quote critiques government power, suggesting declarations of independence are hollow since governments derive power from consent anyway—likely commentary on American governmental overreach or hypocrisy circa the magazine's publication period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Ballade of Regret. CLEVER play, an actress fair, Have worked sad havoc ro- cently; A ruddy mop of Titian batr Is faseinating, I agreo— But soft gold coils thero used to bo Crowning my sweetheart’s little head, And lifo has lost its charm for mo Since Dolly dyed her tresses red. Of course I'm very well awaro "Tis Fashion's latest stern de- creo, And so widespread that, I declare, Whorever I drop in for tea I'm sure to meet with two or three Rash maidens by the fad misled ; But from them all I want to flee Bince Dolly dyed her tresses red. Though I'vo restrained my wish to swear, And gontly urged my earnest plea, For my roproaches did she caro? And would she listen? No, not sho. With voice pitched {nan angry koy Some flery, stinging words sho sald, Hor tomper's not improved, you seo, ¢ Since Dolly dyed her tresses red. ENvot. Zaza, tho blame is duo to theo; Full merrily my lifo bad sped ; Put now alone my weird I dreo Sinco Dolly dyed her tresses red. Carolyn Wells, A Fellow Feeling. OBWIGGER: He must have appealed very strongly to your sympathy to have bor- rowed a hundred. Henrect: He did. It was to keep his wife away in the country for another month. SIGNS OF IT. “1 DECLARE,” SAID THE ATTENUATED CLOUD, AS TE PASSED SWIFTLY BY HIS HEAVIER COMPANION ON THE SUMMER BREEZE, “YOU LOOK PROSPEROUS." “YES, INDEED,” REPLIED THE OTHER. FOR A RAINY DAY."* “1 HAVE BREN SAVING UP ‘ ‘QOVERNMENTS DERIVE THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.” OLCLAR ATION OF INDEPENDENCE, Uncle Sam: TUAT DECLAKATION NKEDS REVISING ‘comicbooks.com