Life, 1899-12-21 · page 3 of 20
Life — December 21, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page features content related to the U & I Railroad, a whimsical fictional railway. The main illustration shows "St. Nicholas" (Santa Claus) in a religious/heavenly scene with children and angels, captioned as "A Window to the Immortal Friend of Our Childhood." The poem celebrates the U & I Railroad as a metaphorical romantic journey, using coded language about love, trains, and travel. The sidebar portrait labeled "A Man of Letters" appears to be an advertisement or editorial illustration, though the specific person is unclear from the image alone. The lower section, "A Wise Precaution," presents dialogue about umbrellas and rain interceptors—likely a humorous domestic scene. The overall page combines sentimental Victorian imagery with gentle satire, typical of Life magazine's mix of whimsy and social commentary during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Jesse people E and DERICK RK. The U & IR. R. Co., Limited. HAT though between thy heart and mino Tho long miles stretch, my dear, Since wo have a private railway line And Lovo is the engineer ; Lovo drives the engine straight and true, And the trains in an instant fly, Bearing sweet thoughts from me to you Over the U & I. Tho U & Lis a wonderful road, For tho stations are in our hearts, And the train is duo in thine with its load The moment from mine it departs; It runs through the land of lovers’ dreams. That has ever a starry sky, And fairies welded the soft moonbeams Into rails for the U & I. Tho cars aro words that wofain would say, Sweet words that all lovers prize, And the engine is lighted upon its way By the light of your fair blue eyes; Tho boiler is fed by the gentle tears You shed when we said “ good bye,” And our trustful hope and our tender fears Aro the freight of the U & I. A MAN OF LETTERS, St NICHOLAS A WINDOW. ‘TO THE IMMORTAL FRIEND OP OUR CHILDHOOD, And novor an accident, never a wreck, Nor washout, nor strike, nor blockade, Has come to our dear little railway to check The trains, since tho last rail was laid; But back and forth, twixt your heart and mine, Each moment the trains still fly, Bearing sweet messages over the line Of the wonderful U & I. Ellis Parker Butler. 'HE returning American, ashe stands on the dock, is reminded of the fact that we have customs, but no manners. A Wise Precaution. ewer on earth are you bring- ing all those umbrellas in here for?” asked Mrs. Van Fashion, as Mr. Van Fashion puffed into their bed- room with an armful of rain interceptors. “Why, I thought that reception was due to-night.” “Yes, and you are afraid the guests will steal them, are you?” **Not at all, Iam afraid they will recognize them.”