Life, 1900-04-07 · page 20 of 32
Life — April 7, 1900 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a humorous domestic scene written by Alex Ricketts. Mr. Warmlove finds his wife Daisy suffering from neuralgia (nerve pain) on Easter Sunday. She's distressed not primarily about the pain itself, but because she cannot wear her new hat and dress to church—specifically, she wanted to be seen there by her rival, Mrs. Rivalton. The joke satirizes female vanity and social competition: Daisy's religious observance is secondary to displaying her finery and outshining a social rival. Mr. Warmlove's final quip—that he'll wear the dress and hat himself to church—is absurdist humor mocking the absurdity of prioritizing appearance over genuine devotion. The three cartoon illustrations on the left (artist's signature visible) appear to depict humorous animal or fantastical scenes, though their specific connection to the story is unclear. The small illustration labeled "THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE" shows royal figures and likely offers separate satirical commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ESS Devotion. 3 it hurt so much, Daisy?” asked Mr. rmlove, solicitously. He was sitting by his wife’s bedside, fondling her hand, and trying, in his ignorant, manlike wy, to comfort ber. “Is it really so very painful?” he inquired, as his wife's face quivered and twitched. * Of course it is,” replied Mrs, Warmlove, tear- fully and testily. ‘‘ But that isn’t the worst of it. Of course, of all days in the year, this was the day I had to wake up with it. Ouch! Ob-b-h! [don’t see why neuralgia should have such fiendish malignancy. It’s just diabolical that it should attack me to-day.” ‘*It is too bad, Daisy ; too, too bad, dear,” said Mr. Warmlove, soothingly. ‘* But I don't under- stand, darling, why it is worse to-day than any other. Still, you know best, sweet.” ““Becauee it's Easter Sunday, stupid,” ex- plained Mrs. Warmlove, weepily. ** And —and now I can’t wear my new hat and dress tochurch, and — and I particularly wanted that horrid Mrs. Rivalton —I mean I particulurly wanted to go to church to-day.” “ But you can wear them some other Sunday,” consoled Mr. Warmlove, “That isn't Easter, and it isn't the same thing atall, and ivd be just like Mrs. Rivalton to say that I stayed home because I didn’t have —I be- lieve I will get up, and try to go after all,” said Mrs. Warmlove, crossly. ** If—it—is—so—important—that—your— dress —and —hat—get—tu—church—to-day,” said Mr. Warmlove, slowly and ponderously, like a man weighing an heroic resolve and nerviog himself to the deed, “I'll, by George, I will wear ’em myself, darling!” Alex, Ricketts. TUE POWER BEIIND THE THRONE.