Life, 1883-03-29 · page 7 of 16
Life — March 29, 1883 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "An April Fool" Cartoon The cartoon depicts a well-dressed gentleman in a top hat encountering a street child. The caption quotes the child offering to reveal where "the der's somfin hangin' on ter de back of yer coat" — claiming something valuable is attached to his coat. This is a classic "April Fool" con: the child tricks the gentleman into believing he has something stuck to him, likely intending to pick his pocket while he's distracted checking his back. The satire targets the gullibility of wealthy, self-important men who can be easily fooled by street urchins using simple deception. The illustration emphasizes the class divide between the well-groomed, top-hatted gentleman and the ragged street child — a common social commentary theme in *Life* magazine's satirical work.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| “GONE!” ws nothing but a little flower, But ah, how dear to me! It gently whispers ev'ry hour Of one I long to see. "Twas only yesterday we stood Together, she and 1 ; Unmindful of the busy throng That careless passed us by. She raised her wistful eyes to mine, And I alone could see The meaning of their tender gaze, Could read their gentle plea. And then upon my open palm She left this bud so red ; I lightly touched her dimpled hand,— She quickly turaed and fled. She vanished midst the surging crowd, As melts the ocean's foam ; Then, weary, sad and desolate, I sought my lonely home. And then I calmly pondered o'er The story of the day ; And wondered if I could afford To hie me to the play ; But when I reckoned up my cash, I started up in rage, And dashed about my chamber like A lion in his cage : For there I saw the penny bright I fondly thought I'd paid, And knew a gold three-dollar piece I'd given to that maid. And so I say the little flower Is very, very dear ; And something tells me that the maid Will nevermore appear. G. C. Buck, Saitor’s Quippity.—Pigtail. CHILDREN OF WEALTH.-The Roths- children. A new English book is called “ Peo- ple I have met.” A new American book might be called “Men I have been out to See.” THE works of the Sandwich Manu- facturing Company in Illinois were burned the other day. Railway res- taurants will, however, have fossil sandwiches on hand to last until the works are rebuilt. NS 4) x R AN APRIL FOOL. “Say, Mister, I’M GIVIN' IT TO YER STRAIGHT WHEN I TELLS YER DER’S SOMFIN HANGIN’ ON TER DE BACK OF YER COAT.” Mr. Ropert Brownino’s new volume is called’ “ Jocoseria,” and it seems to be a sort of serio-comic song-book. The Critic quotes this neat little stanza : ‘* Brother, brother, I share the blame, Arcades sumus ambo, Darkling, I keep my sunrise-aim, Lack not the critic's flambeau, And look to my ways, yet much the same Offend with my tongue, like Pambo.” But unfortunately the Critic omits to quote the more interesting stanza which follows : ** Sister, sister, I share the blame, Arcades sumus ambo. T confess with sudden shame, I do not like your d— beau, Though 1 do not know his ugly name, Iknow they call him Tambo! " (SAMBO ?) comicbooks.com