Life, 1883-05-10 · page 4 of 16
Life — May 10, 1883 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 218 This page contains a story about a man named Plantagenet and an illustration satirizing con artists or fraudsters. The main cartoon depicts two figures in what appears to be a shabby room—likely representing a scam scenario where money exchanges hands. The accompanying text describes the stranger borrowing money with promises of repayment through international banking channels (I.O.U.s via St. Quentin, France, and Marseilles), a classic con-artist setup. The bottom section includes "An Illustrated Advertisement" showing a figure wearing a sign reading "I'M BLIND DEAF & DUMB," satirizing deceptive begging or fraud schemes. The ad parodies want-ads seeking "a man to make" such calls in New York. The satire targets financial schemes and street-level fraud common in the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
218 “TE it is not too impertinent, may I ask you why you do not wear a shirt?” and he smiled, showing his toothless jaw. “Tris a tradition in the Plantagenet family that the eldest male heir never wéars a shirt,” I answered proudly. “ Plantagenet family !" he exclaimed. “ Why, I saw on the hotel book that your name was spelled “H-u-d-g- k-i-n-s.” “Tt is spelled “ H-u-d-g-k-i-n-s,” I explained haught- ily, “but it is pronounced Plantagenet. It is an old family tradition.” I looked as dignified as a man can look who has not a shirt to his back. “Well, Mr. Plantagenet, my name is W-a-t-k-i-n-s, pronounced as spelled, of Watkins Glen, New York, a brand new family. Now, you are of an old family, and you are temporarily hard-up.” I waved deprecatingly, and adjusted the wisp of a handkerchief as if it had been Beau Brummel’s final success, “ Ah, do not have any false pride,” he said ; “ any gentleman's remittances may fail him. May I not have the honor of loaning you a sum sufficient for your needs, until your remittances arrive ?” “You may,” I said, relenting. ‘I am a special cor- respondent of the New York Lire. International jeal- ousies, instigated by. the London Punch, and the Undertakers’ Gazette, have delayed the arrival of my funds. I will borrow of you and pay you with my I. O. U. It is needless to say that my I. O. U. is, in any place but St. Quentin, France, legal tender for all debts ; just try it at Marseilles.” “ How much do you want, Mr. Plantagenet ?” “Want! I want the world, but I shall be contented for the present with one thousand francs.” “One thousand francs are not enough to carry you to Moscow,” quietly replied the stranger with one of his dreadful smiles. I started ! “Never mind your I. O. U.,” he continued, as he handed me a bag of gold anda box. He bowed, went out of the room and I heard the cab roll down the street. Recovering from my astonishment, I put the - LIFE: gold into my pocket and opened the box. It contained in it a Bradshaw's Guide, which was opened at “ Rus- sia," by the little knife which I had pawned in the morning I can write no more, but next week, if Iam not knocked into the middle of it, I will let you know where I am. TWO NEGATIVES. J GAVE him his first rejection At Newport, a year ago; At Christmas, with proper reflection, Again, in New York, I said “ No.” There ’s in grammar a rule I remember— ‘Two negatives—how does it run ? So the cards have gone out for September, And my white satin gown is begun. ELEANOR PuTNAM. “ How shall I the true dude know “ From another one ? “ By his staff and cockle-feather “ And his silver shoon.” PROVERB. Ir is never too late to get up in the morning. From the Sanserit. AN ILLUSTRATED ADVERTISEMENT. WANTED-A MAN TO MAKE 2,000 CALLS IN NEW YORK. Enclose addressed postal to REGULAR PAY, Herald, comicbooks.com