Life, 1883-01-18 · page 8 of 16
Life — January 18, 1883 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Democratic Sancho Panza" This satirical poem mocks a Democratic politician (likely a civil service reformer) through a Don Quixote reference. The verse describes "Sancho" as starving despite promises of democratic reform—he's given only a sugared pill labeled "Reform" instead of real food. The satire targets the gap between Democratic campaign rhetoric about civil service improvement and actual governance. The "Court Physician" represents party leadership offering empty symbolic gestures ("sugar") rather than substantive change. The poem ridicules Democrats for claiming to seek the "best" candidates through merit while actually maintaining patronage systems ("hard strikers in the campaign warm"). The ornamental border illustrations depict various figures engaged in political activity, reinforcing the theme of political theater versus practical reform.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UNGRY sat SANCHO AT A ROYAL FEAST 3 FOR MANY YEARS HE HAD NOT TASTED FOOD ; AND TO HIS EAGER NOSTRILS SURE THE LEAST WHIPF OF WARM VICTUALS SEEMED UNCOMMON GOOD: “Now, FOR A DEEP DIVE IN THE PUBLIC CRIB! THE LOav. ND FISHES COME TO ME IN TURN. I'Lt. PUT A CUSHION ON EACH MEAGRE RIB: SPOILS TO THE VICTOR IN THE BALLOT’S URN !" ‘THe Court PHYSICIAN WAVED THE FEAST AWAY AS MEAT TOO RICH FOR ANY STARVING WIGH T, AND BROUGHT A PILL UPON A SILVER TRAY— A WONDROUS PILL, SMEARED O'ER WITH SUGA! WHITE. AND ON THE PILL WAS WRIT THE WORDS :—“ REFORY Tue Civit SERVICE HENCEFORTH SEEKS THE BEST NoT THE HARD STRIKERS IN THE CAMPAIGN WARM, BuT THOSE WHO PROVE BY MANY A CUNNING TEST “THEIR FITNESS FOR THE OFFICES THEY FIL. ‘THUS PATIENT MERIT GAINS FREE WORKING ROOM.” AND SANCHO SADLY TOOK THE SUGARED PILL, AND MAY GO HUNGRY TILL THE CRACK OF DOOM. = eA Ea Zi comicbooks.com