Life, 1903-01-08 · page 15 of 20
Life — January 8, 1903 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a sentimental poem by Félix Carmen accompanying an illustration by Bayard Jones. The piece nostalgically addresses an old friend who now has a baby, reflecting on their shared youth—philosophical discussions, cigars, whisky, and camaraderie under the stars. The cartoon shows silhouetted figures in what appears to be a tavern or social gathering, with a baby carriage visible, contrasting past bachelor life with present domesticity. A portrait medallion of a child appears in the upper right. The joke hinges on life's progression: the speaker and friend once debated love and marriage theoretically; now one has actually married and produced offspring. The Shakespeare reference ("Ay, marry!") provides wordplay—using the pun on "marry" (the word) versus marriage (the state). It's gentle satire about how time transforms youth's philosophical bachelor existence into adult responsibility and parenthood, with toasts to both the friend's companion and their baby.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EAR ME, old friend, how Time does fly! Iseeyou with a baby carriage And think of days when you and I Deliberated love and marriage : Ten years ago who could have told The sequel to such cogitation, Or guessed which of us first would hold One of the second generation ? I mind me how we used to sit Around the board with pipes and whisky, Wont to philosophize a bit And trade off stories rather risk I mind me of the good cig: How many we have smoked together! — Beneath the sun, the moon and stars, Alike in every kind of weather. Gone, gone are those old times, but we— We still among the living tarry : And life's prescription scems to be Will Shakspere’s frequent dose—“ Ay, marry! So here's a health to Her and you— Companions live until you gray be! And here's another, just as true— Congratulations to the Baby! Feliz Carmen. comicbooks.com