Life, 1903-05-28 · page 14 of 22
Life — May 28, 1903 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Cupid's Candle"** is a romantic poem about love's dangers, illustrated with butterflies around a flaming heart—standard sentimental fare from the era. **"An Enthusiastic Patron"** is a humorous anecdote about a hotel guest who effusively praises everything (bed, food, sea breeze, staff discipline) to the proprietor. The joke's punchline: when asked if he paid his bill, he says yes—but the proprietor's shocked reaction implies the guest's extreme cheapness has finally been revealed. Despite claiming the hotel is "perfect," his lavish compliments were likely insincere flattery to justify not tipping or spending generously. The satire mocks obsequious praise disconnected from actual patronage. **"The Czar's Position"** is a brief political joke referencing Russia's "open door" policy in Manchuria (early 1900s). The wordplay suggests Russia is holding the door open for England to exit—a dig at imperial rivalries and Russia's territorial ambitions framed as hospitality. **"Life's Portrait Gallery"** shows two sketched scenes (appears to be unrelated domestic/leisure vignettes).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE - Cupid’s Candle. D her flaming heart they r, liness they go man a lover, Old and young, the blind and blinking. — _ Fascinated, frenzied th How they flutter, never thi ing What wings! a doom awaits their It is all the sa Pleasure hung upon a breath: Just a chance to taste of glory Draws a legion down to death. ¢ old story,— Fire is dangerous to handle Love is an certain flame; But the game is worth the candle When the candle’s worth the game! Feliz Carmen, An Enthusiastic Patron. FEW moments before the bus left the hotel at Sand. Hurst-By- the-Sea for the train to the city, one of the depart- = ing guests walked up to the proprietor of the ho- tel and said: “My dear sir, I want to congratu- late you.” The proprietor, a man with a keen eye avd long whiskers, showed by his looks that he was not wise “On what, sir?’ he finally man- aged to ask, “On your hotel. For a summer hotel, it’s the best one I ever saw. The bed I slept on last night was perfect, and this morning, as the delightful sea breeze wafted itself through my room,I uttered un- consciously a pean of thanks to Providence for a delightful slumber. As for your table, sir, it is superb. Never have I tasted such food. Since I have been here, ithas hardly seemed necessary to tip any of your employees, so perfect is your dis- cipline. In a word, sir, this is the most perfect and palatial summer resort that I ever was in,” ** You have paid your bill, sir?” remarked the proprietor. “Surely! Hero is the receipt. l Ang a ll I ] iI may say that, considering what you give for the money, your rates are the lowest I have ever seen. I don’t see how you make a cent.” The proprietor gasped. “May I ask, sir,” he observed, *‘ where you have been living lately?” “Certainly,” replied the enthusiastic stranger, “I have just returned from the dedication ceremonies of the Louis Exposition.” Tom Masson. The Czar’s Position. OSDICK : Russia believes in the open door in Man- Keepic! to go out, T° Yes, she is holding the door open for England know something about Hades, it is not necessary to depart this life. LIFE'S PORTRAIT GALLERY. ITs | SMe YES HART comicbooks.com