Life, 1903-12-10 · page 34 of 58
Life — December 10, 1903 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of humor typical of early 20th-century Life magazine: **"Cupid's Bow"** (top): A romantic poem with illustration praising a woman's lips, compared to Cupid's bow (the archer's weapon). The metaphor playfully suggests her mouth/kiss is as effective as Cupid's arrow at striking hearts. This is sentimental verse rather than satire. **"Progress"** (middle): A brief joke where a man mentions his daughter's music lessons have improved his social standing—his neighbors finally speak to him again. The implication is that her constant practicing previously made him a neighborhood nuisance. The humor lies in the ironic "progress": the daughter improved musically while the father's reputation improved through *less* practice. **"Limit"** (bottom): A joke about consulting doctors versus creditors. A man says a creditors' meeting was worse than doctors' consultations, suggesting financial ruin is more serious than illness. **Right side comic strip**: Titled "Carrying a Joke Too Far," appears to show a multi-panel narrative (unclear without clearer text) involving stairs and what seems to be slapstick mishap.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Cupid’s Bow. SUGGESTIVE of the South is Your gipsy face aglow, Whose tempting, rosebud mouth is Cupid's bow. Think of the kind of arrow For such a bow as this! It somehow seems to narrow Toa kiss, I know it would be pleasant ‘To catch one on the fly, When only two were present, — You and I. Progress. “PARKE: How is your little girl getting on with her music? La First-rate. I haven't been home much, but my neighbors are beginning to speak to me again. Should you desire a string to This magi bow, dear heart, Try one who likes to sing to Speed the dart. Thus every kiss shall capture A lyric in its flight ;— Each dart be tipt with rapture And delight. es shall last as long as ‘3 care to go, js just as strong as Cupid’s bow ! Feliz Carmen, Limit. “ V ERE yon ill enough to havea consultation of doctors?” “A good deal worse than that, old man. I had a consultation of my creditors.” a si CARRYING A JOKE TOO Pan. comicbooks.com