Life, 1899-11-30 · page 3 of 20
Life — November 30, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Sky Fancy" by Jessie Eets Hartswick This poem and illustration present a whimsical astronomical fantasy. The text describes the moon being "hurled" across the sky by Titan, with Venus observing and the war-god (Mars) blinking as "the big white ball" (the moon) sails past along the stars. The illustration depicts classical mythological figures—including what appears to be Venus and other deities—surrounding a giant bear character (possibly representing Ursa Major or a similar constellation) who observes the celestial mechanics. The bear holds a surveying tool, suggesting measurement of this cosmic journey. The poem humorously personifies celestial bodies and their mythological associations, treating astronomy through classical mythology rather than scientific fact—a common Victorian-era literary conceit blending science and classical learning for entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Sky Fancy. NS BY JENNIE DETTS HARTSWICK. H, tho moon's a mighty golf ball, By stroke of Titan hurled ; From off the far horizon's ‘teo” ‘Tis driven ‘round the world. And Venus looks in wondor, And the war-god redly blinks As the big white tall goos aailing high Along the starry links, It soars o'er cloudy bunkers That seok its flieht to stay, And in its puth it crosses awift Tho misty Milky Way. And when it has comploted Its courso across the sky On yonder hilltop of the West It finds its distant “lie,” Where waits a giant player Who “lofts” with steady aim, And 60 without a pause goes on The everlasting gumo,