Life, 1901-02-07 · page 3 of 20
Life — February 7, 1901 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 103 This page contains several satirical pieces about contemporary society. The main cartoon titled "After the Refusal" depicts a couple where the woman rejects the man's proposal, with the caption playing on financial/credit terminology—she's "sorry to have injured your feelings" but it's about credit, not emotion. This satirizes how commercial values infiltrate even intimate relationships. The poem "To the Poets of Obscurity" mocks writers who use unnecessarily complex, obscure language. It argues plain speech is superior to pretentious verbal gymnastics. "Try Wall Street" critiques England's role in international arbitration during what appears to be a commercial dispute, suggesting England profits from conflicts rather than genuinely seeking peace. The opera section provides society gossip about wealthy attendees' fashion and jewelry.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
To the Poets of Obscurity. HAVE no figs, but if I had a fig I would not give it for a hundred verses, In which some irresponsible rehearses Small thoughts in words he hopes will make them big. I know he flincies it is aya dig. To talk plain language, so he nicely nurses His words, and through his sentences disperses Striking obscurities, and claps a wig Of frizzled curls on bald senilities, And pads the bosom of his sterile muse, e And gives some simple every-day event Quirks and incomprehensibilities He thinks or hopes may fur a while abuse | Our patience into wondering what he meant. Henry Chapman, NE of Mr. Krueger’scounselors has thus expressed it: England Js our accuser. England ts the sole witness against us, England isthe Judge. Eng: land {s the executioner, and England hopes to profit by our death. Weappealed for arbitration before the war. We are Oghtng for arbitration to-day We have the right to expect the sympathies of the a | clvilized world, He forgets that this is the commercial age,and ] that we are not giving away sympathy. But we i can sell them a little. Try Wall Street. or 1 «<THE Reverend Mr. Meekings isa good fellow, isn’the?”’ “Yes. They say ho is not only a fine golf player, but a fairly good clergyman.” At the Opera. [* Box 491 were Mr. and Mrs. Golden Shamm, whose guests were Mr. and Mrs. G, Brazen Glare, Mrs. Dressta Kyll and Mr. Pur- sey Strutt. Mrs. Kyll wasin heliotrope brocade trimmed with white lace, and wore diamonds. Mrs. Graiton Kloze had-as her guests - in Box 981 Mr. Eppyderm Hyde, Mr. and Mrs. Lottsmore Style and Miss Blabbie Oldpoint. Mrs. Lottsmore Style was in black velvet and diamonds and wore a diamond tiara. Mrs. Kallus Pushor had as her guests in Box 894 Miss Chattor Loud and Mr. and Mrs. McEvor Ondek. It wasa very noisy and enjoyable box. ‘The opera itself was Faust—or was it Lohengrin ?— but it did not disturb the boxholders. AFTER THE REFUSAL. “iM VERY SORRY TO HAVE INJURED YOUR FEELINGS.” “OW, IT ISN'T MY FEELINGS, 11'S MY CREDIT.’ The Unknown. (Overheard on the Way Home from School.) Psst LITTLE GIRL:, Oh, you told a lie. to hell if you tell lies. Seconp Littte Giri: Hell? “ What ! hell is!” “No, I don't. class.”" You'll go Where's that? You a good Methodist and don’t know where They don’t teach geography in our comichooks.coiy)